In 1997 a group of high school students in Jackson County, Georgia, came up with a proposal to build an electric vehicle and use it to help teach others about the science and technology of alternative transportation as well as environmental and social issues. The project was a big success and spawned the development of the Georgia Electric Vehicle Education Program that now reaches over 30 schools statewide and brings project-based education to the classroom in a fun and challenging program characterized by strong education-business partnerships. The program has amassed an impressive collection of media attention, praise from educators, students, and the business community, and well-documented statistically significant improvements in student test scores.

The Electric Vehicle Education Program motivates students to learn and excel through hands-on application of classroom topics. It is a credit to the hard work of students, teachers, parents, and local businesses that have volunteered to make it work. The issues the students address and solutions they are exploring are timely with current attention on the environment, energy prices, and the need for improving education. It’s also a lot of fun.

The Electric Vehicle Education Program is an ongoing education program that includes students from a variety of disciplines, including math, auto mechanics, physics, engineering, electronics, journalism and other classes. Throughout the year, students complete a variety of activities, developing presentations and taking part in a wide range of projects. The highlight of this unique project is the design and construction of electric vehicles that the students can actually drive and enter in statewide competitions. Competitions bring teams together for two days of intensive academic and hands-on driving events.

The Electric Vehicle Education Program, Inc., a non-profit, tax-exempt 501.c3 corporation was formed to maintain support of existing school programs, expand program reach and accessibility to a broader audience and accomplish the objectives of enhancing education and awareness of key technology, environmental, and social issues. Key activities include:

• the collection, synthesis and dissemination of information and resources,
• training of program participants,
• provision of a forum for idea, information, and resource sharing,
• a mechanism for funding program activities, including a conduit for enabling the transfer of funding and support to participating schools and organizations.