SHEFFIELD, Mass., MAY. 22, 2024 – On Tuesday, May 21st Mount Everett Innovation Pathway students Tatum Oates, Declan Piel, and Chet Schur competed for the first time and took home a third place win, in the 28th Annual Connecticut Technology and Engineering Educators Association (CTEEA) Alternate Energy Race. The team of students competed in the race as part of their unit of study on the Lunar Rover in their Aerospace Engineering class. Building an Electric Go-Kart was part of a class project where students studied the engineering of the original Lunar Rover.
“This has been a tremendous hands-on learning experience for these kids,” said Mount Everett Technology Director Chris Thompson. “To start with only parts, and build something that they can actually drive is pretty empowering for them. It gives them a better understanding of how Electric Vehicles work, which is an important skill to have as we look toward the future of the auto industry”
To build the EV Go-Kart students followed the requirements of the race which included building a 24-volt, rechargeable, 1 horsepower, chain driven Go-Kart. During the race the students completed 83 laps finishing 13 behind the championship team from Guilford, CT.
Thompson explained, “Tatum had 25 laps in heat four, the most of any driver of the day. The team unfortunately suffered a short circuit in the kill switch of their vehicle during heat 3 and had to pit and repair the vehicle before reentering the race, costing them valuable track time. At the end of the day, the entire team was grateful for the experience and felt that they learned valuable lessons.”
The CTEEA puts on several tech challenges throughout the school year where out-of-state teams can compete. The Alternative Energy Race challenges high schools to run their EV for one hour in 4 different heats of 15 minutes. In between heats, students can repair their kart if necessary, but they cannot charge their batteries.
“I think an electric Go-Kart project is a great addition to any high school engineering program,” said Schur. “It involves a lot of hands-on work that builds great skills for careers in various industries.”
Oates added, “This experience helped us learn that things don’t always go the way you want them to, but you can minimize those issues if you pay close attention to details.”
The team would like to thank the following for making this project possible – Dave’s Tire in Canaan, Pete’s Sales and Service in Sheffield, and Rick MacDowell and his crew of Ashley Falls for emergency welding services, and Paul O’Brien, former teacher and advisor to the Tour De Sol program at Mount Everett.