In May 2024, three Florida high school teams supported by Florida Power & Light (FPL) took to the track for an Electrathon America race.
For these students, the race represented the culmination of months of designing, building, testing, and problem-solving.
Electrathon challenges teams to travel as far as possible using a limited amount of energy. Success isn’t simply about speed. Teams have to think about efficiency, vehicle design, aerodynamics, electrical systems, weight, strategy, and the many small decisions that can make the difference on the track.
For students, that means applying STEM concepts in a very real environment. A calculation on paper becomes a design decision. A design idea becomes a component on the vehicle. And eventually, that vehicle is racing alongside other teams.
More Than a Race
The value of an Electrathon experience extends well beyond race day.
Students work together to solve problems, learn from things that don’t go as planned, and develop the confidence that comes from building something with their own hands. They also have the opportunity to see electric vehicle technology in action and connect their classroom learning to potential careers in engineering, energy, transportation, and other technical fields.
And they don’t do it alone.
Electrathon brings together students, educators, volunteers, industry professionals, and other competitors. Every race creates an opportunity to share ideas, compare solutions, and learn from one another.
FPL’s support helped make that experience possible for these teams, and this was just the beginning.
