The Starting line
START AN ELECTRATHON TEAM
Starting an Electrathon team is the beginning of a hands-on challenge: bring together a team, design and build a vehicle to the rulebook, and prepare to put your work to the test on the track.
Whether you’re part of a school, college, club, business, or corporation, or you’re building on your own, there’s a place for you on the Electrathon starting grid.
- High schools
- Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs
- Colleges and universities
- Homeschool groups
- After-school clubs
- Community teams
- EV enthusiast
If there’s an established Electrathon community nearby, you’re ready to hit the ground running.
- Start with a team kit or build your own car.
- Learn alongside experienced teams.
- Race throughout the season in local endurance events.
- Become part of a growing community of student engineers.
This is the fastest path from build to checkered flag.
No Electrathon teams nearby? You can still launch an incredible first season.
- Design, build, and test your electric vehicle while developing engineering and fabrication skills.
- Test your vehicle in parking lots (with permission)
- Invite others to join the fun and lay the foundation for a new local racing community.
- Electrathon America is here to support.
Every Electrathon region started with one team willing to wave the green flag.
See where Electrathon teams are already racing and connect with a team or event near you.
Don’t see any activity in your area? You can help build the next racing community.
Registered teams that aren’t yet listed on the map can email us their team name and address, and we’ll add them.
BUILD YOUR WAY
Every Electrathon vehicle must meet the specifications outlined in the Electrathon America Rulebook, giving every team a level playing field where engineering, efficiency, and teamwork determine the outcome. Whether you start with an approved kit or create a custom design from the ground up, your team will build a race car that’s ready for competition.
Start with an approved car kit that provides a proven foundation for your team’s first season. Assemble the vehicle, install electrical systems, test performance, and develop race-day strategy. Additional team members can contribute through body design, graphics, marketing, fundraising, and team operations.
What You’ll Experience
- Assemble an approved Electrathon race car
- Install and optimize mechanical and electrical systems
- Test, tune, and refine performance for competition
- Create graphics, branding, and race strategy
Design and build your race car from the ground up while meeting Electrathon specifications. Apply skills in CAD, welding, fabrication, automotive technology, electrical systems, machining, and manufacturing throughout the project. Additional team members can contribute through body design, graphics, marketing, fundraising, and team operations.
What You’ll Experience
- Engineer a race car from concept to competition
- Design with CAD and fabricate major components
- Apply welding, machining, automotive, and electrical skills
- Test, tune, and refine performance for competition
- Create graphics, branding, and race strategy
No. Advisors come from varied backgrounds. Your job is to keep team members organized, curious, and productive.
Building a new car can cost between $5000 and $7500+. Team membership with one car is $30 for the season.
It depends on if you’re using a kit or building a custom design. A kit may take 40+ hours to build, while a custom car will take longer. Once it’s built, you’ll be able to use it for many years.
Yes. Cars run at modest speeds on closed courses, every vehicle passes a safety tech inspection, and drivers wear approved helmets and gear. Roll protection and braking standards are built into the rules.
There is no limit on the number of team participants. Programs range from a couple of people with one car to large groups racing multiple cars.
