School EV Events

Resources for planning a School Based EV Event

Electric Vehicles lined up outside Poolesville High School

Ready to have EV owner/enthusiasts bring their electric vehicles to your local school?  Whether you are a parent, student, teacher or school administrator, this guide is for you.  It contains information and tips to help you plan and host your own event at a middle school, high school, community college, or university.

School-based events can reach a large number of students interested in what’s under the hood of an EV and the unique aspects of driving an EV. It’s especially important for high school students since they will soon be driving.  In turn, these students can share what they have learned with their parents, family, friends and others in their community. In addition, the general public can be invited to some types of events.

AP Environmental Science students learning about Electric Vehicles

Look at past event summaries  – The link to past school-based events will give you an idea of what you can do at your school.

Link to Past Events – Information and photos from Past Events

Suggested Resources – The following resources are useful for making a successful event:

  • Cars to display from school staff, parents, EV enthusiasts or dealers.
  • Printed materials about Electric Vehicles.
  • Leverage Presentations created for past EV Events.
  • Academic materials provided by teachers covering the science behind electric vehicles and to tie the technology to standards of learning (physics, environmental science, mathematics) (Optional)

Suggested types of events – There are many ways that an event could be held.

  • An Educational Event primarily for students.  This is the easiest type of event, requiring as little as a small electric vehicle display and some printed materials.
  • An event at a school that starts around lunch time for students, and then extends to the early evening for parents and neighbors.
  • An event put on by students before events such as football games to educate the public.  This may be something to attempt after successfully completing one of the other variants above.
  • A National Drive Electric Week event at the  school, using existing NDEW resources.

Maker Faire, Silver Spring, MD 2014

Where to get resources – The following section contains ideas to get resources for an event.

Sources for Electric Vehicles and Experts on Electric Vehicles:

 Link to Academic materials and articles related to EVs:

Additional Resources – The following websites contain additional ideas that could be used when designing a school-based Event.

Social Media – Please use the hashtag #SchoolEVEvents to find and share information with other organizers.  Let the public know about your event, share photos, share plans, share results!

Contact – Bob Erdman (bob.erdman@gmail.com) for questions, and help with resources.  Other contacts are being added as interest grows.

Bob is an EV enthusiast, who has been driving electric since 2013.  He is a board member of EVA/DC (Electric Vehicle Association of greater Washington DC), a member of MD VOLT and the Tesla Owners Club of the Mid-Atlantic.

School EV Events Article in the Electric Auto Association’s Current Events Magazine.  Starts on the third page.

For EV Owners – Information about volunteering to bring your EV to an Event

Link to Future Events – Information about possible future events

Future Plans – If there is enough interest, then this project may eventually be moved to another platform.