The 2011 Purdue evGrandPrix

The second annual Purdue evGrandPrix, will be held April 30, 2011, at Purdue University and represents an innovative approach to developing the next generation of automobile – powered by electricity. Using electric powered go-karts, it inspires students to commit their creative energies to develop future electric vehicle technologies—technologies that will secure sustainable and environmentally responsible transportation for future generations.

The Purdue evGrandPrix is more than just a race – it represents the opportunity to change a generation. The event is designed to inspire college students to pursue a career in electric vehicles by studying science, technology, engineering or math (STEM). The United States is falling dangerously behind other nations in developing its future workforce of scientists, engineers, and technology experts. Industry innovation and efficiency is often times driven by those individuals with a background in the STEM disciplines. For the United States to compete globally, it needs a highly skilled workforce with STEM backgrounds to generate new technologies to produce economic growth and job creation. The Purdue evGrandPrix seeks to encourage students to pursue these fields of study on a national level.

The Purdue evGrandPrix event is organized by students from the Electric Vehicle Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS) teams and students enrolled in electric vehicle courses. The purpose of this event is to accelerate innovation through education. To compete in the Purdue evGrandPrix, multi-disciplinary student teams must design and build energy-efficient electric go-karts. Student teams work together to design, build, and market the go-kart event on Purdue’s campus and throughout Indiana, by partnering with industry, government agencies, and community outreach programs. The winner of the competition is the team that best blends kart design and community outreach with race placement and optimal efficiency during 100 laps of racing.

On May 7, 2011, Purdue will host the Inaugural Purdue Collegiate evGrandPrix at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. College teams from across the country will join us to design, build, and race electric vehicles, providing the stage for tomorrow’s scientists, technologist and engineers to apply new and exciting technologies learned in the classroom, and proven on the track.

The future of transportation is changing and the Purdue evGrandPrix looks to charge the innovation of personal vehicles with new and exciting technologies learned in the classroom and proven on the track. Join us as we develop new modes of transportation for the future fueled by clean and renewable energy.

The Electric Vehicle Grand Prix History

The Purdue Electric Vehicle Grand Prix was launched in 2010 as part of Purdue’s electric vehicle initiative. Purdue partnered with the leading technical universities and colleges in Indiana to establish a program to educate and train the workforce needed to design, manufacture and maintain advanced electric vehicles, and formed the Indiana Advanced Electric Vehicle Training and Education Consortium (I-AEVtec). The I-AEVtec will develop and offer Certificates, as well as Associate degrees for training vehicle technicians, BS and MS degree programs for design and manufacturing engineers in the electric vehicle industry and a Certificate program in electric vehicle safety for emergency responders. A leading engineering and technology university, Purdue seeks to train students and the Indiana workforce to deliver and maintain the electric vehicles of tomorrow.

Sponsorship Opportunities - Support the EVGP

The Purdue Electric Vehicle Grand Prix is creating new partnership opportunities for this year’s event, and offers sponsors significant community exposure through program ads, trackside banners, exhibit booths, t-shirt ads, web links, and more. Future plans include Purdue Electric Vehicle Grand Prix promotions to be aired on radio stations and the Internet, potentially reaching thousands of consumers across the country.

If your company is interested in becoming an event sponsor for the Purdue Electric Vehicle Grand Prix, please contact:

Steven R. Dunlop
Managing Director
Indiana Advanced Electric Vehicle Training and Education Consortium (I-AEVtec)
Purdue University
School of Chemical Engineering
Forney Hall, Room 2037B
480 Stadium Mall Drive
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2100
(765) 494-7800
Email: dunlops@purdue.edu

Resources

The 2011 Purdue evGrandPrix Collegiate Event represents an innovative approach to developing the next generation of automobile-powered by electricity.

The purpose of this event is to accelerate innovation through education, encouraging college students to study science, technology, engineering and math, and pursue a career in the electric vehicle industry.

Using electric powered go-karts, we hope this event will inspire students to commit their creative energies to develop future electric vehicle technologies--technologies that will secure sustainable and environmentally responsible transportation for future generations.

The future of transportation is changing and the Purdue evGrandPrix Collegiate Event looks to charge the innovation of personal vehicles with new and exciting technologies learned in the classroom and proven on the track. Join us as we develop new modes of transportation for the future fueled by clean and renewable energy!

Race rules, Kart guidelines, and updated information will be available in the Team and Driver Section or eMail Steve Dunlop: dunlops@purdue.edu

2011 Videos. Make sure to check out the evGrandPrix 2011 Videos that were taken throughout the race and join us again at the 2012 event at Purdue University (West Lafayette Campus)!