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Go karts were racing in the parking lot of Inventrek Technology Park in Kokomo in late April. The racers zipped around a course set up by Purdue Polytechnic of Kokomo and Purdue Lafayette professors and instructors. But the familiar motor noise of small internal combustion engines puffing exhaust fumes was replaced with silence.
That’s because these go karts were powered by an electric motor with a battery. This was Purdue Motorsports high school EV Grand Prix Racing Test and Tune Practice.
The student team from Tipton High School was there in force, testing its 24-volt, 8-HP, continuous-powered, aluminum chassis racer through the curves and straights set up on the course, seeing how it handled and how much energy they could get out of it between recharges.
David Case, Tipton High School’s Automotive Technology teacher, explained that the THS race team is a club that was formed from Tipton Community Schools’ association with the Purdue Motorsports Electric Vehicle high school STEM outreach. Tipton School Superintendent Ryan Glaze, whose brother Randy is a visiting professor at Purdue’s Anderson Polytechnic campus, suggested to Case that he take a look at the Purdue EV kart program and possibly incorporate it into the THS STEM curriculum.
“As of right now, our EV program is a club,” noted Case. “The students have to write a STEM report and have to make a video on community outreach that is turned in before the spring race.”
Right now, the team has one kart, with hopes for expansion to add more. The cart itself is a kit that is purchased from Top Kart USA and specifically designed for STEM education curriculums. The students had to assemble the kit themselves before they could race it.
Student drivers and crew chiefs have to pass a driver safety test and go through a driver safety course online. There is a driver safety meeting at each event and a technical inspection of each kart.
At the Inventrek site, the Tipton team prepared its kart for Purdue’s EV Grand Prix race which was held on May 2. Director of Purdue Polytechnic Kokomo and South Bend Jeffery Griffin oversaw the test and tune event.
Griffin has high hopes for the EV kart program, and the high school STEM curriculum that is an integral part of the events.
“We would like to see more schools involved and add some Howard County schools as well,” said Griffin.
Case echoed the same thoughts.
“We are looking for sponsors,” said Case. “We have a few local businesses and some donations now but would like more.”
At the EV Grand Prix on May 2, Tipton driver Parker Fague finished in a three-way tie for 9th place overall in the program and on the day of the test and tune placed No. 1.