ARCHBOLD, OHIO –Students put into action what they learn in the classroom as they participate in the EVMotorsports Club at Northwest State Community College. Over 20 students work together each year designing and building a race car, fundraising and marketing, and ultimately racing at Indianapolis Speedway. The competition features colleges and universities from across the country, however, the race is just one small piece of the NSCC EVMotorsports experience.
Students prepare all year for the competition. Members of the EVMotorsports club and their advisors recently met with Doug Link, chief operating officer for Powers and Sons of Montpelier, Ohio. The company heard about the challenges facing the students each year as they work to update their design and rework the cart to make it more efficient and competitive. In 2014 the team completely rebuilt the brake system and this year they are working on a redesign of the steering system. Although the students and their advisors provide all the technical knowledge and hands on efforts, there are still costs to build the cart and to travel to Indianapolis to compete. When leaders at Powers and Sons of Montpelier, Ohio heard about this project hit really hit home as they are a major supplier of steering systems to Detroit automakers. The company reached out to the club to see if they could help and recently donated $1000 to help the students rebuild their steering column, update the electrical system and improve safety gear.
Spring is just around the corner and students are busily preparing for their race scheduled in mid-May. If any groups or schools are interested in learning more about the EVMotorsports program at NSCC the students are willing to speak to groups and share the story behind electric vehicles and the value of this technology. For more information or to donate to the club contact Dave Mohring at dmohring@northweststate.edu
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