LEXINGTON, Ky. — Eight student teams from across Kentucky gathered on May 2 at Kroger Field for the fifth annual GEN-EV electric car race, a hands-on STEM education program hosted by the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research.

Maxwell Spanish Immersion Elementary School dominated the competition, with two teams taking first and second place. Cassidy Elementary finished third, while Rise STEM Academy for Girls, Duff-Allen Central Elementary School in Floyd County and East Calloway Elementary School in Calloway County also participated in the statewide competition.

The GEN-EV program, reported by the University of Kentucky, teaches students engineering and team-based skills while they design, build and race electric vehicles. Students spend a semester working as part of an afterschool club before competing with Goblin cars that reach speeds of up to 15 miles per hour.

"The question that totally frames the impact of the GEN-EV program is, 'How many fourth graders do you know that can read a wiring diagram and wire a car?'" said Shiela Medina, CAER's assistant director for policy and engagement and GEN-EV program director. "Over the five years of the program, we have touched the lives of well over 1,000 students across the state."

The program emphasizes hands-on technical work including troubleshooting electrical design, understanding physics concepts like aerodynamics and friction, and teaching students to fundraise by making presentations to local companies for sponsorships.

The timing of the program coincides with Kentucky's emergence as an electric vehicle manufacturing hub. The Commonwealth has become a premier location for EV manufacturing, battery production and infrastructure development, with companies including Toyota, Ford and others investing billions in manufacturing facilities. Since June 2020, Governor Andy Beshear has announced over $13.5 billion in EV-related investments, creating nearly 10,200 full-time jobs.

"As our state continues to grow its leadership in electric vehicle manufacturing, we are proud to help spark the curiosity that will inspire the next generation of the Commonwealth's workforce," said Rodney Andrews, Ph.D., director of CAER.

The GEN-EV program operates as a partnership between UK CAER and GreenpowerUSA, and was previously supported by the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet. Interested schools are encouraged to begin preparing now for next year's competition. More information is available at gen-ev-racing.org.