Bootcamp to promote EV technology

The Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technologyis running a free EVolocity bootcamp this Sunday to kickstart interest amongst secondary school students in electric vehicle (EV) technology.

The bootcamp at CPIT is the first of its kind in New Zealand and organisers plan to take the concept to the rest of the country next year.

“We were very happy to get involved in an initiative that helps secondary students engage with new technology in a practical and innovative way,” Kay Giles, CPIT chief executive says. “Electric vehicles are definitely the future as we explore better and more sustainable options for our world,”

“EVolocity gives students a chance to get involved, try out STEM – or science, technology, engineering and maths – subjects and see if it’s a direction they want to go,” Giles explains. “That is the first step to training people to fill skills gaps in New Zealand and promoting more innovation in our industries.”

During the day-long event, teams of students get to assemble components of a kitset produced overseas and selected by local educational engineering suppliers, Electroflash. The bootcamp will help students compete in the inaugural EVolocity high school competition this year.

EVolocity, sponsored by Orion New Zealand Ltd, is the brainchild of the non-profit Association for the Promotion of Electric Vehicles (APEV), and also includes a tertiary and open competition, a motorsport event, award ceremony and an electric vehicle rally.

“It’s great to be working with CPIT on this programme,” APEV executive director says. “Our hope is that as the school projects progress, students will get real insight into the advantages of electric transport, not just in terms of the environment but in terms of performance as well and that they will then share what they’ve learned with their parents and their communities.

“We also hope that the project will spark interest in science, technology and engineering and perhaps even lead to some commercialisation opportunities.”

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