Electric Vehicle Bootcamp coming to CPIT

Electric Vehicle Bootcamp coming to CPIT

CPIT is running a free EVolocity bootcamp on 13 April 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. Electric vehicles are definitely the future as we explore better and more sustainable options for our world,” Kay Giles, CPIT Chief Executive, said.

“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. That is the first step to training people to fill skills gaps in New Zealand and promoting more innovation in our industries.”

Local company Yike Bike, whose founder is a strong supporter of the programme, is a good example of innovative local EV development, with the company now exporting their electric bikes overseas.

During the day-long event, teams of students get to assemble components of a kit set 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,” Rob McEwen, Executive Director of APEV said. “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.”

Key sponsors of the bootcamp resources and EV champions Schneider Electric have a long standing relationship with CPIT and were instrumental in establishing an electrical engineering lab at the institute.

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