About evGrand Prix

evGrand Prix was started in 2009 at Purdue University. Professor James Caruthers in Chemical Engineering was awarded a $6 million grant from the Department of Energy to expand electric vehicle education through a competitive racing event. This was the beginning of collegiate electric karting.

	The inaugural race took place in 2010 with universities coming from all over the country to participate.
The evGrandPrix race is held annually in the Spring at Purdue University’s iconic Grand Prix Track, which also hosts the Purdue Grand Prix, the “Greatest Spectacle in College Racing."
	Each year, teams have pushed the technological capabilities of their karts further and further.  Similar to the early days of combustion engines, evGrand Prix allows for many different drive train combinations to be utilized.  Students are encouraged to research new technologies and implement them on their karts, whether it be new motors, high-powered batteries, or even cutting-edge telemetry systems.  This is, across the board, true engineering.
With a less complex drive train and battery system, high schools quickly got involved in evGrandPrix. Teachers started using the provided labs and curriculum to incorporate the go-kart project into their classroom.  High school electric karting had officially began, and schools were loving it.
	Purdue evGrandPrix has been going strong for more than a decade. The program is primed for strong growth and will continue to provide exceptional learning experiences for High School and Collegiate students through their work on these amazing and extremely fun electric go-karts. If you’d like to learn more, please contact Todd Nelson (tnelson1@purdue.edu), Managing Director of Purdue Motorsports.