Miami high schoolers experience the electric thrill of racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway | Miami
This Saturday, innovative students from local Miami-Dade County Public Schools competed in the Electrathon race at the Homestead-Miami Speedway.
The event, supported by Florida Power & Light (FPL) showcased students’ electric go-kart creations as they raced around the track. The high school students designed, built and ultimately raced their vehicles while learning valuable STEM education skills like teamwork and collaboration.
Images from the FPL Electrathon electric car race at HomesteadInternational raceway in Homestead FL Saturday June 8, 2024 (David Adame/for FPL)
FPL donated the EV-building kits and trained students, allowing them to show their creativity and engineering skills to develop their own innovative electric kart.
Over the past few months, students from local schools, as well as Terra Environmental Research Institute, dedicated themselves to the Electrathon competition, building and racing their very own electric vehicle creations.
Images from the FPL Electrathon electric car race at HomesteadInternational raceway in Homestead FL Saturday June 8, 2024 (David Adame/for FPL)
With FPL’s EV building kits contribution, and training sessions, students fabricated an electric go-kart specifically designed for this high-energy race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
While speed wasn’t the primary focus, the students were challenged to craft the most efficient electric vehicle capable of traveling the longest distance on a single charge.
“We can’t really have a strong community without public education,” emphasizes Miami-Dade County Public Schools spokesperson Christian Carranza. “Having students that have these types of activities available to them so that they can really expand their horizons and hopefully come back to Miami and be the leaders we need in the 305.”
Images from the FPL Electrathon electric car race at HomesteadInternational raceway in Homestead FL Saturday June 8, 2024 (David Adame/for FPL)
“They’re learning not only about the future of sustainability but also how to be important collaborators and leaders in our community, and hopefully future EV drivers,” says FPL Associate Project Manager Isabella Burckhardt.
The race happened in conjunction with the Speedway’s “Give Back at the Track” charity event, where residents purchased laps to drive their personal vehicles on the track, with proceeds going toward the NASCAR Foundation.
To learn more about Electrathon and FPL, click here.
