Students Bring Home Awards from EV Competition

Two students from Pleasant Valley Secondary School’s Electric Vehicle (EV) Challenge Team took part in the second annual Edison Motors High School EV Challenge on May 31, 2025, at the Merritt Rodeo Grounds.

PVSS trades teacher Peter Tujik was very pleased with the finished product his students built and raced. Tujik, along with students Kris Borough and Bella Stuart-Brown, took the EV to Merritt where their build was tested in a speed race, a barrel race, an obstacle race and a mystery challenge, which turned out to be a straight line acceleration and braking contest. Fastest time from the start line to a full stop in the brake zone 100m away. Although not winning, the PVSS EV went through all of the events and didn’t have a single breakdown, one of the very few to do so!

“Our car ran flawlessly in all four events,” he added. The PVSS EV received third place in the barrel race as well as an honourable mention for the design and engineering of their cart. “It was a very successful weekend for Kris and Bella.”

Both Bella and Kris drove the cart. Kris commented he enjoyed the challenge of the obstacle course the most while Bella liked the barrel racing. The team sends a big thanks to Rob Ellis at Rellish Transport Services for sponsoring the school team again this year.

The High School EV Challenge aims to spark interest in electric vehicle technology among young Canadians as they prepare to enter the workforce. This competition provides an exciting opportunity for students to explore their role in shaping the future of sustainable mobility. The 17 participating schools, which were from B.C. and Alberta, each received basic components for an EV Go Kart, including driver’s seat and seat belts, brake and steering system components, and electric motor, batteries, system controller, and display.

During the build, so that their EV would qualify to compete, students had to ensure that:

• Maximum operating voltage of 78 volts DC.
• Properly installed and undamaged seat belts and crash helmets for drivers.
• Structurally sound chassis as determined by the Edison Safety Team.
• No dangerous metal protrusions.
• Fully operational brakes and steering systems.
• Secure and insulated electrical connections.
• Properly installed main battery cutoff switch and circuit breakers.
• Appropriately gauged wiring for all electrical components.

To encourage hands-on learning and creative problem-solving, certain components (e.g., the vehicle chassis) are not provided, nor are detailed construction instructions. Students received only basic design and engineering guidance from Edison Motors staff, as the competition is designed to foster independence and ingenuity, so that the resulting EV designs reflect the creativity and engineering talents of the students involved.

Winners of each event received a $500 scholarship. The overall winner won a $1,500 scholarship. The leader of the winning team is also offered a paid summer position at Edison Motors to further develop their EV fabrication and engineering skills.

Edison Motors and the businesses that help sponsor the teams in the competition hope to inspire student growth and interest in several key areas:

• Engineering Skills: Enhancing both mechanical and electrical expertise.
• Critical Thinking & Organizational Skills: Developing the ability to address engineering, performance, and safety challenges efficiently while working within time and resource constraints.
• Creative Problem-Solving: Encouraging innovative solutions to longstanding engineering problems.
• Teamwork: Highlighting the value of collaboration in achieving a common goal.

Tujik explains that the school does plan on taking part again next year. He adds that Edison Motors is building a new high school competition track beside their manufacturing facility in Golden. Next year A.L. Fortune Secondary in Enderby will also be taking part in this event!