Electric Auto Association to host annual EV Ride and Drive

In 2011 – before electric vehicles were mainstream and popular – Michael Hall chartered a small group of EV enthusiasts under the name “Electric Auto Association of Northwest Ohio.”
He was also working with Penta Career Center and Owens Community College students to build electrified go-karts using the expertise from professors at Bowling Green State University. His students, coupled with BGSU students, would take gasoline kart chassis and converted them to run on lithium batteries and brushless DC motors. This project involved assembly of the karts, assembling the battery packs, programing battery management and motor controller systems. The finished karts raced in a collegiate event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Fast forward 13 years and find the same group of EV enthusiasts holding their 12th annual electric vehicle car show held at Toledo Technology Academy of Engineering on Saturday, Sept. 28.
“By partnering with TTA, we can once again engage students interested in engineering and offer them some great hands-on tools to which they can apply the engineering skills they are learning,” Hall said.
“Our EV Ride and Drive event offers the public an opportunity to see today’s electric vehicles, and the importance of having programs available to students. Here, the patrons are allowed to get up close to EVs and talk to owners to determine if an EV is right for them. Many of the participants displaying their vehicles will offer the Ride and Drive experience as well,” he said.
Laura Kubiak, instructor for the Toledo Technology Academy program, said “The Toledo Technology Academy of Engineering is a magnet school for engineering science. Traditionally, they have emphasized the fields of mechanical and electrical engineering. The new Alternative Energy channel that was introduced in fall 2023 features basic mechanical and electrical skills with an emphasis on Environmental, Civil, Alternative Energy and Automotive Engineering.”
The program was developed by Ted Richardson, working at Toledo Public Schools as a science teacher, who had a passion for electric vehicles and alternative fuels.
“The AE channel is important because Toledo Technology Academy stays relevant with the ever-changing world of technology. The natural next step was to design a career program focused on sustainable and alternative energy. Incorporating electric vehicles into our curriculum ties in modern technology,” Richardson said.
“Students gain practical skills in site planning and field preparation, collecting scientific environmental data, solar array set up and construction, home energy systems, battery technology, mechanism and drive systems, watershed management and stream maintenance, and electric vehicle technology,” Richardson added.
The event, which is open to the public, will be held Sept. 28 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Toledo Technology Academy, 3301 Upton Ave. (the former DeVilbiss High School building. Signs will be posted to direct guests to the new EV lab.
There will be hot dogs and snacks, donation opportunities for guests to support of EV scholarships and more. Guests and participants are asked to register on the national website, driveelectricweek.org.