La Feria Students Participate in First Annual Electric Car Contest

by Tony Vindell/LFN

The first annual electric car race was held with the participation of 32 schools and colleges from South Texas, including students from La Feria school district.

The competition was a way to demonstrate what the participants developed using parts to finish racing vehicles that are environmentally friendly.

UTRGV and Green Power USA teamed up to host the event held Saturday, April 7 on a section of the Brownsville-South Padre Island International Airport on Vermillion Road.

A group of students and instructors from La Feria school district brought in a racing car they built for the competition.

The students are Jacob Seymour, Alejandro Gonzalez, Tristan Alvarado, Karl Gonzalez and Alonso Salazar.

Gonzalez said the vehicle runs on 12-volt batteries, has its own circuit and is green, meaning it does not pollute like a conventional vehicle does.

“This project has given us good experience in (electric) engineering,” he said. “This also proves electric cars have a future.”

Joel Montemayor, one of two instructors, said the project gave students a hands-on approach working with the mechanical and electrical components on an electric vehicle.

During the race, cars from each school group went around a track as spectators watched from an area designated for that.