How To Get Switch Lab Electric Vehicle Assembly Kits In YOUR School

In November 2022, The Switch Vehicles team attended the SEMA Show in Las Vegas and built one of our vehicles with the help of several students. The students who participated in the SEMA build were thrilled to participate, for it allows them to flex the Electric Vehicle assembly skills they’d been learning in school.

What Educators Have To Say About Their Switch Vehicles Experience

When asked about the STEM Curriculum that the Switch Vehicle program offers, Mr. Kenny Bowlus, the automotive training instructor at Cherry Creek Innovation Campus in Centennial, Colorado, had this to say about the Switch Vehicles program.

When In Doubt, Invite The Decision Makers To See For Themselves

Adam Arndt, a high school automotive instructor, told us he invited two critical decision-makers to join his high school’s hot rod automotive team at SEMA to see how the automotive industry is growing. These two decision-makers were his high school principal and the education program coordinator for the State of Utah.

Mr. Arndt said that they were impressed when the high school principal and education coordinator started walking around SEMA. They got to see how large the automotive industry is, what repair tools were required, how parts are made, and the growing importance of training on EVs. At the end of the SEMA Show, these two education decision-makers were excited to pursue the purchase of Switch Vehicles and other STEM-focused curricula that would create a winning solution for high school students in vocational tech programs throughout Utah.

How to Sell the Switch Labs Program to Your School Administrator

If you feel the students within your high school, CTE, vocational tech, or college program could benefit from gaining hands-on experience building a Switch Vehicle, it is important to share your ideas with your School Administrators.

First, make a case for why the Switch Labs EV Kit and Curriculum are valuable.

With Electric Vehicle technology on the rise, there is a shortage of trained technicians outside of the manufacturers who can build or repair them. Due to this shortage of qualified EV technicians, the job market is eager to find people who have the skills to build and repair Electric Vehicles. If your school wants to stay competitive by providing training for leading-edge EV technology, then the Switch Vehicle assembly kit is ideal.

Second, the Switch Lab curriculum is designed for CTE and STEM programs.

CTE students are looking for a vocational program that will teach them the skills they need to be competitive in the workforce. With the rise in EVs and the lack of trained EV technicians, the Switch Lab fills this niche. Students receive hands-on training in designing, building, and testing an electric vehicle. Because the Switch vehicle provides complete access to everything, the training is future-proof and transferable across EV makes and models.

STEM students are interested in hands-on projects to prepare them for college and potentially a career in engineering, robotics, or physics. With the Switch Kit, students master STEM competencies while learning the fundamentals of electric vehicle design, assembly, battery technology, aerodynamics, and more.

The Switch Lab™ is an unforgettable class experience that also develops sought-after workforce skills, including communication, teamwork, adaptability, work ethic, and problem-solving.

Third, Finding Funding to Purchase The Switch Lab™.

The Switch Lab™ has been funded by many state and local organizations, including The California Energy Commission, Sonoma Clean Power, The Clean Cities Coalition, and the CTE Foundation. While these are all California-based programs, other states have issued RFPs and grants for schools to purchase The Switch Lab™.

Reach out to your local CTE and energy companies to share your interest in expanding your programming to include EV technology. Now is the ideal time to share this idea with your school district or administrators so they can include it in their 2023 budget planning.

Fourth, you’ll want to enroll in a train-the-trainer workshop.

At Switch Vehicles, we offer train-the-trainer workshops across the country, where instructors experience The Switch Lab™ the same way their students will by building, testing, and then driving the finished Switch EV as a complete project-based learning process. The training is 4 ½ days and is appropriate for teachers from all disciplines – Auto Shop, Engineering, Physics, Robotics, Maker, and more. Manuals, textbooks, presentations, curriculum, and membership in the Switch Curriculum Club are all included.

Upcoming Instructor Training Workshops:

February 20, 2023, @ Switch Vehicles Headquarters in Sebastopol, CA
March 20, 2023, @ Saddleback Community College in Mission Viejo, CA
April 17, 2023, @ Switch Vehicles Headquarters in Sebastopol, CA
May 8, 2023, @ Switch Vehicles Headquarters in Sebastopol, CA

Learn by gaining hands-on experience building a Switch Vehicle in 2023.

Is this the year you’ll make the switch? We hope so. The Switch Lab™ is an engaging hands-on project that your students will love and will make learning complex topics fun and interesting. This new EV technology isn’t ahead of its time. It’s right on time.

Our reusable EV Kit is ideal for students interested in renewable energy, advanced technology, or automobile design. The Switch Lab teaches students how to work with their hands, solve problems, learn about systems, and gain experience in cutting-edge automotive technology. Contact us today to learn more about how Switch Vehicles can benefit your school. Let’s grow the EV tech future together!

Month: February 2023