High schools across the U.S. are rethinking the role hands-on learning plays in the classroom. Traditional lectures can only go so far, especially in programs built around STEM, engineering, automotive technology, and sustainability.
Students want learning experiences that clearly connect classroom concepts to real-world scenarios, and that demand has made electric vehicle (EV) projects a natural fit for today’s classrooms.
The Switch Lab EV is a flexible teaching tool for recruiting students, keeping them in school, and helping them gain skills, enthusiasm, and confidence. With 450+ schools in the US and 7 other countries, our concept of hands-on CTE Education is used in extraordinary ways well beyond our original idea.
What that looks like in practice varies from school to school, but the examples below show how Switch EV builds are used across different subjects to support student success.
Examples of Student Success in STEM & CTE Programs
While each school approaches EV education differently, the stories below show how EV build programs can support a wide range of classroom goals.
1. Engineering Programs Focused on System-Level Thinking
Arvin High School students are building EVs from the ground up as part of an engineering-focused program. Rather than working with preassembled kits, students participate in every stage of the process, from design and planning to wiring and assembly.
The program emphasizes how individual components interact within a larger system. Students troubleshoot electrical issues, refine mechanical connections, and learn how changes in one area affect overall performance. Teachers involved in the project note that this closely mirrors how engineering teams operate in real-world settings, helping students develop both technical and collaborative skills.
For many students, this hands-on approach has helped them grasp engineering concepts more effectively than traditional classroom instruction alone.
2. STEM Classes Built Around Collaborative EV Construction
At Grand Lake High School, EV construction is directly embedded into a STEM class. Students are divided into teams, with each group responsible for a specific system such as wiring, battery integration, or chassis assembly.
This structure enables students to focus closely on one system while understanding how their work contributes to the overall vehicle build. Teachers use the build process to reinforce STEM fundamentals like measurement, electrical theory, and diagnostics.
By the end of the course, students have played a direct role in building a functioning electric vehicle while developing teamwork and communication skills along the way.
3. Sustainability Education Connected to Community Energy Goals
In Washington state, Friday Harbor High School’s EV program is supported through partnerships with local utilities such as OPALCO. This program positions electric vehicle builds within broader clean energy, alternative fuels, and sustainability efforts.
Students learn how electric vehicles fit into regional energy systems, including renewable power generation and emissions reduction. Classroom discussions connect this hands-on work to broader topics, including energy infrastructure and environmental responsibility.
By linking EV education to local sustainability initiatives, these programs help students understand how technical skills connect to real community energy needs rather than just individual career paths.
4. Automotive Technology Programs Preparing Students for Today’s Vehicles
Park City High School students are building an EV from scratch as part of an advanced automotive technology course. The project gives students experience working with high-voltage systems, battery management, wiring, and diagnostics.
Supported by grant funding, the program allows students to work with modern EV components while following safety practices used in professional environments. Instructors stress that this experience familiarizes students with the systems and safety standards now common in modern automotive work.
Students finish the program with a clearer understanding of how EVs differ from traditional vehicles, while developing the baseline skills that apply across many different types of automotive work.
5. Year-Long EV Design and Build Courses
Bellingham High School offers a dedicated engineering course built entirely around electric vehicle design and construction. Over the course of the school year, students move through planning, assembly, wiring, testing, and refinement phases.
The class balances technical instruction with hands-on build time so students can apply these new concepts immediately. Safety training and proper handling of electrical systems are primary focuses throughout the course to reinforce industry best practices.
By treating the EV build as a long-term project, the program helps students develop persistence, commitment, attention to detail, and confidence – while completing work that closely resembles real-world engineering projects.
The Benefits of Adding Switch Lab to Your Program
When EV projects are introduced, their impact often extends beyond a single class or department. Schools using Switch Lab EV have seen those benefits spread across multiple programs and grade levels.
Students gain real-world experience with electrical systems, diagnostics, and safety practices while working toward a shared goal. Teachers can connect lessons in math, physics, engineering, electronics, and environmental science to something tangible.
These programs align more closely with the technical and problem-solving skills students need in today’s automotive and clean energy fields. They also prepare students to obtain a range of industry-specific certifications.
More importantly, these projects put students in charge of real decisions throughout the build process. Instead of just following instructions, they’re solving problems, making decisions, and seeing how electric, mechanical, and safety systems work together in a real vehicle.
Powering Student Success Beyond the Classroom
There are many unique ways to use Switch Lab EV in the classroom. Some schools focus on engineering design, others on STEM collaboration, automotive technology, or sustainability. But what they all share is a commitment to practical, project-based learning that prepares students for success within their chosen career.
Switch Vehicles provides programs designed to support that approach, whether schools are just getting started or building out advanced pathways. By giving your students meaningful career-relevant projects, you can create learning experiences that they retain well beyond the classroom.
If your school is exploring new ways to engage students and strengthen technical education, Switch Vehicles offers curriculum, equipment, and program pathways that help schools move from idea to implementation.
With the proper structure and support, EV-based learning can help students build skills that extend into college programs, technical training, and the workforce.
So, make the Switch and check out our Switch Lab EV programs today and find the best fit for your class.
