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

Switch Vehicle students at SEMA

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

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.

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!

 

The Five Most Anticipated EVs of 2023

Here Comes the 2023 EVs

As 2022 comes to a close, it’s time to look forward at the year ahead! The Electric Vehicle market is exciting and growing every year– both in what ‘Detroit’ is producing, and new, emerging brands on the market. New designs, new innovations, and new improvements are making EV enthusiasts salivate. Our Las Vegas trip to SEMA was a wonderful experience. We met and worked with some incredible people on their way up in the EV market!

The exchange got us excited– not only for the young generation of teenagers with an active interest in the EV build and repair future, but for the incoming crop of EVs being shown off all around our booth! In particular, 2023 is showing a surprising trend towards affordability. Switch Labs’ time at SEMA gave us a sneak peak at the future of Electric Vehicles in the North American market. We’re very excited for the 2023 lines, and we thought we’d introduce the five EVs we’re most anticipating in the market.

1. The Toyota bZ4X

Toyota is not new to the EV market, and the EVs they offer are not all that surprising for the company’s history and commitment to EV technology. What is surprising is the quality compared to other high-end luxury offerings. A fast-charging, sporty SUV, the bZ4X begins at $42k and has an approximate range of 252 miles per charge. 

2. The Fisker Ocean

Some cars just seem to surpass what you currently hope an EV will be. The Fisker Ocean understands what makes internal combustion cars exciting and fun, and translates that into the EV market. Some of the options offered will turn this roomy SUV into a convertible with one touch of a button. Add to all the things the Ocean offers the price: their most affordable model, the Ocean Sport, retails at $37.5k.

3. The Hyundai IONIQ 6

He Ioniq 6 line’s sleek design, roomy interior, energy efficiency and surprising ticket cost are all fine, but what makes the new Ioniq stand out is the pixel system, using 8-bit concepts that a generation grew up on to queue them into what the car needs. It’s the video game car of the future for Generation X!

4. The Cadillac Lyriq

The first EV Caddy on the market is as stylish as it is innovative, with a brand-new approach to battery construction. A phenomenal range (estimated 312 miles) makes it efficient and gorgeous, for the EV owner who doesn’t want to skimp on grace. Cadillac’s long-standing commitment to gent;e suspension and weight distribution is still in effect in the Lyriq. If you’re interested, start queuing now– the Lyriq has been sold out in pre-orders for some time.

5. The Nissan Ariya

The many different configurations of the Ariya offer range, four wheel drive or all wheel drive (e4ORCE, Nissan’s dual engine AWD system), self-parking systems, 360 degree camera systems, and more, for a range of prices that are well worth the investment.

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.

The Top Five Electric Vehicles on the Market

Peter Answering Questions

The Top Five Electric Vehicles on the Market

We’re just one month away from our most important annual event– the SEMA show is coming up next month (November). There are a few differences to this year’s show; for one, the EVs have their very own section, the Electrified Hall. We’ll have our Switch Labs presentation at booth #24731 in the Central Hall. If you’re coming to Las Vegas for SEMA, don’t miss our presentation, which includes an opportunity to work on a real Switch Labs vehicle being assembled in front of attendees.

SHOW HOURS

Tuesday, November 1, 9:00am – 5:00pm
Wednesday, November 2, 9:00am – 5:00pm
Thursday, November 3, 9:00am – 5:00pm
Friday, November 4, 9:00am – 4:00pm

Each year, we get a first-hand look at what the industry has to offer, from the purely conceptional to the next-generation must-haves. We looked for a scaled rating on the top five current electrical vehicles on the market, and found an excellent one in the U.S. News & World Report page. 

If you’re looking to pay the pump back for the overcharging that began with the Russian invasion of the Ukraine, taking the plunge and moving to an EV is an excellent start. Here’s the 5 top-rated EVs on the market currently:

  1. 2022 Volvo XC40 Recharge

Volvo’s luxury electric SUV has a lot going for it. Nimble, beautiful, and with intuitive technology, the XC40 Recharge boasts a perfect safety score, surprising acceleration, great balance. The negatives seem to be limited to a middling range and a smaller cargo hold than its class usually commands.

  1. 2022 Tesla Model S

The 2022 Tesla Model S ranks very high for its unbelievably pickup and speed, as well as its terrific range and fuel economy. However, it’s not as posh as some rivals, and there’s no Android Auto or Apple CarPlay included.

  1. 2023 BMW iX

BMW has set a new bar for luxury electric SUVs with the iX. It has all the speed, function, and luxury you’d want in an SUV and in an EV. Its only drawback is a hefty price tag.

  1. 2022 Lucid Air

The Lucid brand is an astonishing debut at #2. A sleek electric sedan with the elegance of a sports car, the Air offers roomy interior, great pickup, terrific range, and lots of trunk room. But beware of the price tag!

  1. 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS

It’s fitting that Mercedes-Benz has produced an EV at the top of the list. It’s got the things you expect in a Mercedes-Benz: the opulence, the roominess, the performance, the oomph… but it also offers an impressive driving range.

Is this the year you’ll make a switch? We hope so. It’s time to stop feeding fossil fuel companies and to begin an age of renewable energy in our commutes. All of these vehicles have great potential to take us into the 2030s with grace and substantial fuel savings. This new 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.