Students in Illinois Get Ready to Build, Race Electric Vehicles in ComEd’s EV Rally

Teens from across the region build high-tech electric go-karts while learning about clean energy and future STEM careers

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sixty teens are gearing up for ComEd’s annual EV Rally, a program that immerses students ages 13-18 in electric vehicles (EVs) and introduces science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) principles. The ComEd EV Rally is celebrating the 10^th year of this program by expanding participation to host the largest number of participants in the program’s history. These students will learn about the future of energy while connecting with ComEd mentors from across the company.

Over four pre-race events, students work with their mentors and teams to assemble electric go-karts while also collaborating with each other to complete educational STEM challenges. The program reaches top speeds on Saturday, August 1 at noon when the participants race their completed go-karts at The Fields Studios in Chicago.

“The ComEd EV Rally offers local students the opportunity to work with ComEd mentors and apply their STEM learning to build an EV that’s ready to race,” said Gil Quiniones, President and CEO of ComEd. “The future of the clean energy transition depends on this next generation, and we are dedicated to providing young students from across Illinois with resources, experiences and mentorship to support their development as STEM leaders of tomorrow.”

Illinois students between the ages of 13 and 18 were eligible to apply for the competitive program. The sixty participating students will each receive a $1,000 scholarship upon program completion.

Information on how to attend the race can be found at: ComEd.com/STEM.

“I am so excited to be returning to support EV Rally for the second year in a row,” said Ruthie Polinsky, Chicago Sports Network host and reporter and emcee for EV Rally Race Day. “Watching these students and mentors join forces to support one another is unlike anything I have been a part of before. I am inspired by the teamwork, competition and passion that these students showcase for STEM and cannot wait for another thrilling and successful race day!”

From its early beginnings as the Icebox Derby, this program has impacted its participants far beyond crossing the finish line at the end of Race Day. Many past participants have gone on to pursue other educational and employment opportunities through ComEd and Exelon, its parent company, including scholarship programs, mentorships, workforce development programs, college-level internships and full-time careers. Some have even returned to EV Rally to support the program as members of the Pit Crew – former program participants that volunteer to provide peer-to-peer mentorship.

“Participating in EV Rally 2022 was a formative experience for me as a young person pursuing STEM,” said Sydney Kirages, 2026 Pit Crew member. “Finding a space where I felt supported by likeminded peers and mentors was crucial in believing that I could pursue a career rooted in my passion for discovery and creation.”

ComEd’s dedication to educating the next generation of young people about STEM, zero-emissions vehicles and the energy transition reaches across northern Illinois. Since the start of the Icebox Derby in 2014, over 350 young people have participated in this program, receiving nearly $700,000 in scholarships from ComEd to continue their STEM education.

In addition to EV Rally, ComEd provides other STEM and scholarship programs to empower more students to pursue careers in STEM. Additional STEM and scholarship programs include ComEd’s Construct Youth Academy, Tools of the Trade, Power Up Academy and Future of Energy Scholarships.

To learn more about ComEd STEM programs, visit ComEd.com/STEM.

About ComEd

ComEd is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NASDAQ: EXC), a Fortune 200 energy company, serving almost 11 million electricity and natural gas customers – the largest number of customers in the U.S. ComEd powers the lives of more than 4.2 million customers across northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state's population. For more information visit ComEd.com, and connect with the company on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.