SAN ANTONIO – Over 200 area high school students are preparing for a big electric car race later this month.
Students were able to do some test laps of the cars during a preview of the action on Wednesday at the Freeman Coliseum.
The practice is part of the Alamo City Electrathon, which takes place on April 20.
“This program is like, amazing, because it like allows me to get tools in my hands and really be able, to like, build stuff. And then, at the same time, I had to design stuff in CAD programs and stuff like that, and (it) just allows me to have some fun,” a participating student said.
The students are studying STEM subjects, so the goal is to make sure they get lots of hands-on experience.
“Driving it is really, really awesome. And also extremely stressful,” another student said. “You’re going like 40 miles an hour in a car that barely fits you. And it’s really tight, but it’s, like, exhilarating all the same time. It’s like driving a go-kart, but like, on steroids. And so, so fun.”
The South Texas Business Partnership website says the Alamo City Electrathon started in 2017, with just six high school teams competing.
By 2019, though, participation had doubled, with teams from across the region, including Boerne, Lytle, Northside ISD, San Antonio College and St. Phillip’s College.
In 2022, there were more than 20 cars included.
Tickets to this year’s event are free.