Two engineering students work under the hood of an electric kit car.

Drive the Future

ASPIRE’s Summer EV Academy

July 27-31, 2026

Build an EV in 5 days!

This summer, high school students will go beyond the classroom and get hands-on experience building and understanding a real electric vehicle.

The ASPIRE Summer EV Academy is an intensive, 5-day STEM workshop where students learn how electric vehicles work by wiring, assembling, and exploring the systems that power them.

  • July 27-31
  • 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
    • Please arrive by 8:45 a.m.
    • Plan to have your child leave or be picked up no later than 4:30 each day.
    • Lunch provided.
  • Open to students entering 9-12th grade for the 2026-2027 school year.
  • Only 15 spots available! Apply today to save your spot!
  • Registration closes June 1.
  • Program costs $325. Registration fee includes all materials, a shirt, and lunches for the week.
Learn More
Register Now
An engineering student works on wiring for an electric vehicle system component under supervision.
Students work on wiring for an electric vehicle from Switch Vehicles' Switch Labs program.

What You’ll Do

In this weeklong workshop, students will:

  • Work directly with a real electric vehicle kit.
  • Learn the fundamentals of:
    • Electrical wiring
    • EV battery systems
    • & core vehicle components.
  • Explore how EV technology connects to real-world infrastructure and innovation.
  • Gain exposure to careers in electrification, engineering, and advanced transportation.

This is not a lecture-based summer program. Students will actively build, test, and engage with EV systems.

Register Now

A Unique Hands-On Experience

This program is built around the Switch EV platform. In this intensive 5-day program, students will build a street-legal electric vehicle system designed specifically for education and workforce development.

This program goes beyond concepts and classrooms, giving students:

  • Real-world experience with actual vehicle components.
  • A close look at how systems connect.
  • True understanding of what it takes to bring electric vehicle technology to life.
Register Now
Students at Bluegrass College installing electric motor in the Kit car from Switch Vehicles' Switch Labs program.
The Falcon — a Class 8 semi truck designed by Kenworth — sits on ASPIRE's 1-megawatt charging pad. Electric blue illustrations demonstrate the wireless power transfer that charges the truck without needing to be plugged in.

Why EVs

EVs are transforming how we move people and goods. From passenger cars to fleets, electrification is shaping the future of transportation, energy, and infrastructure.

Through this program, students will:

  • Explore current challenges and opportunities.
  • See how technologies — like wireless charging options developed through ASPIRE — are advancing the field.
  • Understand the “why” behind EV adoption.
This timelapse is from a similar program at WSU Tech where students built an EV from Switch Vehicles Inc.

 “This Switch Lab EV program offers something truly unique for high school students in Utah: a summer learning experience hosted at Utah State University where students can work directly with real EV technology. Through ASPIRE, students will gain access to a university environment, apply technical skills, and see how electrification connects to future education and career opportunities. Not many students can say they built and drove a real EV during summer break.” 

– Brandon Watt, Marketing & Community Manager at Switch Vehicles Inc.

ASPIRE is dedicated to powering the transportation grid of the future through electrified infrastructure, intelligent energy systems, and real-world deployment.

Please know we are committed to providing a productive environment that is welcoming and safe for all participants, is free from discrimination and harassment, and where all participants are treated with dignity and respect. Click here for a full description of our code of conduct.

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Jennifer Chavez.