High school students from across the region are once again being invited to take part in the Edison Motors EV Challenge, returning June 6, 2026, to be held this year at the company’s new facility in nearby Donald.
The annual event has quickly become a standout opportunity for secondary school teams to move beyond textbooks and into real-world design and fabrication. Participating students are challenged to build their own electric vehicle chassis using supplied battery and drivetrain components, before competing in a series of performance and skills-based events.
For communities like Golden and the surrounding Columbia Valley, the challenge represents more than a day of racing. It offers students early exposure to emerging clean technology and trades-based career pathways that are increasingly relevant in a region seeing growing investment in electrification, transportation innovation, and advanced manufacturing.
Edison Motors, founded in 2021 and now based just east of Golden, created the EV Challenge to help bridge the gap between education and industry.
To enter, a team requires a basic kit, available from Edison for a donation of $1,500.
Some schools pay for the kits themselves, some find sponsors, and some schools raise the money through a variety of efforts. Each team is then responsible for the balance of materials needed.
The local team at Golden Secondary School is fortunate enough to have Edison sponsor their kit.
By providing entry at relatively low cost, the program provides a practical opportunity to focus on innovation, teamwork, and practical engineering experience.
Folks wanting to support the event, there is a “sponsor and donation” button on the Edison Motors website.
Past editions have drawn strong participation from B.C. and Alberta schools, with teams spending months designing and building their vehicles before showcasing them at the event.
Organizers say the goal remains simple: give students hands-on experience with the technologies shaping tomorrow’s transportation sector, while building confidence and interest in technical careers that could one day keep talent working close to home.
Community Impact: Investing in the Region’s Future Workforce
Programs like the Edison Motors EV Challenge give local students something that’s often hard to access in rural communities: direct, hands-on experience with emerging technology.
As industries shift toward electrification and automation, the demand for skilled tradespeople, technicians, and engineers continues to grow. Events like this help bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world application, giving students early exposure to the kinds of careers that are shaping the future of transportation and manufacturing.
For communities in the Columbia Valley, that matters.
Instead of viewing innovation as something that happens in big urban centres, initiatives like the EV Challenge show students that cutting-edge technology is being
A Community Event
The EV Challenge is a registered nonprofit Charity; supporters can donate under “Events” on their website:
https://edisonmotors.ca/events/ev-challenge
The event is open to the public. Visitors and spectators are required to purchase their tickets beforehand on our website: $10 donation for general admittance, $20 for camping.
