After 10 years, EV Rally Is Still Inspiring the Next Generation of STEM Leaders

Tania Sandoval still remembers that time in 2017 when she went searching for STEM learning opportunities for her kids. At first, she was frustrated – most STEM camps she found were too expensive.  

Then Sandoval came across a Facebook post about an Ice Box Derby. Sponsored by ComEd, the experience of building and racing homemade go-karts was free to northern Illinois students – they needed only to apply. 

What began with one application eventually became a family tradition. Sandoval’s two daughters participated first, giving the family an early look at the program. 

Students assemble an electric go-kart at EV Rally build day

Eventually, the Ice Box Derby would be renamed EV Rally, and by the time the Sandovals’ youngest – Ishmael – was old enough to join, eligibility was extended beyond girls to boys, as well. 

The EV Rally, celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, has evolved in size since its Ice Box Derby Days, from 45 students to 60. But its mission has remained the same: preparing the next generation of STEM leaders. 

Students work alongside ComEd employee mentors to build electric go-karts by applying STEM concepts. Mentors offer technical guidance while giving students a closer look at careers in the energy industry. 

Families of the students are welcome to watch the action during “build nights.” It made a major impression on the youngest Sandoval, who watched his sisters and the other students with a sense of awe.

“I remember looking at everything and thinking, ‘Wow.’ They are building a car right in front of me,” said Ishmael. 

Ishmael races the electric go-kart he built with his team

The experience culminates in an epic race day, where teams put their go-karts on the track. Between race laps, the teams complete STEM challenges that test the knowledge and skills they developed throughout the program.  

It simulates the real-world pressure of having to apply knowledge in a short time, with high stakes.  

In Ishmael’s case, working alongside teammates and mentors made him approach problems from different perspectives and showed him how collaboration can play a role in STEM beyond the classroom. 

“EV Rally showed me that STEM isn’t just something you learn in school,” Ishmael said. “You actually get to experience it, and that made me even more excited about what I want to do in the future.” 

For Tania Sandoval, it was satisfying to see her son gain the same value from participating as her daughters had. 

“To see him come out of that shell is good for me,” Tania said. “He’ll ask questions, try to make a good impression and try to be a good leader.” 

EV Rally may center on building and racing electric go-karts, but the experience asks students to do much more along the way. They have to make decisions, adapt when something does not go as planned and rely on the people around them to reach the finish line. 

This year, the Girl’s Division Green Galaxy team competed for the checkered flag with the Boy’s Division Teal Turbo team. All 60 students who completed in this year’s program also received a $1,000 scholarship, recognizing the work and commitment they put into the experience.  

“It’s such a good opportunity because the kids feel like they built something,” said Tania. “They accomplished something. They earn the scholarship because they put the work in. 

While the prize and the bragging rights carry over from year-to-year, no two EV Rally experiences are exactly alike. Students enter the program with different interests, personalities and levels of exposure to STEM. Some may discover an interest they had never considered before. Others may become more comfortable speaking up, working with a team or imagining themselves pursuing new opportunities in the future. 

That sense of accomplishment has been at the heart of the program for the past decade. Over that time, EV Rally has given more than 350 students the opportunity to challenge themselves, build new skills and explore STEM in a hands-on way, while providing nearly $700,000 in scholarships to support their educational journeys.  

To learn more about ComEd’s STEM programs and opportunities for students, visit ComEd.com/STEM.

The 2026 EV Rally cohort on race day