This semester, four of the college’s undergraduate students started a UWM student organization with the goals of promoting the use of electric vehicle and decreasing the use of fossil fuels.
Pictured left to right are Jacob Mattioli (mechanical engineering), Brinn Blum (mechanical engineering), Garrett Kocourek (mechanical engineering) and Braeden Hills (civil engineering), who together launched the Electric Vehicle Club to give students hands-on experience converting conventional and human-powered vehicles (bikes, scooters, skateboards) to electric ones.
“We started EVC to leave a lasting impact on UWM and to teach students the importance of electrification of vehicles in a society where our dependence on fossil fuels is waning,” Kocourek says. “Electrification of public transportation is one of the best, and most feasible, ways to promote sustainability and make a significant impact in decreasing the consumption of fossil fuels.”
The club, which has eight members, is sponsored by Serial 1 (Harley-Davidson’s sub-brand specializing in e-bikes) and meets Wednesdays, noon-1 p.m. in the Kulwicki Garage. In April, Serial 1 donated two traditional bikes to the club, which club members will retrofit to function as EV bikes.