UVM ASME team members at the eHPV race at UCF
UVM’s American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) team members at the Electric and Human Powered Vehicle Challenge (eHPVC) held at the University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando

This past month, a team of eight undergraduate students in UVM’s American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) section travelled to the University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando to compete in the ASME Electric and Human Powered Vehicle Challenge (eHPVC)—an engineering design and innovation competition that allows students to network and apply engineering principles through the design, fabrication, and racing of human powered vehicles.

Advised by ME associate professor Nic Fiorentino, this year’s eHPVC squad included riders Ben Rodgers, Matt Rodgers, and Dan Mazzarese, who were supported by pit crew members Alex Zaccardi, Luke Ste. Marie, Morgan Barnes, Connor Kilduff, and Grafton Lyons.

UVM students compete at the 2026 Electric and Human Powered Vehicle Challenge (eHPVC)

In only their second year competing as a team, the students debuted a new e‑bike design they developed over the past year that benefited from lessons learned at last year’s competition. Upgrades to the e-bike’s design included a new lightweight carbon-fiber frame with an exceptionally low center of gravity to improve speed, acceleration, and handling.

The eHPVC competition is divided into three components, with the overall ranking established from the e-bike’s performance in each category.

• A high‑speed drag race to test the top-end speed and acceleration of the e-bike.

• A demanding endurance race with technical obstacles to test the e-bike’s durability, cornering ability, and overall speed

• A comprehensive design review focused on engineering, safety, and testing.

The Electric and Human Powered Vehicle Challenge (eHPVC)

Facing off against various ASME and senior design teams from colleges across the nation, The UVM team’s innovative new e-bike design proved its mettle, taking home 2nd place finishes in both races to secure an impressive 2nd place podium position in the overall competition.

Despite being a competition, the event also fostered new inter-university friendships when the host team from UCF assisted the UVM crew when with an emergency repair after an essential bracket broke between races. 

Congratulations to all the team members on this impressive achievement! We’re excited to see where they place next year as they move forward with plans for an even stronger, more innovative design.

The trophies won by the UVM ASME team