In Canada, 25% of our greenhouse gas emissions come from the transportation industry. The transition to electric vehicles is one way to reduce these emissions. As with any energy transition there are benefits and challenges. By raising electric vehicle (EV) awareness in schools, GreenLearning is fuelling this transition to a cleaner future, by helping high school students learn more about EVs and explore future career pathways through hands-on, real-world projects like vehicle conversions.
About the Project
GreenLearning is now Electrifying Ontario with its second electric vehicle conversion project, following our pilot in Alberta. We have partnered up with the Peel District School Board (PDSB) to bring this project to the talented students at The Woodlands Secondary School in Mississauga, Ontario. The students in Mr. Meneshian’s shop class have been eagerly searching for the perfect vehicle with an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) to convert into an EV.
“I’m so excited to get started on this electric vehicle conversion project with GreenLearning. It’s an amazing chance for our students to roll up their sleeves and dive into real-world automotive technology, all while working toward a sustainable future. The buzz from the students is contagious. They can't wait to get started!” - Vartan Meneshian, Head of Transportation, The Woodlands S.S.
The students at The Woodlands S.S. had been researching potential vehicles for the conversion, and after much consideration, chose the classic 1999 Mazda Miata! Mr. Meneshian was able to source the Miata from a previous owner which has now been delivered to the school, marking an exciting milestone for our project. With the vehicle on site students are excited to dive into the conversion process in the new year.
To prepare for this exciting project Mr. Meneshian travelled to British Columbia for specialized training in Electric Vehicle Technology and Service at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). This will mark our second time working with BCIT, as their training course ensures that our educators are equipped with the skills required to carry out a project of this scale. Upon returning from his training, Mr. Meneshian feels well-prepared and ready to begin the conversion with his students. Eager to get started, he has formed an EV club at The Woodlands, where students meet 2-3 times a week, after school and during their lunch breaks. The EV club has started the 2025 year with a bang, cleaning and prepping the car for the conversion kit.
Along with the EV conversion, GreenLearning will also work closely with PDSB to install a charging station at The Woodlands School. Not only will this support the converted electric vehicle, we also hope it will be a valuable addition to the school community. PDSB’s past experience facilitating charging station installations at other schools within the district, builds on our own expertise, providing a solid foundation for success.
GreenLearning also had the wonderful opportunity to connect with Mary Mallin from Plug’n Drive, who generously offered to donate a Level 2 Eaton charging station. This charger will serve as an educational tool in Mr. Meneshian’s shop class, providing students with the hands-on opportunity to explore and learn about charging technology. A huge thanks to Plug’n Drive for this opportunity and for supporting our next generation of innovators!
Powering Up in 2025
The Electrifying the Future project is in full swing at The Woodlands S.S. To kick things off, we ordered all of the necessary safety equipment and tools to begin preparing the Miata for its electric conversion. With gloves on, tools in hand, students at The Woodlands dove right into some hands-on learning. The EV Club continues to meet regularly during lunch hours and after school. Together, with Mr. Meneshian and the students, we created a weekly documentation sheet to track their progress, highlight what they’ve worked on, document any obstacles encountered, and share photos and videos of the process. Students shared their thoughts with us, saying “This GreenLearning project has really helped us grow. The opportunity to work with a classic car and make it electric is very cool and we love working on the car during our lunch breaks.” So far, students have removed the engine and brakes, installed new rotors and calipers, and tackled some cosmetic upgrades like removing rust and covering affected areas with sheet metal. Their technical skills and teamwork have been wonderful to see in action!
One of the most exciting moments has been receiving the long-awaited conversion kit from our partners at CanEV! We headed over to The Woodlands to unbox it with the students, who were thrilled to get a first-hand look at the components that will power their conversion.
Behind the scenes, GreenLearning has been working closely with The Woodlands S.S. and PDSB to plan for installing a Level 2 Flo charging station that will support student learning and public access. After several meetings with PDSB, we’ve identified the best location for the charging station, which will be accessible to staff, and eventually the wider community.
Sharing our progress has been just as important as making it. We’ve continued hosting our Electrifying the Future webinars, connecting with students and educators from across the country. The excitement is growing, and we’ve had many students express interest in taking on similar conversions on pleasure crafts and ATVs. GreenLearning is also very excited to announce that our EV conversion simulator is currently under development! 🚧This new virtual, interactive learning tool will guide students through a step-by-step simulation of converting an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle into an electric vehicle. The simulator will feature an animated demo comparing ICE and EVs, an interactive glossary of key components, and a high-level walkthrough of the EV conversion process. Stay tuned for updates- this exciting new tool launches this summer!
Resources for You
We believe that sharing our knowledge and experiences with as many people as possible is key in our transition to a sustainable future. To support this effort we’re developing a variety of resources to help spread awareness and understanding surrounding EVs.
One resource is our EV Pros and Cons graphic which highlights some common discussion points about electric vehicles, from environmental benefits and cost effectiveness, to charging infrastructure and drive range. It is designed to spark a conversation and provide a balanced perspective on EVs.
GreenLearning’s Charging Ahead newsletter is a great way to stay informed on the latest updates with our conversion project. It features a wealth of EV related resources, including tools and tips to help readers stay up to date with developments in the world of electric vehicles. Be sure to subscribe to stay connected!
In addition to these resources, we host engaging Electrifying the Future webinars throughout the year, where we share our experiences and findings from this exciting project. These sessions offer a closer look at the Alberta project, and provide participants with ways of scaling similar projects up or down based on the resources available to them. The webinars feature interactive segments where we explore myths and facts surrounding electric vehicles and play a rousing game of “Would You Rather”. Keep an eye out on our socials for upcoming webinar dates and follow the link to register. Feel free to contact us directly to schedule one for your class!
GreenLearning is supported by generous contributions made by Natural Resources Canada’s Zero Emission Vehicle Awareness Initiative, the RBC Foundation, and Trottier Family Foundation.
