Students race electric vehicles they built themselves at national e-mobility contest

A competition in which university students race electric vehicles of their own design and construction will be held next month in Yeonggwang-gun, South Jeolla Province.

The Korean Society of Automotive Engineers announced Monday that it will host the 2026 Smart e-Mobility Competition for College Students at the Korea Automotive Technology Institute's South Jeolla Province branch for three days starting Friday.

This year's event will draw 45 teams and about 1,300 students from 39 universities across the country. Participants will drive their self-built electric vehicles on paved courses, competing on performance and overall vehicle quality.

The competition comprises four events: acceleration, gymkhana, driving performance and endurance racing. The gymkhana event tests steering capability and driving skill by requiring competitors to navigate an obstacle course quickly and accurately.

Final standings will be determined by combining results across all four events. The top overall team will receive the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Award, while the gold prize winner will receive the Gwangju-South Jeolla Special Integrated City Mayor's Award.

The competition goes beyond lap times. A separate KATECH Technology Award recognizes outstanding vehicle technology, and additional prizes are given for automotive engineering ideas and design.

The event was launched in 2019 to give university students hands-on experience in designing and building electric vehicles. It is co-hosted by the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers, the Korea Automotive Technology Institute, the Gwangju-South Jeolla Special Integrated City and Yeonggwang-gun.

Last month, students also competed in Formula SAE Korea 2026 (FSK 2026), a separate event in which teams design and build their own vehicles, including both internal combustion engine and electric models.