The HTL Zero Emission Challenge is a nationwide competition in Austria focused on e-mobility. It was launched in 2022 by the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF) and initiated by Magna. The aim is to foster young talent through interdisciplinary teamwork, innovation, and sustainability.

The competition promotes hands-on learning, environmental awareness, and innovative solutions in the field of electromobility.
A key element is the actual construction of electric go-karts (E-karts), primarily carried out in the workshops of vocational schools – often as part of diploma theses, project work, or final assignments.

Vision
We envision a future where young people lead the way toward emission-free mobility through technology, creativity, and international collaboration.
Our goal is for as many vocational education and training (VET) schools as possible from Austria and across the EU to actively participate in the project — driving innovation, cooperation, and sustainable mobility across Europe.

Mission:
Our mission is to equip students in technical education with the skills, mindset, and opportunities to develop sustainable mobility solutions.

Through hands-on engineering, interdisciplinary teamwork, and cross-border exchange, we promote innovation, climate responsibility, and long-term partnerships among European VET institutions.

Values:
Fairness, teamwork, knowledge gain, enthusiasm for technology, and having fun are at the forefront. The spirit of competition is intended to inspire and motivate future student cohorts.

Teams can participate in the static events with their current development progress and completed products.

In the static events, the teams are evaluated based on their knowledge of design, calculations, manufacturing techniques, and quality assurance related to their respective E-karts.

The dynamic events include an acceleration run over a 30-meter distance, a slalom course, the skidpad event, and a race of approximately 8 kilometers.

Since 2024, the “Masterpiece” competition has been introduced, which awards projects related to zero-emission mobility and sustainable energy generation.

In 2024, around 200 students and approximately 90 teachers took part in the event.