NSU Spartan Electric:
Promoting Electric Propulsion
Designing, building, and racing electric-propelled boats — real-world engineering meets STEAM education.
What is PEP?
Promoting Electric Propulsion (PEP) is a national workforce development program managed by the American Society of Naval Engineers (ASNE) with support from the Office of Naval Research (ONR).
The program engages college students to design, build, and race electric-propelled boats — giving them real-world engineering experience, deep understanding of electric propulsion systems, and cross-major collaboration skills.
Norfolk State University participates in PEP as part of its commitment to preparing students for careers in STEM fields, naval engineering, and the rapidly growing electric mobility sector.
How PEP Works
Students gain hands-on experience across multiple engineering disciplines
Electric Propulsion
Teams design and build fully electric-powered boats, learning about battery systems, motor controllers, power electronics, and sustainable energy.
Design & Build
Students engineer craft from concept to completion — hull design, propulsion systems, electrical wiring, and waterproofing across the academic year.
Race & Compete
Teams race their boats against universities nationwide. The PEP26 competition features 46 universities, 57 teams, and 350+ students.
Autonomous Systems
Advanced divisions include GPS-guided autonomous boats and over-the-horizon shore-operated vessels — cutting-edge uncrewed technology.
Funded by ONR
The Office of Naval Research provides grants of ~$7,000 per team. Winners earn prizes up to $3,000 per division.
Career Pipeline
Students present designs to naval engineering professionals, building connections to careers in defense, maritime, and electric mobility industries.
Competition Divisions
PEP features six divisions across crewed and uncrewed categories:
- Crewed Planing Hulls — 5-mile race, max 55.5 volts
- Crewed Displacement Hulls — 5-mile race, max 55.5 volts
- Autonomous (GPS-guided) — 2-mile uncrewed race
- Over-the-Horizon — Shore-operated uncrewed vessels
- Budget Warriors — $1,500 budget cap challenge
- Open Class — No restrictions, push the limits
The 2026 competition takes place April 14–16, 2026 in Portsmouth, Virginia.
Event Photos
PEP26 — Portsmouth, Virginia
11 photos
Support Our Team
Your donation helps NSU students compete in PEP and gain hands-on STEM experience that launches careers.