EAST GRANBY — The students in East Granby High School’s technical education course received a car from a generous local businessman recently. And while they won’t be cruising the local streets with it any time soon, what they will learn from the car could help them become leaders of a burgeoning industry in years to come.

The vehicle, a 1975 electric Sebring Citi Car, was donated to the school by Mark Hann, an East Granby resident and president of Victory MotorSports Marketing Services. Hann decided that access to an electric car would be a great way for students to start learning about emerging "green" technologies and corresponding industry.

The gift was a blessing for the school, said teacher Tim Testerman.

"Every year we have the kids build electric cars, but they build little models," he said. "This really fits right in (with what I teach)."

Much to many students’ disappointment, Testerman has held back on letting students actually operate the vehicle just yet. Instead, he’s using the car to facilitate lessons on electricity, energy, power and transportation. Eventually, students will begin to physically dissect the car to see how it actually runs.

Either way, students are learning far more than what they would have without the car, said Testerman. He also called Hann’s contribution the most generous he has ever received from a parent in his 30 years in East Granby schools.

"We’re the smallest school system in the state, so change happens pretty slowly around here," he said.

The class is hoping to enter the car in the "Electrathon America" competition, which pits electric vehicles against each other in various competitions with the goal of promoting similar technology and efficient energy use. Testerman is also looking to create an after-school club that will focus on working on the car.

"It’s pretty exciting," said one of the students. "We don’t always get a chance to do stuff like this."

Hann said he was happy to spend a relatively small amount of money to help expand students’ horizons about technology and where it can lead them once they are ready to start careers.

"It’s important for kids to have the opportunity to look beyond what goes on in East Granby," he said. "Our next scientist or engineer could be right here in school."

Testerman is seeking donations of anything that could help students learn about the car, such as batteries, welding equipment or ventilation supplies. Any questions or requests for information on donating should be directed through the high school at (860) 653-2541.