For Pierre Cruse ’25, engineering has always been about solving real problems and understanding the systems behind the solutions. During his time at Wellington, that mindset drove independent studies on circuitry and solar panels, the construction of multiple e-bikes, and a project focused on sustainable power access in Zimbabwe. It also led him to Buckeye Current, Ohio State’s electric motorcycle racing team, where he spent two years helping build one of the fastest electric motorcycles in the world.
Pierre joined Buckeye Current through a connection at Ohio State’s Center for Automotive Research. As a sophomore, he observed team operations and learned from graduate students and senior teammates. By junior year, he was the only high school student on the electrical team. With minimal documentation to reference, he helped troubleshoot and rebuild key systems, especially the wiring harness, the core of the bike’s electrical integration.
The team was preparing for the Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials, an international land-speed racing event held annually at the Bonneville Salt Flats in northwestern Utah. The Salt Flats are a densely packed, naturally flat salt crust, ideal for straight-line, high-speed testing. Despite a series of setbacks, including a thunderstorm, hardware failures, and the loss of their primary battery charger, the team’s electric motorcycle, the RW-5 Voxan, set four new world records.
The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), the global governing body for motorcycle sport, founded in 1904 and recognized by the International Olympic Committee, is currently verifying the records. The RW-5 Voxan reached an average speed of 180.035 mph in the faired category and 168.593 mph in the non-faired category. Faired motorcycles, equipped with aerodynamic coverings, reduce wind resistance and generally achieve higher speeds than non-faired motorcycles, especially at high velocity where drag becomes a major factor.
Pierre’s work contributed to preparing, wiring, and testing the bike for those record-breaking runs. Over the summer between junior and senior years, he transitioned into a paid internship role and continues to support the team as they plan future improvements and prepare for their next goal: surpassing 200 mph. Reflecting on the experience, he called it “a magnificent experience,” a technical challenge, and a rare opportunity to contribute to a landmark moment in EV racing.
At Wellington, Pierre’s academic work has been equally applied. He helped develop a solar power solution for St. Lucy’s School in Zimbabwe, designed to provide lighting and phone charging capabilities, and will travel there this summer to assist with battery installation. He is especially interested in the intersection of sustainable energy, electric vehicles, and power systems that can serve under-resourced communities.
Pierre (top row, third from the left) on his WISE trip to Zimbabwe
This fall, Pierre will begin studying electrical engineering at Purdue University. His experiences at Wellington and with Buckeye Current have shown him how engineering can drive both innovation and access—and how public trust and communication are critical to progress. Whether designing systems that serve communities or pushing the boundaries of electric performance, Pierre is already thinking beyond the build to the broader impact.