Electric Float Will Make History at 2025 Rose Parade

The La Cañada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Association is revolutionizing parade float technology with an innovative electric vehicle-powered design for the 2025 Rose Parade. The groundbreaking float, which eliminates traditional combustion engines in favor of electric power, represents a significant step toward more sustainable parade practices.

“As part of a three-year roadmap to streamline design, construction, and mobility, we embrace ever-changing advances and opportunities in materials and technology application,” says Ernest Koeppen, President of the La Cañada Flintridge Tournament of Roses Association.

The new float relies on six large battery packs totaling 150 kWh of energy and weighing over one ton, replacing two of the three traditional V8 engines previously required for hydraulics, animation, and propulsion. The organization selected Iron Phosphate chemistry for the batteries, prioritizing safety for close-crowd operations.

Creating the EV float presented unique engineering challenges. “There is no off-the-shelf reference for a 30,000 lb vehicle to run on battery power with ‘safe batteries,’ powering a myriad of balanced and unbalanced voltage draws and surges of various mechanized characters and objects,” Koeppen explains.

The float’s innovations extend beyond its power source. It features color-changing floral robotics achieved through mechanized carnations, maintaining compliance with parade rules requiring natural materials. The design incorporates 3D-printed robotic arms and RC servos to create dynamic lighting effects.

The project doubles as an educational initiative through the organization’s TechNovation Center, offering local youth free training in welding, design, CAD, fabrication, robotics, hydraulics, and electrical skills. Students can receive community service hours, and the organization is working with the school District to offer credit. The program operates under Koeppen’s Design Research Engineer Art Maker (D.R.E.A.M.) philosophy.

Four technology partners — JPL, Aerovironment, EV West, and TRL Systems — collaborated on the project. Plans are already underway to remove the final combustion engine next year and install a solar farm at the build site.