This article describes the creation of a university-based cross-disciplinary collaboration with elementary schools to address the challenges faced by teacher preparation programs in providing preservice teachers opportunities to design integrated STEM learning environments. The partnership focused on the design of an electric car unit and complementary materials. The rationale for this topic was twofold: to build capacity on "NGSS"-aligned STEM learning environment design among preservice and inservice teachers and to foster literacy on electric vehicles. The article also discusses the learning opportunities afforded to all collaborators and the lessons learned from the design and implementation process.