{"id":8055,"date":"2013-07-19T23:35:22","date_gmt":"2013-07-20T06:35:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/?p=8055"},"modified":"2013-07-19T23:35:22","modified_gmt":"2013-07-20T06:35:22","slug":"formula-student-winners-show-new-direction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/formula-student-winners-show-new-direction\/","title":{"rendered":"Formula Student Winners Show New Direction"},"content":{"rendered":"

First, recall the recent 24 Hours of Le Mans.\u00a0 The first five finishers out of 56 starters in the race were hybrid vehicles.\u00a0 Then think of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb this year.\u00a0 For the first time, an electric motorcycle outpaced all other bikes and one manufacturer, Zero Motorcycles, entered six bikes, three of which broke the existing record for electric motorcycles on the mountain.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Formula Student teams and cars make for an impressive display<\/p><\/div>\n

Now consider an event that is not as well known in the U. S., but which shows the direction that young engineers are taking in Europe.\u00a0 Formula Student, a competition bringing together the work of 2,000 students from around the world, saw the first two places taken handily by electric vehicles for the first time ever. \u00a0Held this year at the UK’s Silverstone Raceway, the event drew an international crowd.<\/p>\n

Switzerland\u2019s ETH Zurich won first place<\/a> with 921.3 points (of 1,000 possible), while German team UAS Zwickau took second with 851.5 points.\u00a0\u00a0 A \u201cpetrol-powered\u201d car from the University of Stuttgart came in third with 814 points, showing a clear gap between electric and fossil-fuel entries.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

ETH Zurich Formula Student electric car during one acceleration run<\/p><\/div>\n

Sponsoring agency Institution of Mechanical Engineers\u2019 (IMechE) claim that \u201cIt is believed to be the first time that an electric vehicle has beaten cars powered by combustion engines in any accredited\u00a0motorsport competition,\u201d may be mildly hyperbolic, but if they\u2019re sticking to cars and purely electric propulsion, they may be entirely truthful.\u00a0 And this certainly shows a direction that young engineers are following, one that could have massive implications for future transport.<\/p>\n

The 160-year-old Institution is the oldest professional engineering entity in Great Britain with over 100,000 members.\u00a0 The organization has been staging Formula Student for 15 years, with this year\u2019s event possibly seen as a milestone.<\/p>\n

Jon Hilton, Chairman of Formula Student, congratulated ETH Zurich, noting, \u201cThe electrically powered cars have made huge progress going from being unable to complete the 22 Km endurance event to winning overall in just five years. We are delighted by this progress but we will have to see what needs to be done in the future to ensure petrol cars remain competitive.<\/p>\n

“The standard of vehicles on display, and the ingenuity of the students who create them, never fails to amaze me. This year’s competition showcased exactly why these men and women are among the world’s best young engineers, and all who took part should feel very proud of what they achieved.”<\/p>\n

Formula Student cars have the look and feel of professional racing vehicles and show a level of sophistication in their engineering and design.\u00a0 Though not much bigger than a competition go cart, the cars have high power-to-weight ratios, as in this description of the University of Bath\u2019s entry.<\/a>\u00a0 \u201cThe car will weigh in at 155 kilograms (341 pounds) and is powered by a 58 bhp Aprillia V-twin motor, giving it a power to weight ratio of 374 bhp per tonne \u2013 about equivalent to a Ferrari 430 Scuderia.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite that, Bath came in only 17th in the acceleration test, with the first three places in that event taken by electric vehicles, showing a massive shift in technologies.\u00a0 The University of Stuttgart\u2019s E car topped everyone with a 3.686 second run.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Winning ETH Zurich team with their winning vehicle<\/p><\/div>\n

Officials gave point scores to each of several performance factors, including acceleration, skidpad, sprint, endurance, and fuel efficiency.\u00a0 \u00a0Endurance runs were only 22 kilometers (13.64 miles), something most electric entries could not finish five years ago.\u00a0 As with Formula 1 racing, it\u2019s possible to not win any individual event, but to have cumulative scores<\/a> that allow a driver or team to achieve a championship.<\/p>\n

Other scores for design, a business presentation, and a sustainability and cost study gave assurance that these future engineers would have technical and business skills.<\/p>\n

Such contests bode well for future development of efficient, quick, good-handling cars.\u00a0 With these designers getting into the aeronautical field, we may see some real breakthroughs with fresh vision.<\/p>\n

Readers can download the Formula Student program here<\/a>.\u00a0 It details competition rules, every car entered with specifications, and highlights the scoring system.<\/p>\n

ETH Zurich lists these specifications<\/a> for their winning car:<\/p>\n

Length:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>2890
\nWidth:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>1408
\nHeight:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>1236
\nWheelbase:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>1550
\nTrack:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>1200mm\/1160mm
\nWeight \u2013 no driver:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>175
\nWeight \u2013 distribution including driver:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>111kg\/127kg
\nSuspension:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Double unequal length A-Arm. Pull rod \/ push rod actuated spring \/ damper. Adj. Roll bar.
\nTyres:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>18.0 x 6.0-10 LC0 Hoosier
\nWheels:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>6.5 inch wide, carbon shell, alu. center
\nBrakes:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Floating, Steel, 190mm (front); 180mm (rear); hub mounted
\nChassis construction:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Single Piece CFRP Monocoque
\nEngine:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>AMZ M2; outrunner; self-developed AC
\nBore:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>–
\nStroke:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>–
\nCylinders:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>–
\nCC:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>79.85mm
\nFuel Type:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>electric
\nFuel System:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>U-shaped accumulator container
\nMax<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Power<\/strong><\/a>:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>2 x 40kW @ 4500 rpm
\nMax Torque:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>2 x 80Nm @ 4500 rpm
\nTransmission:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Two-stage gearbox
\nDifferential:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>no mechanical differential
\nFinal Drive:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>3.4145833333<\/p>\n