About Us
Hi, DesignSpark Community! We are University College London’s (UCL) Formula Student R&D team, and we’re on an exciting journey to develop UCL’s first-ever electric Formula Student powertrain.
When we began this adventure back in September 2023, we knew the road ahead would be filled with challenges. That’s why this year, we are so grateful to have support from RS, so that we can take our project to the next level!
Project Overview
Formula Student (FS) is an international competition where university teams design, build, and manufacture a vehicle. After several successful years with UCL’s combustion engine team, we decided it was time to take on the task of developing UCL’s first electric FS car.
For us, this project is about more than just engineering – it’s about teamwork, perseverance, and overcoming unexpected obstacles as a cohesive unit. Whether coordinating interdisciplinary efforts, managing time and resources, or navigating unforeseen challenges, every step has been a valuable lesson in teamwork and adaptability!
Development
In our first year (2023-2024), we focused not only on making key component decisions but also on building a cohesive team and developing a shared vision. Guided by our motto "KISS" (“Keep it simple, stupid!”), we dedicated countless hours to researching, discussing, and developing straightforward yet effective solutions for our single-motor drivetrain. Alongside this, we remained committed to learning and expanding our skill sets to stay aligned with industry trends, particularly the growing shift towards electric vehicles.
Our initial focus was on making critical component decisions, such as selecting the battery cells and motor. These choices were crucial for developing key parts of the powertrain, like the battery back, known in FS as the Tractive System Accumulator (TSAC). Using decision matrices to compare performance, suitability, and cost, supported by simulation and experimentation, we were able to make these tough decisions.
With the technical foundations laid, this year has been about improving and refining the design, further building on our findings from last year. We have increased simulation and experimental testing to validate our design choices and are putting considerable effort into refining our TSAC design. In fact, one of our main goals is to create a TSAC under 60kg which contains low-voltage sections or ‘modules’, but gives the high-voltage output required for optimal performance. Additionally, we are developing our electric drivetrain, including the essential shutdown system.
Challenges and Solutions
We are fortunate to have a team composed of students from diverse backgrounds and disciplines. With that, bringing together mechanical, electrical, and software engineers required us to develop a common language and workflow that worked for everyone. By listening to one another and playing to our individual strengths, we have become a cohesive team that communicates effectively, supporting and updating each other on a weekly basis.
Each challenge has been an opportunity to learn. For most of us, this is our first time working with integrated mechanical and electrical systems. Given that this is also UCL’s first electric FS project, much of our work has involved researching and self-teaching new skills, as well as seeking guidance from more experienced individuals within the university. We’ve relied heavily on collaborative problem-solving sessions and brainstorming to find solutions, and our ability to adapt and support each other has been just as important as our technical knowledge.
Results and Impact
Beyond developing a competitive electric powertrain, this project has shaped us into better engineers, leaders, and collaborators. The hands-on experience of tackling real-world challenges, working with limited resources, and making critical decisions has been invaluable.
With every lesson learnt, concept clarified, and decision made, we have remained diligent in documenting our work to ensure smooth knowledge transfer between current and future team members.
Thanks to the support of the RS Student Fund, we are now set to manufacture our drive system, with plans to see our powertrain operating and begin testing in the upcoming month. We have now successfully developed our Tractive System Accumulator Container (TSAC), marking a major milestone in the project.
Final Thoughts
Our journey towards building UCL’s first electric Formula Student car is well underway, but we still have much to learn. As we continue charging forward, we remain committed to learning, adapting, and innovating together. This project has shown us that collaboration is just as essential as technical expertise in engineering!
As we prepare to pass the torch to the next group of inspired and passionate engineers who will make up the 2025-2026 team, we are eager to see our work carried forward and ultimately brought to life in a Formula Student car.
We are so excited to see what the future holds for our team!
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