UoN Racing Team

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University of Nottingham Racing Team
AbbreviationUoNRT
Formation2016
PurposeDevelopment of Electric Vehicles
HeadquartersUoN Faculty of Engineering
Websitehttps://www.nottingham.ac.uk/engineering/studentexperience/uon-racing-team/uon-racing-team.aspx

University of Nottingham Racing Team (UoNRT) is the University of Nottingham's student-run electric vehicle team. The team comprises two sub teams, namely Formula Student and Solar Challenge. The University of Nottingham also used to compete in the e-bike area, with its Power Electronics Machines and Control Research Group (PEMC) from the Faculty of Engineering.[1][2] Working on new technologies they were awarded "best" EV at Formula Student UK 2021. The teams are currently developing a "Lighter, more efficient Formula Student car" and a 2-seater Solar Challenge car "designed around upcycled EV systems". The team relies on external sponsors to fund the development, manufacture and testing of the vehicle.[3]

Together, the two sub teams are made up of approximately 80 undergraduates, postgraduates, and faculty staff.[4]

Formula Student

UoN Racing Team's car, Frankie (FS2021), at the FS UK 2021 competition

 UoNRT re-launched its

IMechE Formula Student UK competition against other teams with both electric and conventional combustion engine vehicles.[6][7]

The team aimed to design and manufacture the UK’s first all-wheel drive electric car.[8][9] The first entries in 2017, 2018 and 2019 did not participate in the competition’s dynamic events; the team placed 63rd,[10] 61st[11] and 59th[12] respectively in these years. In 2020, UoNRT switched to a two-wheel drive powertrain and placed 19th out of 66 teams at the virtual static competition.[13]  

UoNRT returned to Silverstone in 2021 with a new 2WD car and achieved their best results to date.[14] The car placed third overall, and won "Best EV of 2021"[15][16][17] On top of this, the UoNRT Business Team came first in their competition, beating 108 other universities.[18] 

The 2021 car, named Frankie, will be used as a testing platform in 2021-22 as the team works on future projects including a new, lightweight drive unit and upgrading to a

carbon fiber chassis and suspension.[14]
 

FS2021[4][19]

Specifications

Name Frankie[20]
Number of Wheels 4 (2WD)
Maximum Motor Power 45 kW
Motor Torque 32 Nm
Gearbox 9:1
Torque Per Rear Wheel 288 Nm
Maximum Speed 60 mph
Battery Storage Capacity 6.5 kWh
Battery Voltage 405v at full charge
Battery Technology Li-Ion (pouch cell)
Chassis Construction Steel tube spaceframe
Bodyshell Construction Vacuum formed ABS[21]
Weight 296 kg

Competitions

Year Race Car Car Number Entrants Final Position Achievements
2017 FS2017 63rd
2018 FS2018 61st
2019 FS2019 59th
2020 FS2020 66 19th
2021 Silverstone FS2021 23 35 3rd[20][21][22] Business Team came first in their competition, beating 108 other universities.

Sponsors

The team relies on external sponsors to fund the development, manufacture and testing of the vehicle.[3]

Current:

  • ETPS Ltd
  • KISSsoft
  • Aerocom Metals
  • Autosport Bearings & Components Ltd
  • Bender
  • Calspan (FSAE TTC)
  • Charcroft Electronics
  • Clarendon
  • Cosworth
  • GKN Automotive
  • IPG Automotive
  • Lubrizol
  • Mathworks
  • Macdonald Consultants
  • Ohlins
  • RLS
  • KA Sensors
  • Percepio[20][19]
  • Easy Composites
  • Ansini[21]
  • Continental
  • Contechs
  • Scimitar
  • JWA Racing
  • Hel Performance
  • University of Nottingham

Former:

  • Anderson Power Products (APP)
  • Kistler
  • Raffenday EV
  • Parker

Solar Challenge

UoN Racing Team's Solar Challenge Vehicle SC2021

UoNRT started a new project in 2020-21 to build a solar-powered electric car to participate in Solar Challenge competitions around the world.[23][24][25][26] The guiding principles of solar challenge vehicles are to be ultra-efficient, designed for endurance, and push the boundaries of sustainable electric vehicle technology.[27]

This is the first time the University of Nottingham has set up a solar car project. The team are developing a Cruiser class car, and they are taking an approach focused on low-impact design and manufacture.[4] Alongside featuring 5m2 of solar panels, UoNRT’s first solar car will be adapting and upcycling parts from used electric vehicles.[4] The chassis is modified from a Renault Twizy base,[22][26] and second-life Nissan Leaf batteries are installed. They aim to be an environmentally-friendly alternative to the growing problem of dealing with end-of-life batteries from electric vehicles.[28]

The team aim to complete the first car in 2022, in time to participate in the European Solar Challenge[29][22][26] and prepare for the World Solar Challenge[27] in 2023. The team have said they will target further events around the world as the team develops.  

SC2021[4]

Specifications

Name TBC
Number of Wheels 4 (front steered and rear driven)
Solar Array Power 1 kW average on a sunny day
Solar Cell Efficiency 22-24%
Solar Array Size 5m2
Maximum Motor Power 10 kW
Maximum Speed 70 mph
Battery Storage Capacity 36 kWh
Battery Voltage 135 V (at full charge)
Battery Technology Li-Ion Pouch cells (Second life Nissan Leaf batteries)
Chassis Construction Steel tube spaceframe (modified Renault Twizy chassis)
Bodyshell Construction CFRP and vacuum formed ABS

Competitions

Year Race Car Car Number Entrants Final Position Achievements
2022 European Solar Challenge SC2022 TBC TBC TBC TBC
2023 World Solar Challenge SC2023 TBC TBC TBC TBC

Sponsors

The team relies on external sponsors to fund the development, manufacture and testing of the vehicle.[3]

Current:

References

  1. ^ Morris, Nigel (2019-06-11). "New electric lap record at 2019 Isle of Man TT Zero". The Driven. Retrieved 2022-11-05.
  2. ^ Williams, Alun (2015-08-05). "Nottingham's electric motorbike wins at Nurburgring MotoE". Electronics Weekly. Retrieved 2022-11-05.
  3. ^ a b c "University of Nottingham Racing | LinkedIn".
  4. ^ a b c d e "UoN Racing Team - The University of Nottingham". www.nottingham.ac.uk. Retrieved 2022-02-09.
  5. ^ "Formula Student 2011 Results".
  6. ^ "Formula Student", Wikipedia, 2022-02-02, retrieved 2022-02-09
  7. ^ Toulson, Gemma (2018-06-05). "Young Nottingham engineers to design and build electric Formula-style car". NottinghamshireLive. Retrieved 2022-11-05.
  8. ^ Toulson, Gemma (2018-06-05). "Young Nottingham engineers to design and build electric Formula-style car". NottinghamshireLive. Retrieved 2022-02-09.
  9. ^ "Racing UK's first ever all-wheel drive electric motor car at Formula Student". The News Room. 2018-07-27. Retrieved 2022-02-09.
  10. ^ "Formula Student 2017 results".
  11. ^ "Formula Student 2018 results".
  12. ^ "Formula Student 2019 Results".
  13. ^ "Formula Student 2020 results".
  14. ^ a b "Formula Student 2021 - The University of Nottingham". www.nottingham.ac.uk. Retrieved 2022-02-09.
  15. ^ "Formula Student 2021 results" (PDF).
  16. ^ "EVs and autonomy accelerate as Formula Student celebrates 25th year". www.imeche.org. Retrieved 2022-11-05.
  17. ^ "Nottingham power up for 2022". www.imeche.org. Retrieved 2022-11-05.
  18. ^ "Formula Student 2021 results" (PDF).
  19. ^ a b Team, Percepio (2022-02-04). "Tracing on the Race Track". Percepio. Retrieved 2022-11-05.
  20. ^ a b c Staff, E. W. (2022-02-23). "Teaching formula - The University of Nottingham Racing Team". Electronics Weekly. Retrieved 2022-11-05.
  21. ^ a b c "Ansini Teams up with UoN for the Formula Student Competition". Ansini. 2021-09-15. Retrieved 2022-11-05.
  22. ^ a b c Sowery, Kiera (2022-06-09). "University of Nottingham's first solar car". Student Circuit. Retrieved 2022-11-05.
  23. ^ "Racing to accelerate research into solar powered cars". www.nottingham.ac.uk. Retrieved 2022-02-09.
  24. ^ "Encouraging more women into STEM subjects this International Women's Day". Student Circuit. 2022-03-07. Retrieved 2022-11-05.
  25. ^ Sowery, Kiera (2022-03-07). "IWD: Contributing and learning in STEM". Student Circuit. Retrieved 2022-11-05.
  26. ^ a b c "Nottingham students build solar car for Australia challenge". BBC News. 2022-07-02. Retrieved 2022-11-05.
  27. ^ a b "Bridgestone World Solar Challenge | Australia". worldsolarchallenge.org. 2022-02-01. Retrieved 2022-02-09.
  28. ^ Pool, Rebecca (2020-07-11). "EVs, batteries and the multi-million-tonne scrap heap". eandt.theiet.org. Retrieved 2022-02-09.
  29. ^ "Teams – iLumen European Solar Challenge" (in Flemish). Retrieved 2022-02-09.
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