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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

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

 UoNRT re-launched its Formula Student project in 2016, following a break of five years.[5] The team designs a single-seat electric racing car to compete in the 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]

[edit]

Specifications

[edit]
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

[edit]
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

[edit]

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

[edit]
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]

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Specifications

[edit]
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

[edit]
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

[edit]

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

Current:

References

[edit]
  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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