Formula E - the racing of electric cars - is a recent update to auto racing that's gaining popularity across America, including on the campus of Brigham Young University.
Designing and building a raceable vehicle has been a multi-year effort. The first year the students dove into the project with a huge amount of excitement and energy but a very small budget. As enthusiasm and support continued to grow, the team was able to secure funding and the support of more students through a dedicated Capstone team. The team is proud of the fact that almost every part of the vehicle has been built at BYU.
The Formula-E club has had so much student interest that last year they had over a hundred active members working on the car and were able to produce a fast, drivable, competition-worthy vehicle. An amazing feat for only a 2nd-year team! The team was able to travel all the way to the competition in Michigan and passed the technical and safety inspections, only to fail the last inspection–the rain test. But building their drivable vehicle in one year was an incredible achievement. With Formula E being a relatively new competition among universities, most schools are working on their first-generation vehicles, finding problems and refining performance. Last year only 35 of the 80 university Formula E teams were cleared to race this last year with the rest not able to pass the required safety checks in order make it to the starting line, just like BYU. The group aims to improve the car and its performance this year and be able to redeem themselves at the 2025 competition this summer.
Building that racing dynasty will take time, consistency and great race results, but the students involved in the team are already reaping the rewards of working together on the car. With a focus on solid engineering, the team is proud of what they’ve been able to achieve. When team members interview for jobs, the resume item that recruiters find most interesting is their Formula E experience. Being a part of the Formula E group, as in any big competition-related team, not only provides students have an opportunity to hone their engineering skills, they also gain a family through the long hours they spend working and overcoming challenges together.
When the team leaders returned from the competition in Michigan, they felt a bit downhearted, and they worried about the group losing momentum. But when they came to the first meeting back in Provo, they were welcomed by the greatest number of students the club had ever seen. That BYU racing dynasty might just be closer than they think. Good luck to the team this year!