As part of Cranfield University’s Advanced Motorsport Engineering MSc and Advanced Motorsport Mechatronics MSc, students were required to carry out a group design project which was designed to mimic working as a team on their first motorsport job.
The teams were tasked with designing an electric sportscar for international championship events. The car was to be an open cockpit design, similar in concept to a Radical RXC Spyder sportscar and would compete in timed circuit racing events set at 30 minutes plus one lap as a potential support series for the FIA Formula E championship.
The Radical RXC Spyder is the basis around which the teams were to design their electric racer. Credit: Radical Sportscars
The powertrain arrangement was free within the regulations, and so too was the driveline allowing for two-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive, and the motors and differentials could be of any type. Motor speed was also unlimited, with the front wheels permitted for drive and regeneration as well as torque strategy being completely free. The electrical storage must comprise of identical independently enclosed modules, each with a maximum of 10 kilowatt-hours of electrical storage, 200 volts and 50 kilogrammes of cells. It was the intention of the organisers that these modules can also be marketed for other types of motorsport.
Electrical storage modules could be cooled by air or liquid, but no interconnection of liquid circuits between modules is permitted, while phas...