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What is the context of this research?

While there are many sponsors and donors for our team, the motor and controller are very expensive components that we simply cannot get directly donated. We have designed or acquired all of the other parts needed for the electric car, but now we need your help.

What is the significance of this project?

Electric vehicles are the future of automotive industry, and it’s time that the University of Washington Formula Motorsports team joins in on the effort to create a greener tomorrow. This year, the University of Washington Formula Motorsports team was proud to announce their intention to create and race their first electric car in the first Formula SAE Electric competition in Lincoln, Neb. in June 2013. We also intend to compete at the Formula Student Electric competition at the Hockenheim Ring in Germany in August.

What are the goals of the project?

Designs for our eCar have been finished, and fabrication has begun. However, the most costly part of building an electric car is the electric motor and its controller. The motor and controller are now all we need to finalize our electric vehicle, so all funds that are raised will be used for those two components.



The motor we have decided on is produced by Emrax. We chose this motor because it has the highest power density in the size range we need, and because of its low weight - both ideal characteristics for use in a race car. Our combustion car last year weighed approximately 186 kg (410 lbs), but electric drive systems tend to be slightly heavier, which makes cutting as much weight as possible critical to maximizing our overall performance.