Forget Formula One Racing, This Is Formula Hybrid
Formula One Racing is all about fast cars that exemplify the peak of engineering ability. In 1978, the Society of Automotive Engineers (which has become today’s SAE International organization) put together the Formula-SAE competition where colleges and universities from around the world would design small Formula-style racers and have a race each year. Three years ago, the Formula Hybrid International competition was born, where engineering students would create a hybrid-powered racer. The thrid annual event is taking place this May 4-6.
This year’s race is sponsored by Dartmouth College’s Thayer School of Engineering and will take place at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Louden, NH. The important rules of the race are fairly simple, though incredibly challenging: each team must build a hybrid vehicle whose gasoline engine does not exceed a displacement of 250cc (0.25-liters, which is about one-sixth the size of the engine in a standard compact car), diesel-powered vehicles are allowed a displacement of 310cc; teams are allowed to re-use the chassis from a previous years competition; and every vehicle must have a fuel-electric hybrid drivetrain. Sounds simple right?
The vehicles then go through a number of tests in the three-day event. The first day is devoted to technical inspection of the vehicles by the judges. The judging team is comprised of automotive engineers from some of the world’s leading car companies, motorsports and racing veterans, and other experts in the related fields. The second day includes an acceleration test and an autocross race, and the third day is an endurance race to see how long the hybrid racers can stay out on the track without breaking down.
You can find more information about the Formula Hybrid International Competition here (link opens new window).
Photos courtesy of Formula-Hybrid.org
