A HANDS ON STUDENT PROJECT
Under the umbrella of MAKE Projects in the EPFL, the EPFL Racing Team is among the biggest scale projects made on campus. For the members of the team, Formula Student is an excellent way to put into practice everything learned in theoretical courses during the many semesters of their university careers. These students are either designing systems from scratch or improving systems tested on previous cars. From software to hardware, each part is made to perform best on track. These single seaters being composed of numerous complex interconnected systems, this project is highly interdisciplinary and brings students from many engineering specialties together. By the end of their experience as part of the EPFL Racing Team, every member gains key practical and theoretical skills through building the engineering marvels that these race cars are!
Mercury
The 2019 season’s battle-hardened team went to work on building the team’s second car: Mercury, which was completed in 2021. The new insider knowledge permitted us to improve the technology in the car, notably turning to composite fibre for the body and aero kit, as well as developing the electronics. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 FS racing season was cancelled, and the team had an extra year to perfect the design and manufacture. Although there were times quarantine prevented active work on the car, eventually the team again came together to build, in our new lab space on the EPFL Campus. Mercury went to FS Czech Republic, FS East and to FS Germany. Overall, the team celebrated a rule-compliant car which successfully completed the team’s first Endurance race on the Hungaroring in FS East! Since the competitions, Mercury has been used for testing: mainly checking the aero kit and verifying its maximum capacities.
FACT SHEET OF ORION
FRAME CONSTRUCTION Tubular space frame
MATERIAL E235 steel Tubing (round 25mm diameter and square 25x25mm)
OVERALL (L / W / H) 3002mm / 1432mm / 1200mm
WHEELBASE / TRACK (Front / Rear) 1570mm / 1250mm / 1250mm
WEIGHT WITH 68kg DRIVER (Front / Rear) 150kg / 196kg
SUSPENSION Double unequal length A-Arm. Push rod actuated horizontally oriented spring and damper
TYRES (Front / Rear) Avon 7.2/20.0-13 / Avon 7.2/20.0-13
WHEELS (Front / Rear) 7×13, 22mm offset, Al Rim, 4 stud bolt / 7×13, 22mm offset, Al Rim, 4 stud bolt
NUMBER OF MOTORS / LOCATION / MAX POWER 1 / Rear / 100KW
MOTOR TYPE Emrax 228
MAX MOTOR RPM 6000
MOTOR CONTROLLER Unitek Bamocar D3 700
MAX SYSTEM VOLTAGE 600V
ELECTRODE MATERIALS LiPo
COMBINED ACCUMULATOR CAPACITY 8.65 kWh
TRANSMISSION RATIO (PRIMARY / SECONDARY) 1 / 4,03
DRIVE TYPE 520 & 530 X-ring chain
DIFFERENTIAL Adjustable clutch pack limited slip diffe- rential
COOLING Single radiator, with fan on main-hoop bracing
BRAKE SYSTEM 4-Disk system, self made 220mm rotors,adjustable brake balance, AP racing callipers
ELECTRONICS Traction control, launch control, self developed BMS
FACT SHEET OF MERCURY
FRAME CONSTRUCTION Tubular space frame
MATERIAL Steel, 32kg
OVERALL (L / W / H) 3065mm / 1540mm / 1185mm
WHEELBASE / TRACK (Front / Rear) 1570mm / 1240mm / 1200mm
WEIGHT 223.5kg
SUSPENSION (Front / Rear) Double A-arms carbon suspension, pullrod / pushrod
TYRES Hoosier 43075 R25B 16.0 x 7.5-10
WHEELS (Front / Rear) 10” OZ magnesium rims with centerlock
NUMBER OF MOTORS / LOCATION / MAX POWER 2 / Rear / 52KW each
MOTOR TYPE Emrax 188
MAX MOTOR RPM 6500 rpm
MOTOR CONTROLLER Unitek Bamocar D3 400
MAX SYSTEM VOLTAGE 403V
ELECTRODE MATERIALS LiPo
COMBINED ACCUMULATOR CAPACITY 8.3 kWh
TRANSMISSION RATIO (PRIMARY / SECONDARY) 1 / 4,5
DRIVE TYPE Single stage planetary gearbox
DIFFERENTIAL Electronic differential with torque vectoring
COOLING Water cooled
BRAKE SYSTEM regen, adjustable brake balance, 175 mm self made floating discs
COMPETITIONS WITH mERCURY
FS CZECH REPUBLIC
The first competition the team has participated in in two years was a success. The team encountered a few obstacles during the inspections, including the flat floor that had to be removed. However, the EPFL Racing Team won the Scrutineering Stars award – the award for the best technical inspection.
FS EAST
On the legendary Hungaroring the team again faced challenges with certain aspects of the car, but ended up making EPFLRT history by finishing in Endurance.
FS Germany
The competition at Hockenheim is the most prestigious and demanding. THE EPFL Racing Team was confronted with many unforeseen events throughout the week. Nevertheless, we managed to participate in all the events.
Resultats
Autocross – 3rd place
Classement général – 5th place
DOn’t forget to stay tuned!
We regularly update our social media. You will never miss an event!
How can you become our partner
Send us an email at epfl-racing-team@epfl.ch or call us at +41 76 521 55 38.
For further information click here.