Green technology speeding ahead ...at IM

23rd July 2008

at IMechE FS

 After the success of this year’s  world first low carbon racing event, the organisers of IMechE Formula  Student (FS) are  predicting that their low carbon racing event (Class 1A)  will become a permanent fixture in Europe’s largest student motorsport event.

The ‘A’ in Class 1A stands for ‘alternative.’ Teams can power their Class 1A vehicles using anything, even manure! The only criterion is that it must be low emission and not harm the environment. It is the first time any racing event has formally incorporated a low carbon category into their event, but the organisers see it as something which is sure to catch on.

Hertfordshire University’s entry raced to pole position in the environmental stakes when they won the world’s first low carbon racing event (Class 1A) with their virtually emission free hydrogen powered car, which produced just 144g CO2 per kilometre in the contrast to the average racing car entered into FS, which produces an average of 360g CO2 per km. The only real emission from Hertfordshire’s hydrogen car is water, meaning, as team member Alistair Wardrope points out “This car is so clean you can run it indoors, without any need for extractors.”

Oxford Brookes and Coventry also entered the event, powering their vehicles with hybrid systems and biofuels respectively. Oxford Brookes’ Craig Dawson added that “Soon, Formula One teams will be using hybrid systems - this technology has massive potential.” Even teams not entering vehicles into the low carbon event crafted fuel efficient vehicles, with Delft University, who entered a car into the main Class 1 event, producing a car so fuel efficient that it produced just 210g of CO2 per Kilometre.

IMechE took the decision to introduce a low carbon event in response to the current environmental agenda and the need for the engineering industry to provide workable solutions to environmental issues. As Pat Symonds, Renault F1 Technical Director and FS Ambassador commented “In the future low carbon cars will be a necessity, so it is vital our young engineers are working on solutions now.”

The event’s organisers are thrilled that the low carbon category has met with such support this year and are thrilled that it will not only go ahead next year, but become bigger and better. 

Pat Symonds continues: “I am proud that Formula Student is in no way a static event. We are moving with the times and reacting to the current demands on the motoring industry.”

FS is already considered, as Symonds says, to be a “differentiator” amongst employers so the enshrinement of an environmentally friendly category in its programme means that students will have even greater opportunity to hone the engineering know-how that will be in demand in the future. John Hilton, FS Chief Judge and IMechE fellow concurred: “The motoring industry has to strive to produce viable eco-friendly cars, not only because of the demands new legislation is making upon us, but because of the responsibility we should all feel towards our planet.

I’m also proud to be part of an event which encourages students to gain these vital practical skills”

Run by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), this year’s FS event (10 – 13 July) was the biggest in its history with approximately 3,000 students from 22 different countries attending. The event, regarded as a benchmark of excellence by employers, challenges students to design, build and compete in a Formula 1 style single-seater race car from scratch gaining valuable practical and management skills along the way. Stuttgart (Germany) were crowned overall winners of the event while Bath retained their title of highest ranking British car for the second year running, and came fourth in the whole competition beating over 80 teams from all over the world. 

This year’s overall winner was Germany’s Stuttgart University, who won every single dynamic event whilst Bath won the title of ‘Best British Team’ and came fourth in the whole competition. Stuttgart’s team leader, Simon Teufel concurred: “It was the first time any time won the every single dynamic event so it is amazing. It is also the first time we have ever won the event – it is like winning Wimbledon for us ” 

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