A multi-year partnership between
Hybrid Racing and EE Senior Design
The vehicle used in SAE competition is a series hybrid powered by a bank of ultracapacitors in series with an internal combustion engine (ICE). A generator motor converts mechanical energy from the ICE to electrical energy, while the capacitor bank serves as an energy buffer between the generator and the two electric hub motors, each of which is controlled by a Kelly motor controller.
The combination of the ICE, ultracapacitors and motors is the high voltage system, while monitoring and controlling the high voltage system based on user inputs is achieved by the low voltage system.
Each of the past three years, an EE Senior Design (EESD) group has worked with the Formula SAE Hybrid Racing team to develop and improve the required electrical subsystems for an SAE sanctioned hybrid vehicle. Based on the recommendations of the 2020-2021 EESD team, the subsystems that were changed and improved included the AMS (Accumulator Monitoring System), the Systems Status Interface, the Engine Feedback Loop, and a Motherboard Redesign.