The Formula Hybrid team has many exciting announcements regarding the 2010/11 year. With two year team leader Josh Campbell graduating and a strong need for a better electrical system on the racecar, the unanimous decision was made to elect 5^th year electrical engineering student Robbie Brar as Team Leader for the Formula Hybrid team.

The team has decided to use the 2009/10 car as the base for the new year while making substantial improvements to the electrical systems on the vehicle while improving quality of the existing mechanical designs.  The racecar’s patent pending drivetrain, designed by Josh Campbell has been re designed and will be donated to the Formula Hybrid team by Josh. Additionally, the 2009/10 Formula Hybrid racecar was already one of the lighter cars at their competition at 550lbs but they will be focusing on reducing weight through the further use of light weight composite materials such as Fiberglass, Carbon Fibre and Kevlar.

The rear end of the 2009/10 Formula Hybrid Racecar

The Formula Hybrid racecar was the first to ever have a front and rear Carbon Fibre wing at the Formula Hybrid competition and will be using these same wings again for the 2010/11 car. In an effort to remain cutting edge, the team is investing the addition of other aerodynamic components never seen before at the Formula Hybrid event. Stay posted for details!

Electrically the team is very excited to be implementing a National Instruments CompactRIO FPGA system, kindly donated by National Instruments and Dr. Eric Bibeau, NSERC Alternative Energy Research Chair and Professor at the University of Manitoba. The team is looking to implement a comprehensive data acquisition system with wireless telemetry with the CompactRIO, a driver display interface and a control system for their drivetrain and generator unit.

Rendering of the CompactRIO Assembly

Additionally they will be using a new generator unit incorporating a Brushless DC motor and a newly designed DC to DC Boost Convertor. The air-cooled Kevlar battery pods from the 2009/10 car have been redesigned to have a more efficient cooling profile and ease of manufacturing.

The development of this car, the 3^rd Formula Hybrid racecar for UMSAE is already well underway.