Schaeffler Iberia supplies the bearings for the transmission of the electric car “Formula Student 2019” from UPM Racing.

The students of the Polytechnic University of Madrid presented, on July 30, the car with which they will compete in the Formula Student 2019 . This international competition brings together engineering students from around the world with the challenge of designing, manufacturing and competing with a car in various static and dynamic tests.

The UPM Racing team emerged as an initiative of INSIA (University Institute of Automobile Research) and brings together students from different engineering schools of the Polytechnic University of Madrid. Formula Student represents a great opportunity for students to gain valuable experience developing a real project. In addition, it is a great personal experience, which tests the ability to work as a team of students.

Schaeffler has collaborated in this project as a sponsor and has provided parts for the preparation of the vehicle transmission 

This will be the 16th participation of the Polytechnic team in this competition and represents an important commitment to electric mobility . The UPM 03Eis a single-seater powered by four electric motors , one for each wheel, capable of providing an acceleration of 0 to 100 km / h less than 3 seconds . In addition, this configuration allows the racing car to obtain the advantages of four-wheel drive .

schaeffler formula student 2

It has also been a challenge for the team members, since it has been necessary to develop a transmission for each of the engines and in a very small space. Javier del Fresno, a member of the transmission department within the team, commented that “in electric motors, it is necessary to multiply a very high turning speed in a very small space. To achieve this, we have developed a planetary gear transmission , which has also had bearings provided by Schaeffler, from whom we have received practical advice. ”

The configuration of the UPM 03E is not a novelty for Schaeffler . Two of the most relevant prototypes of recent times, the 4ePerformance and the Schaeffler Move, have in common the propulsion by means of four electric motors, one per wheel. In this sense, one of the challenges for team members is the so-called torque vectorization , that is, the management of the power that each wheel receives according to the needs of each driving moment, which must be recalculated and adjusted to great speed to provide proper behavior.

The other great novelty of this year's car is its chassis , which has left the tubular configuration behind and, for the first time, is a carbon fiber monocoque type , which provides greater rigidity and lower weight. UPM students will participate this year in two tests of the Formula Student calendar, which will take place in the Hockenheim and Montmeló circuits during the month of August.