Tesla sponsorship powers up student team
When you think about electrical vehicles, the name Tesla won’t be far behind. The UMSAE Formula Electric team recently received the sponsorship of a lifetime from Tesla, 600 individual cells that make up the battery of their vehicle. Every year the student team designs and builds an electric formula style race car to compete with against other university teams in North America. Students on the team come from a variety of engineering disciplines, including mechanical, electrical and computer.
“Having our design backed by Tesla has provided a sense of confidence in our work and serves as a clear example of the value behind what we are doing. Being able to work with a company of that caliber is an opportunity very few can say they have had, so I think we all have a sense of eagerness and excitement to make the most of this partnership.” -Kaya Jones, Accumulator Design Lead
Only 67 of 160 teams who applied, received sponsorship. The team received word that Tesla will ship the cells from the Gigafactory in Nevada in December. The new battery will be used in the design of the vehicle for the competition in 2025. Even though the sponsorship won’t be used for this year’s design, receiving it has provided significant motivation to the team.
“The Tesla Sponsorship marks a significant milestone for our FSAE Electric Team. Tesla’s support validates our team’s hard work and helps us develop a better electric vehicle and showcase Manitoba’s innovation on a global stage.” -Antony Zaky, Vehicle Control Software Lead
The team is currently assembling their vehicle as fast as possible so they can test it as much as they can prior to the competition in June of 2024 against 75 other teams. The university teams come from all over North America and come together to prove that their innovative design is the best in both static and dynamic events. The UMSAE Formula Electric team placed 14th out of 55 in 2022. Their goal this year is to be in the top ten.
“The feeling that comes with knowing that our team is endorsed by an iconic name like Tesla is immensely rewarding, and it absolutely justifies the amount of work that every member dedicates to this project.” -Brett Stevens, Executive Chair of UMSAE