Formula SAE

Formula of the Society of Automotive Engineering (FSAE) is an international collegiate organization that give students a chance to take on engineering challenges through the process of designing, building, testing, and racing F1 style racing vehicles. Students who participate in FSAE gain a deeper understanding of engineering principles and get hands-on experience not available in a classroom setting. Students also gain experience working as part of a large team and develop leadership, communication, budgeting, and management skills.

Carnegie Mellon Racing

Carnegie Mellon Racing (CMR) is Carnegie Mellon University's Formula SAE Racing team. CMR consists of approximately 100 students, primarily studying Mechanical Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering. We build a 100% electric vehicle and we will compete at the Formula Electric competition in Lincoln, Nebraska. This past year, we took 2nd place overall and 1st place in the design category in the electric vehicle class in Formula Hybrid in Loudon, NH. We also took 8th place overall, and 3rd place in design, at Formula Electric.

Our Car

CMR 16e will build on the successes of its predecessor while making substantial changes to improve ease of manufacture and assembly and rebuild areas which need attention to improve performance. Major changes include use of new motor controllers, fabrication of front and rear aerodynamic wings, a redesigned accumulator container, and a more ergonomic driver compartment. Our car is powered by a 300V, 6.7 kWhr battery pack using 720 individual cells. That power is transformed to 3-phase AC and fed to two Emrax 228 electric motors which will put out a combined 80kW (107 hp) directly to Hoosier tires mounted on 10" wheels. At a predicted weight with driver  of 635 lb, CMR 16e will have a power to weight ratio of 0.17 hp/lb, 70% higher than a Tesla Roadster! All this power is transmitted through a custom software differential to propel CMR 16e across the track on a double wishbone, independent suspension with front and rear anti-roll bars. Stopping power is provided by disc brakes on all four corners, and the entire package is enclosed within a custom, carbon fiber body. Finally, an aerodynamic package consisting of a diffuser and wings enable us to drive hard into corners and pull the most performance out of the vehicle, and a low voltage sensor and safety system using a distributed architecture with custom PCBs and software keeps the driver safe while also recording data to tune the vehicle to perfection.

How We Use Donations

Building an electric vehicle is very expensive. This year's vehicle, 16e, is projected to cost us over $100,000. We need to buy raw materials such as steel, aluminum, and carbon fiber for the chassis and other mechanical parts of the car. We also need to purchase battery cells, electric motors, custom circuit boards, and other expensive, high-performance electronic components. These and other parts will be purchased with the money acquired through this campaign. Your donations will make it possible for us to have a class leading vehicle at Formula Electric this year!

Even more importantly, your donation will allow CMR to provide our members with a truly worthwhile experience. Members leave CMU with engineering, management, and teamwork skills that enable them to land the jobs of their dreams and to contribute the the next generation of automotive technology. Furthermore, vehicle electrification is an important step towards a sustainable energy ecosystem. The students within CMR gain hands-on experience working with electric vehicle (EV) technology and enter the workforce primed to develop new technologies for a greener future. None of this would be possible without your generosity. Thank you!