Formula Hybrid

Formula Hybrid is a design and engineering challenge for undergraduate and graduate college and university students. Started at the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College, and sponsored by the Society of Automotive Engineers, the competition is a spinoff of the Formula SAE competition based on hybrid vehicle technology. They must design, build, and compete an open-wheel, single-seat race car. This car must conform to a formula which emphasizes drive train innovation and fuel efficiency in a high-performance application.

The contest are held at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, New Hampshire. It was founded in 2006. In 2013, an all-electric category was added.

The Formula Hybrid student automotive design competition encourages the development of hybrid automotive drive trains with an emphasis on efficiency in a high-performance application. Improved efficiency in an automotive drive system can be used to increase fuel economy, performance, or both. Building on the Formula SAE program, Formula Hybrid adds an extra level of complexity: fuel efficiency.

Like Formula SAE events, the Hybrid competition includes an acceleration test, autocross and endurance events, as well as engineering and construction static events. Unlike Formula SAE, Formula Hybrid events put a greater emphasis on drive train innovation and fuel efficiency.

Formula SAE Hybrid rules

For the Formula Hybrid competition conducted in 2007 and 2008, the Formula SAE rules for each of these years were utilized for the construction of the car, with the addition of Hybrid specific rules specifying the type of fuel and the hybrid definitions. Also defined are details of a competitor car that might be in the developmental stage defined as ‘Hybrid-in-Progress’ car. A 'Hybrid-in-Progress' is an all-electric car, under the idea that next year the car will be upgraded to a full hybrid powertrain.

The difference noted in the rules state that a ‘hybrid’ Formula car must complete a 75-meter acceleration run in electric-only mode in less than 10 seconds.
In terms of the engine capacities for the internal combustion engine, 250cc spark ignition engine or a 310cc diesel engine can be used.

Starting in 2009, the Formula Hybrid rules stood alone as a complete document, incorporating the necessary car construction and safety rules from the Formula SAE rulebook. One large change for 2009 was the fuel allotment. In 2007–2008, teams were given an allotment to cover the entire event. In 2009, this allotment was smaller, but was only applied to the endurance event. Teams were free to use as much fuel as needed for the other events, provided the car was filled by event officials.

Winners

Competition events

Acceleration runs

The acceleration is a test of the engines, motors, and vehicle weight; It is also a test of how efficiently the team achieve the coupling of the electrical and mechanical power-train systems. The acceleration runs are broken down to two different categories - the fully electric acceleration run and the unrestricted acceleration run. In the fully electric acceleration run the team are only allowed to utilize the power delivered by the electric system i.e., the accumulator pack (batteries or capacitors) and electric motor system. In unlimited acceleration, the teams are free to use any system (or combination of systems) they wish.

Autocross event

The autocross event involves an open loop circuit designed with chicanes, speed traps and slaloms. In 2007, the autocross competition was held in the parking lot next to the Turn 1 grandstands. In 2008 and 2009, the autocross competition was on a circuit built on the NASCAR oval track on turn 4. The competition event is designed to test the ability of the car to go around the circuit at maximum speed and drive around the tight bends and turns. The objective of the competition is to set the fastest time from the starting point and the ending point of the circuit. As with Formula SAE, the course is marked with orange traffic cones. Hitting a cone incurs a 2 sec penalty, while failure to follow the course results in a 20 sec penalty.

Endurance event

The endurance event is similar to the autocross track, except that it is closed loop and more spacious. As with the auto-x event, the course is marked with traffic cones; hitting a cone incurs a 2 sec penalty and a failure to follow the course incurs a 20 sec penalty. The Formula Hybrid cars are stipulated to drive a total of 22 kilometers in distance with one driver change pit stop at the half way mark. The pit stop can also be used to inspect minor details on the car by the team, but are not allowed any changes or allowed to add any fuel. The objective of the endurance race is to finish with the fastest race time while not running out of your allotted fuel. McGill University repeated this feat in 2008 where the only other team to finish the 40-lap race was Illinois Institute of Technology which finished second.

The 2009 endurance course was longer than past years, there were only 24 total laps to cover the 22 km distance, compared to 40 laps for 2008. A total of 6 cars finished the 24 laps: Texas A&M University won, with Cal Poly SLO second and Drexel University third. The other three finishers were University of California Irvine, Colorado State University, and McGill University, respectively.

Design event

The Formula Hybrid competition includes an analysis and critique of the engineering design and construction of the vehicle, with an emphasis on drive train innovation, fuel efficiency, and sustainable manufacturing practices.

2007 Competition

The 2007 Formula Hybrid Competition was organized in Loudon, New Hampshire at the New Hampshire International Speedway. A total of 6 teams participated in the competition. Though a bigger number of teams were registered for the competition, only these 6 teams were successful in getting a competitive car to the event. The six teams are the SAE teams from the universities of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Illinois Institute of Technology, McGill University, Dartmouth College, Florida Institute of Technology and Yale University.

The inaugural competition had three events that were designed to judge the hybrid Formula car and their performance. The overall winner is determined by two categorical events – dynamic and static events. The static events included a technical inspection, a safety inspection and the official weighing of the formula cars. The dynamic events included an acceleration run, an autocross race and an endurance event. McGill University finished the fastest in autocross competition and also finished fastest in the endurance race. Yale University's car was the fastest in electric-only acceleration. Florida Institute of Technology's car was the fastest in the unrestricted acceleration event. Florida Institute of Technology, Illinois Institute of Technology and Yale University, represented their school's first entry into any Formula SAE competition.

In the 2007 competitions, the official results were as follows:

1st Place Overall – Hybrid: McGill University

2nd Place Overall – Hybrid: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

3rd Place Overall – Hybrid: Yale University

Best Hybrid in Progress: Florida Institute of Technology

Most Innovative Design: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Best Hybrid Systems Engineering*: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Special note * = Prize sponsored by DaimlerChrysler AG (before the split to Daimler AG and Chrysler LLC)

2008 Competition

The 2008 Formula Hybrid Competition was organized in Loudon, New Hampshire at the New Hampshire International Speedway. Held for three days from May 5 to May 7, the competition saw the total number of registered teams increase to 15 teams; student teams from across the world like McGill University from Canada
MADI State Technical University from Russia
and National Chiao Tung University from Taiwan. A total of 12 teams arrived at the competition and 9 teams participated with a formula car on the track. The twelve teams were the SAE teams from the universities of Dartmouth College, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Illinois Institute of Technology, University of Vermont, McGill University, North Carolina State University, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Drexel University, Florida Institute of Technology and Yale University.

The second annual competition was conducted on the same competition pattern as in the 2007 competition (see above). The difference to be noted was the fact that the autocross in the 2007 competition was conducted in the parking lot of the racetrack. In 2008, the autocross event was conducted on the oval part of the NASCAR track on Turn 4. In 2008, there were a higher number of teams from across the United States. McGill University finished with the fastest time in the autocross competition as well as the endurance race. Dartmouth College's car finished fastest in both the unrestricted and electric-only acceleration runs. Illinois Institute of Technology was the only other team which completed the 40 lap endurance race. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University only managed to finish 32 laps while Drexel University managed to finish only 25 laps of the endurance race.

In the 2008 competition, the official results were as follows:

1st Place Overall – Hybrid: McGill University

2nd Place Overall – Hybrid: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

3rd Place Overall – Hybrid: Illinois Institute of Technology

2009 Competition

The 2009 Formula Hybrid Competition was held for three days from May 4 to May 6 with the first day dedicated to technical inspections by SAE, IEEE and industry officials. The number of registered teams increase to 30 teams, nearly four times the number of teams in the first year of the competition in 2007.

The student teams are coming from across the world like McGill University and University of Manitoba