Overview
FH 10 marks a historic milestone for the Tufts Racing Team. With the generous support from Tufts University and the Peter and Denise Wittich Family Fund for Alternative Energy Research, FH 10 is our first car. Spanning the years 2008 to 2011, this car competed in the Formula SAE Hybrid competition.
FH 10 consisted of a hybrid in series drivetrain, utilizing a lightweight Briggs and Stratton engine supplemented by a NetGain Warp 9 motor. The hybridization allowed the car to carry a compact accumulator running six high powered lead acid batteries, a marked changed from the newer Li-Ion accumulators the team uses in more recent cars. The sleek design and complex powertrain made it a challenging engineering feat for the new team, but the final product proved a fundamental cornerstone for subsequent designs to work off of.
In retrospect, the FH 10 stands as a testament to the Tufts Racing Team’s endurance. The decision to run hybrid, the compact design, and the fully integrated aero package all point to a desire to make a competitive, highly engineered car regardless of the challenges.
FH 10 Throughout The Years
2008-2009
Embarking on our journey in 2008, the team hit the ground running by designing the car’s chassis and laying the groundwork for the powertrain, suspension, areo and packaging. As with all startups, none of this would be possible without the support of the community, and the hard work of engineers taking a risk on a project that spans far beyond any individual.
2009-2011
During these years the IC engine was integrated into the previously electric powertrain, marking the birth of a new hybrid vehicle. This small motorcycle engine complimented the lead acid batteries to then run the comparatively burly Warp 9, which could dump a massive amount of power quickly. For that reason, the hybrid powertrain ran in series, unique to a lot of other hybrids, with the B&S supplying the Warp 9 the added longterm muscle the batteries would otherwise have lacked.
With the car completed, we competed in FSAE 2009 for our first competition, achieving 5th place out of 22 teams and receiving 2nd place away for the “Hybrid in Progress” division. Coming back in 2010 with a full completed hybrid vehicle, we achieved 12th place out of 24 teams.
In 2011 we were invited by Tufts to present at their Energy Conference to talk about the benefits of using hybrid/electric vehicles over gasoline powered ones. Events like these along with Community Day allowed us to create strong relationships with the School of Engineering and the greater Somerville/Medford community.
Car Stats
| REGEN BRAKING | No |
| DRIVE CONFIGURATION | Series |
| ENGINE | Briggs & Stratton 1500 Series; Power: 8 hp @ 3600 RPM |
| FUEL TYPE | Gasoline |
| GENERATOR | Mars Electric ME0709 |
| DRIVE MOTOR | NetGain Warp 9; Power: 72 ft-lbs @ 2158 RPM |
| ACCUMULATOR | 6 Power-Sonic Lead Acid 12V 40Ah |
Images
