(Photo : Formule Polytechnique Montréal)

Formule Polytechnique Montréal - which designs and builds single-seater race cars - beat 54 teams in the final ranking of electrical category of the Formula SAE Michigan event, held June 15-18, 2022, at Michigan International Speedway in the United States.

The technical society won first place in the rankings through: its performance in "dynamic" events; by obtaining first place in the endurance event; a second place finish in the "autocross" event; a second place finish in the acceleration event; and fourth place in the skidpad lateral acceleration event. Formule Polytechnique Montreal performed well in the "static" events as well, earning top 10 finishes in the cost and design events.

From among the 30-plus people in the technical society that took part in the Formula SAE Michigan 2022 event, 27 were aerospace, electrical, computer, software, mechanical, or physical engineering students.

"The entire team is extremely proud of our win! For us, it wasn't enough to develop an electric car: we wanted a real race car capable of winning competitions," said Léo Dage, a Bachelors of Mechanical Engineering student, and Mechanical Technical Director for the 2021-2022 Formula Polytechnique Montréal season.

"Every team members’ work - especially the electrical and software team - was crucial to achieving this goal. This victory means that we’re even more motivated to develop the FPM23 car - even faster than the FPM22!"

A First "electrifying" victory

Long having competed in the combustion engine vehicle category, Formule Polytechnique Montréal transitioned to the electric motor vehicle category in early 2019. However, COVID-19 forced the cancellation of 2020 SAE events, and restricted the possibility of participation in 2021, so it was only this year that the technical student group was able to launch themselves into their new category. This victory indicates that team members were clearly not twiddling their thumbs during all those months of cancelled events!

"Since 2020, the team's goal has been to develop a completely new electric propulsion system that is as much about performance as it is about reliability. At the heart of this year's success, there’s a new 10.8-kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery with forced air cooling, as well as a dozen team-designed circuit boards, which, among other things, help manage battery safety and optimize vehicle dynamics," explained Dage.

"Further, even before the competition, the car was driven nearly 400 kilometers to enable us to validate all of its systems, and to ensure that the car would be able to perform once on the track," he added.

Even with this win, the Formula Polytechnique Montréal team is not resting on its laurels; they’re already working on the next-generation design of the single-seater car: the FPM23. It seems like they’ll be ready to defend their title at the 2023 competition. "The primary changes we’re looking at are to reduce mass, and increase fuel efficiency by implementing regeneration during braking and develop a grip control system," explained Dage.

Since 1986, the Formule Polytechnique Montréal technical society has welcomed any Polytechnique student interested in the design and construction of a single-seater car, regardless of their engineering field.

This competition marks the first electric vehicle victory Formule Polytechnique Montréal has earned since it decided to switch from internal combustion engines – but it’s not the first technical society to bring home e-honours. Poly eRacing - dedicated to the design and manufacture of an electrically powered single-seater - was active at Polytechnique from 2009 to 2019. Notably, Poly eRacing was the first technical society in the Americas to take part in the Formula Student Germany Electric competition, which in 2012, was the largest all-electric vehicle competition in the world.

From 2013 to 2019, Poly eRacing competed in the Formula SAE Lincoln (Nebraska, USA) electric car competition, where it placed fourth overall in its first appearance in 2013; it went on win an impressive third place in 2015 and 2016. In 2015, the technical society competed in the Formula SAE North (electric competitions portions) in Barrie, Ontario, and got the third place. Poly eRacing's activities were merged with those of Formula Polytechnique Montreal in 2019 – and as they say, the rest is history!

Congratulations to Formule Polytechnique Montréal technical society members!

Learn more

Formule Polytechnique Montréal website (French only)
Formule Polytechnique Montréal Instagram - @fsae_polymtl
Formule Polytechnique Montréal Facebook page
Formule Polytechnique Montréal LinkedIn page