The following documentation has been designed to get you and your team into a design mindset focused on building your very own electric vehicle!
If you have questions or need extra guidance, get in touch: submit a technical query online.
Getting started
This is all about the fundamentals that underpin any good build. Take careful note of the information in this section, and you’ll be off to a good start!
Designing for Performance Events
How steering and wheels work on a vehicle is key to ensuring your vehicle is manoeuvrable and rolls freely. In this section, we talk about concepts that will help your vehicle perform better.
Visit our Design Guidlines & Regulations page.
Design Concepts
Understanding Steering & Wheels
The chassis
The chassis is the framework of the vehicle, and this needs to be sturdy and durable for race day. This section will give you some key characteristics to consider.
Body design and Aerodynamics
Body design not only makes your vehicle look good, but it is also functional and can improve performance. This document covers some key design points and what a body shell can be made from. Take note and let your creativity take over!
Gears and transmission
Enabling the motor’s power to reach the drive wheel effectively and efficiently is critical. Electric motor speed ‘tops out’ quickly, so it is important to utilise the huge low-speed torque through a few gears to reach a high top speed for the vehicle. Read on to learn more!
The Controller and Gathering & Displaying Data
Learn about coding and programming an Arduino for your electric race vehicle.
Reporting
Exemplary body design report from Mahurangi College 2020 – A great resource for ideas
Computer-aided design tutorials
Fusion 360 tutorial series