K. J. Somaiya's engineering students together formed a racing team called Orion Racing back in 2006, and since then the team has always delivered on clever innovations in its racecars, which have raced in Formula Bharat as well as internationally. Now however, the team has chosen to move away from using internal combustion engine in its race car, and its latest electric race car 'Lemnos' will become the first Indian Formula Student Electric car to race internationally.
Orions Racing India's Formula Student Electric race car, the Lemnos
Orion Racing will also be the only Indian team at the Formula Student Electric Austria (Formula SAE) 2022 which will be hosted alongside 2022 Formula 1 Austrian GP on the Red Bull Ring, and Formula Student Electric Germany (FSG) 2022 which will be hosted at the famous Hockenheimring, as it gears up to go international next month.
The car derives its name 'Lemnos' from the Greek mythology, which means 'city of technology', and it surely lives up to the same. The electric race car uses lightweight components to offset the weight gained by the 430V battery pack, and uses several carbon fibre bits too. The battery pack of the car contains 6 individual cells, and it has some interesting tech behind it. Should the car detect malfunction in even one of the cells, it can immediately shut itself off automatically and allow the driver to safely come to a halt, protecting its components from further damages and keeping its driver safe.
The 430V battery pack consists of 6 individual cells.
The formula car carries over some tech from its predecessor, and has a similar silhouette as we've seen in the team's older Formula Student race cars. Driven by the instant torque produced by a single Emrax 228 MV motor which drive the rear wheels, it can go from 0-100 kmph in just 3.8 seconds and has a maximum power output of 134 bhp (100kW).
The electric race car features an advanced dash with many switches and a display.
Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd. has supported Orion Racing India from the beginning, and continues to do so as it believes that training the pioneering engineers about practical knowledge in such a young age comes in handy for both the students, as well as the companies. The alliance provides the up and coming engineers with essential "knowledge with what's happening in the country, much more than text books", as Anil G. Verma, Exec. Director and President of Godrej & Boyce said. "This kind of subject fosters interest", he added, as the company continues looking for "students who are good in theory but also good with hands" to join the manufacturing sector. Godrej & Boyce provided support to fabricate the multiple Aerospace grade components used in the car, which was done with the help of 3D printing and tooling school.
Orions Racing India aims to introduce driverless formula electric race car by 2024.
Orion Racing also previewed the driverless formula electric race car that the team is working on through a video showing the car using a laptop to drive its wheels and turn in corners. The technology is in its initial stages of development though and uses LiDAR technology to achieve the autonomous nature, with the team aiming to debut it by 2024. The team also plans to introduce a multiple motor setup in its next electric race car, which will make the car all-wheel drive and significantly improve its regen capabilities
Orion Racing drivers use their in house simulator for training.
We also got a chance to experience the teams' simulator device first hand. The team uses this device to train its drivers for the races, as well as to help develop car setups for each track. The system gives a very realistic driving experience and negligible costs, with the only obvious lacking factor being the g-forces experienced during driving a fast race car. The device uses entry level tech to keep the costs in check, and the wheel and pedals actually sit inside of the cockpit of an older Orion Racing car.
