Every year Rennschmiede Pforzheim develops its own racing car to participate in the Formula Student. (© Rennschmiede Pforzheim)
Students all over the world are working on modernizing mobility for a better sustainability in the future. They often organize themselves in teams at their university and even compete against each other in international competitions. HELUKABEL supports some of these teams by providing them with the connection and connection technology they need for their often spectacular innovative developments.
For example, “Rennschmiede Pforzheim” from the University of Pforzheim, Germany, received cables and accessories from HELUKABEL. The team has been participating in Formula Student, an international student competition for engineers, for more than 10 years. Every year, they develop a race car from scratch – initially with a combustion engine, but since 2021 with an electric drive. They take their car to various events around the world, for example to the Hockenheim Ring in Germany. Each team’s speedster competes in different categories, such as acceleration, endurance and autocross. Technical and business aspects are also assessed by the jury.
(© Rennschmiede Pforzheim)
Cables and wires for the young designers.
The team is currently designing their latest race car: the RSP23. HELUKABEL products are used in the wiring harness, for example. The transition to electric drive and the increasing complexity of vehicle electronics have recently increased the demand for cables ranging from sensor, power and signal lines to high-voltage cables that feed the drivetrain. A broad network of sponsors and technology partners is essential for the students and at the same time offers them a good opportunity to meet potential employers for their careers after university. In addition to Rennschmiede Pforzheim, HELUKABEL also sponsors the High-Octane Motorsports Team at Friedrich Alexander University in Nuremberg, Germany. Among other things, the cable specialists in Windsbach are manufacturing a special single conductor for them that is resistant to micro-vibrations in order to significantly improve durability.
Modifications and races also take place in the United States. Here, the competition is called the Formula Society of Automotive Engineers (FSAE). The concept is the same: student teams develop electrically powered racing cars and compete with them on the race track. The HELUKABEL USA subsidiary sponsors the Illini Formula Electric Team (IFE) from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Last year, students from various disciplines managed to implement four-wheel drive in their vehicle for the first time. This was a big step for the budding engineers, given that a technological shift of this nature also required new constructions and components. Thanks to its extensive range, HELUKABEL was able to supply the team with exactly the right components. HELUKABEL USA also sponsors the Rutgers Formula Racing Team from Rutgers University in New Jersey for the 2023-24 season.
From electric motor to solar boat
With a top speed of 265 km/h, the Delta-XE is the fastest electric motorcycle in the world. (© Team Electric Superbike Twente)
In the Netherlands, there are motorcycles on the road with just as much power. The HELUKABEL subsidiary has been sponsoring the Electric Superbike Twente Team for two years now. The students specialize in the development of electrically powered motorcycles and can already show off four successful models. Their current showpiece, the Delta-XE, has 200 hp and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in less than three seconds. During a competition in Finland last year, the team even set a record! Top speeds of 265 km/h made the Delta-XE the world's fastest electric motorcycle to date. In cooperation with HELUKABEL, the students were also allowed to present their development at the World of Technology & Science Trade Fair in Utrecht, the Netherlands. This was a truly wonderful and unforgettable experience.
For HELUKABEL, sponsoring up-and-coming designers is important for several reasons. “Firstly, we are directly involved in developments that can change the future of mobility and we learn a lot about the needs of the industry,” explains Ömer Durak, head of cable construction at the HELUKABEL factory in Windsbach. “Secondly, through the teams we meet a lot of talented people who are highly sought after by graduate employers. If one of them decides to come and work for us, that is definitely a positive side effect.” No further commitments are planned at the moment, Durak admits with a grin: “After all, we don’t want to disrupt the competition.”
You can also find this and many other exciting articles in the current edition number 13 of our customer magazine POWER. Read it now!
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