The Formula Student (FS) division of Team Inspired Karters Racing (IKR) secured the second place in the Formula Bharat Second Annual FS Electric Vehicle Concept Challenge held at Bengaluru in the first week of October. The event was hosted and sponsored by Ather Energy Pvt. Ltd – an indigenous electric-scooter-building company. The yearly event, conducted by Formula Bharat, serves as a platform for aspiring teams to present the design of their electric vehicle (EV) and get valuable feedback from professionals in the industry. The top three teams at the event get a direct entry to the next edition of Formula Bharat competition in the EV category.

The team, currently working rigorously to attract sponsorship, has received a significant boost in its morale from the results of the concept challenge. The team’s senior representative, Abhinav Choudhary, said, ‘The design is almost ready, and we are presently making final touches based on the feedback received from the challenge. In the meantime, we are also trying to get sponsors on board to help us procure the components needed for the car, and will hopefully bench-test them in the next semester.’

Abhinav also expressed his displeasure over the lack of space for both the combustion vehicle (CV) and the EV units to work simultaneously in the Boiler Room opposite FD-1. The team hopes to participate in both the categories (CV and EV) at Formula Bharat 2020. Until then, both the units will work as a unified entity under the banner of IKR-FS.

‘The idea of forming an EV unit took birth in the month of February,’ recollects Abhinav. Although the progress was slow in the initial stages, the learning curve became very steep and the team had to work extensively in the months leading up to the challenge. Having been exposed to industry-level professionals who have abundant practical knowledge, he feels that taking part in the competition was a step in the right direction for the team. ‘We’re now in a position to start manufacturing from next semester as soon as we get our hands on the components,’ said Abhinav.

With an ambitious goal ahead, the team is working as per the suggestions received during their outing, but are short on manpower. Hence, the team is on a lookout for enthusiastic individuals to help the team realize its objective. If everything goes as planned, the electric vehicle should be ready by December 2019.