The Formula Student Lisbon, a group of students from the Instituto Superior Técnico, closed the 2023/24 season with its best results ever, breaking records and standing out in several renowned competitions.
Composed of 50 students, it competed in three major events: Formula Student Spain, at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Formula Student Germany, at the Hockenheim Circuit, and Formula Student Portugal, in Castelo Branco. Its prototype FST13 competed in the Electric Vehicle (EV) and Driverless Vehicle (DV) categories, with high-level performances. This year, the project has the main support from VINCI Energies Portugal, as well as its brands Actemium, Axians, Omexom, and Sotécnica.
At Formula Student Spain, in Barcelona, the team reached the podium by securing second place in the Driverless (DV) category. In addition, they excelled with first place in the Design, SkidPad, and Acceleration events, under challenging weather conditions, marked by the high temperatures typical of August. Despite the adversities, this result represents a significant milestone, being one of the best for the team in this competition.
In Hockenheim, Germany, they faced setbacks, including an incident early on that damaged the car. However, the quick intervention and resilience of the students allowed them to return to the race that day, achieving a historic 7th place out of 80 in the EV category. This was one of the most notable results of the team in this demanding competition, acclaimed as the queen event of Formula Student. The first participation of FST Lisbon in FSG was in 2008.
At Formula Student Portugal, in Castelo Branco, the team shone by winning first place in both EV and DV categories. Additionally, they broke the SkidPad and Acceleration records, reinforcing the team’s continuous commitment to improving the technical and competitive performance of its prototype, year after year.
Formula Student, the most prestigious engineering university competition, takes place annually on circuits around the world, evaluating teams not only by the speed of the car but by the overall set of design, performance, and financial management, simulating the development of a prototype ready for production.
“It’s with great satisfaction that we support the Formula Student team from Técnico, witnessing closely their impressive journey of innovation and achievements. The effort, dedication, and technical ability of these students reflect an entrepreneurial vision that also motivates us in our business mission. What unites us to this project is the commitment to excellence, creating a positive impact through engineering, and also the investment in the future of electrification and technology. By strengthening the connection between companies and academia, we are contributing to the growth of the sector in Portugal, and the Técnico team, due to its dynamism and continuous success, is a great source of pride for all of us. Abroad and here, they honoured their main sponsor – VINCI Energies and its brands –, Técnico, and, above all, Portugal!” says Pedro Afonso, CEO of VINCI Energies Portugal, about the results achieved.
Rogério Colaço, president of the Instituto Superior Técnico, comments: “The Formula Student team represents much of the best that Técnico is: teamwork, learning by doing, and always wanting to do better. The FST brings together students from Técnico from various engineering fields to design, build, and run a new car every year, with new challenges that they have not only met but exceeded expectations. They are all to be congratulated; they had an excellent season.”
This year’s FST Lisbon team consists of around 50 students, mainly attending courses in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering, and Computer Science at Técnico, along with students from other fields such as Economics and Industrial Management. The first team was created in 2001 by a group of students, aiming to apply the theoretical knowledge they were learning in classes. Early on, they set as their goal to design, build, and test a new Formula-type car to participate nationally and internationally in the Formula Student competitions, representing Portugal before other universities and companies. Today they are an elite team from an excellent Portuguese school, participating in the largest global university engineering competition.
The 13th prototype of the project achieves a top speed of 136 km/h with four AC electric motors with electronic differential. It also has a battery made up of LiCoO2 (lithium-cobalt) cells with a total capacity of 6.33 kWh, protected by a box made from composite materials. The changes presented this year include a new design for the entire battery, upgrades to its cells and a new container design, and a significant mass reduction from switching from a 13 to a 10-inch rim. The FST13 also includes an enhanced pipeline focused on increasing performance in autonomous driving, once again aiming to be at the top of the world Formula Student rankings.
Summary video of FST Lisbon’s participation in the different competitions
On October 12, the FST Lisbon prototype and team will be present at the “Largest Programming Class in the World” – an initiative by Técnico and Magma Studio, with the Guinness World Records endorsement – alongside the Axians stand, VINCI Energies’ brand dedicated to Information and Communication Technologies and the challenge of Digital Transformation, which has partnered with the event. It takes place at the Técnico Innovation Center, in the old Arco do Cego Station, in Lisbon.
About VINCI Energies
In a constantly changing world, VINCI Energies contributes to environmental transition, promoting key transformation trends in digital and energy. VINCI Energies teams integrate systems, services, and customized solutions, from consulting, design, implementation, operation, and maintenance. With their strong local roots and an agile and innovative structure, VINCI Energies brands and business units are positioned at the heart of their client’s digital transformation and energy transition decisions, leveraging the reliability, efficiency, and sustainability of their business. VINCI Energies promotes global performance, caring for the planet, serving people, and committing to local communities.
In Portugal, VINCI Energies aggregates the operations of the brands Actemium, Axians, Longo Plano, Omexom, Sotécnica, and VINCI Facilities.
VINCI Energies worldwide, in 2023: revenues of €19.3 billion, 97,000 employees in 61 countries
www.vinci-energies.com | www.theagilityeffect.com
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