Frequently Asked Questions

Each car must have:
24-volt battery, five-point harness, roll bar, cycle analyst (brand TBD), driver helmet, head sock, driver safety suit, and neck guard. safety gloves, safety shoes, arm restraints, and fire extinguisher for race day

For our voltage range, the CA can measure upwards of 100 amps (or 2.4KW). This is way more than any of our systems could put out.

There usually is an opportunity to drive a short course that day.

Safety Inspection Day will include industry professional judges checking each car for all necessary safety equipment and parts to confirm if it is ready to race. Judges will use a checklist and give each team a copy. All of the items listed by the judge must be addressed before a vehicle is allowed on the track.

The driver should have all gear if he/she is going to actually drive it on the practice course.

Yes, the shell should be OK to use on race day pending judges’ approval.

Here’s the equation:

Points per 10 lap heat​ = 10,000,000 / ((watt-hours) x (total seconds for 10 laps))

Example:  After ten laps, the Cycle Analyst reads 610 watt-hours.  The time recorded for the 10 laps is 711 seconds.  The number of points for that one heat is:

10,000,000 / (610 x 711) = 23.06 points for one heat

You must make sure the Watt-Hr reading on the Cycle Analyst is zeroed out before each heat. So, in order to maximize your points, you have to reduce your energy usage as much as possible and/or go faster (less time). Typically efficiency and speed are inversely proportional – that is where you have to get creative!

In order to ensure accuracy and fairness in scoring, all teams must use the same equipment to measure energy consumption. Teams who do not use the Cycle Analyst and appropriate shunt may still compete but will have their scores invalidated.

So long as the vehicle’s traction pack is rated at a 24V nominal, any chemistry may be used. This includes lead-acid, Li-Ion, LiPo, LiFePo, LiFePo4, and others. Each chemistry will have a different maximum charge voltage but the vehicle’s maximum fully-charged state may not exceed the voltage of a Li-Ion 7S configuration of 29.4V. REMINDER: batteries must be off the shelf. Lithium batteries must have functional BMS with thermal cutoff.

Yes. Teams can replace and/or recharge their batteries in between heats.

No, the stock GP kit comes with 4-pt seat belts. Our safety guidelines require the use of a 5-pt harness (includes submarine belt). They may be found online from places like Crow Industries for approximately $125.

Large differences in speed between vehicles is inherently dangerous. In order to minimize the possibility of on-course incidents, each vehicle must meet a minimum speed of 15 mpg.

While there is no specified minimum weight, all vehicle safety requirements must be met and approved by the judges. Any vehicle deemed to be structurally deficient will not be allowed to participate.

Yes. Most helmet liners and safety harnesses are made of petroleum-based materials that degrade over time. Safety belts have an expiration tag on them. Racing helmets have a production date tag on the inside and must be no more than seven years old. Expiration dates will be checked during the vehicle inspection.

Yes. Contact VitalLink so that they may put you in contact with a school that can help.

No. The Green Power kits come with a simple push-button on/off throttle. A motor controller will give a team more control over their power output but adds a significant level of complexity to the build.

There are allowed 5-10 students per team (Each team member must have a contributing role). 5 of those team members (including the driver) and their faculty lead are allowed in the “Hot Pit” area.

Yes. The Green Power kits come with 20” wheels, but a team can use any wheel size OVER 10”.

Vehicles must attach a foam impact attenuator to the front of their vehicles. The formula is: One cubic inch of foam for each pound of vehicle weight (with driver). Teams can purchase blocks of pink insulation foam from Home Depot and carve as necessary.

http://www.GreenpowerUSA.net

Yes. Three-wheeled vehicles are acceptable but must be in the 2F1R configuration (two front, one rear) and brakes must be attached to the front axle. Two-wheeled vehicles are not allowed.

No. Given the nature of solar energy (very inefficient), a vehicle’s setup would need so many cells that it would extend far beyond the vehicle’s envelope in order to make a significant difference. The required onboard electronics would also add a detrimental amount of weight and complexity to the build.

No. Rules state the traction pack (motor and batteries) must be 24V nominal.

Maximum weight of vehicle and driver is 330 lbs. Beyond that, vehicle size is not limited, so long as all safety requirements are met.

No. We have no way of ensuring the integrity of a carbon fiber roll bar. Triangulated steel roll bars only.

Yes, as long as all other safety requirements are met (metal floor, roll bar, etc.)

Yes. Acrylic windscreens are OK – no glass.

Yes.

Yes, so long as that one pedal is the brake. I.e. the throttle and brake must be controlled independently of each other.

Yes. Regenerative braking or other types of motor braking are allowed, but only in addition to the main brake system. Brakes must still be able to be activated independently of the drive system in the event of complete power loss or other drivetrain failure.

At the start, your team can push the car, but only one or two steps, not a running start. Just enough to get it moving.