Le Mans is one of the most demanding road races in the World. InMotion, a student team from the Eindhoven University of Technology, is working on the Revolution. An electric LMP3 race car. Key for the team is cell-level cooling technology. By optimizing this technology they are able to charge the massive high performance battery to 80% in only 4 minutes. On track, the same battery feeds the car with enough power to drive over 300km/h.
How InMotion’s technology helps sustainability
The huge challenge for electric vehicles is the charging time. InMotion is working on a new “refueling” technology that charges the batteries in minutes instead of hours. The extreme conditions of racing 24 hours at racing speed is the ultimate proving grounds for this technology. Showing that their innovations deliver performance and success at the 24 Hours of Le Mans is making a huge statement to car manufacturers. This could lead to new generations of roadcars, that accelerate electric adoption.
How 3D printing helps InMotion
Turning the LMP3 car electric involves a lot of innovation. The team is developing the full powertrain from scratch. This means many custom parts are needed. Since we’re talking race cars here, these parts have strict requirements and need optimal designs. Typically, they need to be strong, heat resistant, light-weight and fit in tight spaces.
3D printing helps InMotion by enabling them to prototype parts in matter of hours. While outsourcing was expensive, and can take days, printing parts internally costs only a fraction. And testing parts in hours means optimizing and re-testing a design sometimes even the same day. When a part needs 2 or 3 itterations, this means finishing the optimal design in 2 days instead of 4 weeks.
For design validation, they can quickly print the parts in PLA. However, the team can print in materials such as PETG and even carbon reinforced PETG. That means they can actually produce end-use parts as they often meet all the strict requirements set by their engineers. There are currently many 3D printed parts in use both in and around their LMP3 car. And the number is still increasing.
Author:
Steven van de Staak
