Spartan Racing SR-16 Formula SAE Electric

Founded in 1989, Spartan Racing competes annually in Formula SAE competitions, embodying the FSAE slogan: "Design, Build, Compete." Each year, we design and manufacture a brand-new car from the ground up, with nearly all components developed in-house. Our team is composed of over 100 students from diverse disciplines, including computer, electrical, mechanical, and aerospace engineering, as well as business and more. We continuously push our limits to build a car capable of securing first place at every event we enter.  

Formerly designing both electric and combustion FSAE cars, we committed to an all-electric future in 2022. By focusing exclusively on electric vehicles, we have refined our expertise in this rapidly evolving technology.  

Our most recent car, SR-15, placed third in endurance and fifth overall at the Brooklyn, Michigan competition. Later that year, we secured first place in the SoCal Shootout (Electric) and recorded the fastest lap time overall—beating both combustion and electric competitors!  

For the 2025 Michigan FSAE competition, our focus is on enhancing vehicle reliability and electrical system design. Below is a breakdown of some of our favorite custom-designed circuit boards—just a few of the nine custom PCBs integrated into our vehicle.  

Our Power Distribution Unit (PDU) is designed to provide consistent and reliable power to each component on the car. Using a low-voltage 24V architecture, the board handles all power conversion for 5V, 12V, 24V, and isolated 5V for sensors. It features a Meanwell power supply for isolated connections, as well as a PicoPSU for 12V and 5V standard connections. Additionally, an STM32 microcontroller is integrated for shunt readings, allowing for precise current measurement across power rails and buses. These values are then broadcast over the Controller Area Network (CAN) bus for real-time monitoring.  

Our Battery Management System (BMS) is tightly integrated with our high-voltage battery pack. The system consists of one central controller board that communicates with eight monitor boards, ensuring real-time processing of critical voltage and temperature data to keep our Li-ion cells in a safe and healthy condition throughout testing and competition. The Controller Board manages external communications, SPI, high-voltage sensing, and more. It communicates with all worker PCBs via SPI for safety checks, charging management, and accumulator balancing. Additionally, we are actively developing State of Charge (SoC) and State of Health (SoH) algorithms for the onboard STM32, further enhancing battery monitoring capabilities.  

As we prepare for this year's competition, we are eager to test our brand-new designs both on and off the track. With continuous innovation and rigorous testing, Spartan Racing remains committed to pushing the boundaries of electric vehicle technology.