WHAT IS THE FORMULA LIGHTNING?

Formula Lightning is a spirited, highly visible, electric powered, competition series for Colleges of Engineering student teams.

High performance open-wheeled electric race vehicles (top speeds of 143 mph) compete at well known race venues across the USA to demonstrate that Electric Vehicles are not slow lumbering vehicles as the public believes!

Numerous colleges and universities across the country have joined in serious designs to compete in this series every year.

By participating, schools are provided an opportunity for interdisciplinary educational experiences while advancing the technology of electric vehicles. This is done by students designing, constructing, testing, and competing these open-wheeled high-performance electric race cars. (Drivers must hold at a minimum an SCCA National Drivers License, while student team members serve as pit crew.)

In order to keep costs low, each participant in the Formula Lightning series must purchase an identical rolling chassis, then design and build the electric drive system for their vehicle. Since the Formula Lightning is a "spec" racing vehicle, costs are kept under control. There are no changes allowed in the chassis design without majority approval of the Formula Lightning Owners Association. This ensures student teams can concentrate on the electric drive without the necessity of designing specialized mechanical chassis components.

These vehicles raced first in 1994 at the Cleveland CART race and since then have participated in venues across the country.

West Virginia University 1997-2005
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Roy Nutter (Roy.Nutter @ mail.wvu.edu)   Webmaster: Brent Freeman (brent.freeman @ gmail.com)