Start your (electric) engines
UND Motorsports Team shifts into the electric era with a student-built Formula SAE race car
In a shop full of sparks, diagrams, and collective ambition, the University of North Dakota Motorsports team has been firing on all cylinders since 2003—only now, they’re electric.
The student-led UND Motorsports team has spent the last two decades designing, building, and racing open-wheel, formula-style vehicles. But this academic year marks a bold turn toward the future as the team continues its transition from internal combustion to an all-electric design.
Featuring a powerful Emrax 228 electric motor delivering 134 horsepower and driving 10-inch wheels through a Drexler differential, their build includes a redesigned suspension system and updated chassis ergonomics, all handcrafted by a dedicated team subdivided into chassis, suspension, drivetrain, and electrical systems.
The shift to electric hasn’t just altered the vehicle—it’s transformed the experience for the students who power the team.
“We are learning a lot of real world skills. We start with learning how to design parts to follow the rules, then we cad them out, then we manufacture them,” said Charles Schiessl, a Mechanical Engineering major. “It’s been cool seeing the whole process from start to finish and very cool to learn how it works and learn how to complete each step.”
Schiessl also noted the unexpected complexities involved in designing race cars.
“The most surprising thing to me is the amount of uncertainty. I always thought (wrongly) that when designing race cars, that you would have everything figured out, but I was very wrong. There are so many variables in these vehicles that you just have to make choices and roll with it, and it’s been cool seeing that and seeing how the team goes about that.”
For many students, UND Motorsports provides a bridge between classroom learning and industry expectations. Electrical Engineering major Evan Helvick emphasized the opportunity Formula SAE presents.
“Formula SAE provides a very unique opportunity for students to engage in real-world engineer while still in an academic setting. The project is ran with an engineering manager, team leads, administration, and other engineers in collaborations. This project shows the real-life impacts a decision can make on the project, and provides engineering students with the opportunity to sharpen their presentation skills, communication methods, and time management.”
And building an electric vehicle, Helvick added, is no small feat.
“Building an electric vehicle, from scratch, is very hard… to say the least. Not only is it an accelerated timeline, but every design and manufacturing decision must be documented, justified, and design-rules legal.”
Each aspect of the car undergoes rigorous scrutiny from both the team and industry professionals at competition, sharpening students’ ability to defend their engineering decisions and refine their designs.
“I very much recommend getting involved early as a freshman or sophomore,” Helvick said. “These competitive clubs provide the opportunities to make lifelong friends and give you the skills necessary to stand out when searching for careers upon graduation.”
For Electrical Engineering major Joshua Hurley (EE’25), the project delivered hands-on experience in everything from printed circuit board design to high-voltage systems.
“Formula SAE provides students with real world experience in many areas including project management and engineering design process. The various systems required for a functioning car are left in the hands of the students, once they have designed a system, they understand it and the obstacles encountered.”
Hurley emphasized the importance of teamwork in the project’s success.
“Teamwork was vital to the progress of the car. The electrical and mechanical components were largely dependent on each other. Information on sizes and ratings between the electrical and mechanical engineers were constantly being discussed in meetings to reduce assumptions and to make sure everything fit together properly.”
That cross-disciplinary teamwork is one of the key aspects that draws students like Matthew Holtz, who is double majoring in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering.
“The reason that I joined the UND Motorsports was to get real engineering experience. After joining the team, the biggest thing that I learned was how the processes of going from an idea to a finished product works with all of the steps in between.”
With growing interest from underclassmen this year, the team is more energized than ever. The influx of new members has helped accelerate progress while building a stronger community of future engineers.
Interested in joining the UND Motorsports Team? They’re always looking for new members—from any major and any year. Whether you’re into engineering, racing, manufacturing, design, or just want to be part of something fast-paced and innovative, reach out and get involved.
Written by Paige Prekker // UND College of Engineering & Mines
