Forze

Hydrogen

In a conventional road car, the energy that is stored in fuel is converted to mechanical energy, by using the principle of combustion. The cars that are built by Forze utilise a different concept. The hydrogen fuel cell system inside the vehicles, converts the energy stored in hydrogen, to electric energy. This means that the fuel cell system can be used to power an electric drivetrain with hydrogen as a so-called alternative fuel.

The efficiency of the fuel conversion can be about two to three times higher than a conventional combustion engine. The most obvious differences of hydrogen-electric vehicles compared to battery-electric relatives, is the time required to recharge or refill and the driving range. Hydrogen tanks can be refilled within minutes whereas batteries currently need hours for the process of recharging. This makes hydrogen-electric propulsion ideal for applications where non-stop operation and/or a long driving range is required.

The mission of Forze is to promote fuel cell technology by educating their own team members, but also the general public and to inspire industries to use hydrogen technology. By designing and building their own high performance hydrogen race cars, the potential and application of hydrogen can be demonstrated. For now, Forze is still the only student team worldwide that uses high power automotive fuel cells.

Formula Zero

The team started competing in the 2008 Formula Zero Championship, the world’s first ever hydrogen fuel cell championship. Given the importance of the upcoming Hydrogen economy and considering climate change and oil related problems, the project draws a lot of attention from international media.

The first season was limited to one event in the inner city of Rotterdam next to the Erasmus Bridge. The second season consisted of a European Cup and a separate Grand Prix in the city center of Torino. The third season again only had one race, held the center of The Hague.

Formula Student

The Formula Zero competition did not prove to grow into what it promised to be during the first years. The team then continued to do something new and moved on to the Formula Student competition and therefore built the Forze IV and V. Until this day, Forze is still the only student team that has competed with a fuel cell powered kart.

Entering a new era

After competing in the Formula Student race twice, Forze made a big step towards the professional racing world. The next car, the Forze VI, became world's first full-size race car powered by hydrogen. But due to the lack of a FIA license for the Forze VI, it was difficult to compete in any competition. Therefore, the team has bought a FIA licensed LMP3-monocoque of Adess in order to build a racing car that will become worldwide the first hydrogen race car ever to compete against fossil fuelled combustion vehicles. The Forze VII is Forze's latest model and will compete in the Supercar Challenge 2017 against during the Gamma Racing Days on TT Circuit Assen.

World Records

The team did several official and unofficial world record attempts to beat the FIA world land speed record for hydrogen powered fuel cell cars under 500 kg on the 1/8th mile. On 3 October 2010 the team tried to break the world record held by the Formula Zero Mark II at 11,2 seconds. This attempt would take place on the island of Aruba on the Palo Marga International Raceway Park. Unfortunately due to heavy rain part of the island flooded and the attempt was pushed to the 4th of October. In a much smaller time frame with barely time to prepare the vehicle for racing, the team managed to set a time of 9,77 seconds.

On 16 August 2011, the team organized an official attempt on the Princess Beatrixlaan in the center of The Hague. With the help of the Dutch national autosport federation (KNAF) a licensed track to FIA standards was put up. The Forze IV hydrogen vehicle drove a time of 10,45 seconds that day. After several months the FIA ruled that this measured time was not an official land speed record because of an error in the documents submitted by KNAF to the FIA.

On 17 December 2015, the full-size Forze VI has obtained the fastest electric lap record on Circuit Zandvoort with driver and also team member Kevin Schreiber behind the steering wheel. With a lap time of 2:04,519 the Forze VI has beaten the Tesla Roadster, which was the previous electric lap record holder on the famous Dutch race track.

Team

All members of the team are TU Delft students, from the first year up to final year students and come from a wide range of faculties. The size of the team has grown over the years and has varied from forty to sixty students in the last few years. Most involved students join the team as an extracurricular activity next to their studies. Only the board is involved on a full-time basis.

Drivers

During the third season a new team member with karting experience became the third driver for the team. This Charlie van der Schoor was also more closely involved with the development of the Forze III. In season 4 the team said farewell to Martin Buitelaar as a driver. He was no longer a student and took on a full-time job outside the racing industry. For season 4 the team raced in the Formula Student (UK) competition and therefore needed more drivers to be able to compete in all the events. A selection among the team members was organised by Buitelaar where Marco van't Wout, Arie Nap and Lennert van den Boom were selected. For the 6th season only licensed drivers were allowed.

Sponsors

A list of sponsors of the team can be found on the website of Forze: [1]