Datamate high-reliability connectors used on electric race car

Harwin's Datamate high-reliability connector system is being used by Imperial College's Imperial Racing Green team in the Formula Student competition for electric race vehicles.

Imperial Racing Green is an undergraduate teaching project at Imperial College London involving almost 100 students across eight different engineering departments. The first project of its kind at the University, Imperial Racing Green draws on expertise from across Imperial College's Faculty of Engineering, building low-emissions, hydrogen fuel cell and battery electric vehicles to compete in worldwide races. It is the also the only UK team to participate in Formula Zero, alongside teams from the USA, Spain, the Netherlands and Belgium.

The Imperial Racing Green design team is using Harwin's high-performance 2mm pitch Datamate connector system in the battery management system of its latest electric track vehicle, the IRG04, which is entering the 2010 IMechE Formula Student Class 2 (Design) Competition and will be entering the 2011 Class 1A event as a race-ready track vehicle. Team member Amit Meghani states: "Our karts reach speeds of 50-60mph and therefore the interconnection system must withstand a great deal of vibration. As we travel around the figure-of-eight course the kart will also be subject to forces of up to 3 'g' so shock performance is vital too."

Imperial Racing Green is using Datamate J-Tek connectors that feature jackscrews for additional security. Meghani adds: "We are very satisfied with the performance of the product and the support that we have had from Harwin's applications team. We are proud to name Harwin as a bronze sponsor for our race campaign."