Rainbow Warrior Racing team charges ahead
Jun 25, 2024
The Rainbow Warrior Racing (RWR) team has concluded another successful year. The 2024 team consisted of University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa mechanical engineering students who dedicated their time above and beyond busy class schedules to design, analyze, manufacture, and test an electric formula-style race car.
The SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) Formula Racing Car program is now in its 12th year at UH Mechanical Engineering. In 2019, the UH RWR team switched from a gas to an electric model, and this year’s team is only the third in the university’s history to construct its fully electric racing vehicle.
The program is much more than a technical challenge for the students involved. Through the educational experience and senior design courses, they gain practical skills and are tasked with solving real-world problems with realistic constraints such as time and fiscal matters. Both the time and project management elements in addition to challenging technical problem solving that come with being on the team are critical skills for today’s engineering jobs and give participants a leg up as they prepare to enter a competitive job market.
The transition from gas to electric vehicles aligns with the growing automotive industry trend towards electrification, providing students with cutting-edge experience that is highly valued in today's job market. This shift equips them with skills in electric vehicle technology, battery systems, and sustainable engineering practices, making them more competitive candidates for positions in the rapidly evolving automotive and clean energy sectors.
Ulupono Initiative is pleased to support the UH RWR team and commends the 2024 crew’s dedication and hard work. This year, the group included seven students who served as managers and engineers who directed all aspects of the team’s performance, schedule, fundraising, and budget.
Watch the video as the RWR EV-Formula takes a spin on the Mānoa campus for the first time.