Gary Zhou 
Key Points
- 🎓 Tesla is sponsoring the University of Manitoba’s engineering team by donating 2170 battery cells.
- 🏎️ The batteries will be used for the University of Manitoba Society of Automotive Engineers (UMSAE) Formula Electric team’s open-wheel formula-style electric race cars.
- 🚗 The sponsorship is a significant boost to the team’s confidence, as Tesla recognized their accomplishments.
- 💰 Tesla’s support effectively covers the most expensive component of the electric racer, the accumulator.
- 👩🎓 The University of Manitoba’s SAE team benefits from the partnership with Tesla, gaining valuable engineering experience and access to expert guidance.
Tesla has granted a battery sponsorship to the University of Manitoba engineering team. Tesla would be donating 2170 cells for the University of Manitoba Society of Automotive Engineers (UMSAE) Formula Electric team’s upcoming EV project.
Every year, engineering students at the University of Manitoba build new open-wheel formula-style electric race cars to compete at international vents, according to CTV News. With Tesla’s industry-leading batteries, the students’ electric racer this year may have a chance at performing admirably in its events.
Tanner Turnbull, the team lead of the engineering students, stated that Tesla’s sponsorship is a notable boost to the team’s confidence. The team also noted that it was only one of 67 that were selected worldwide for a Tesla sponsorship.
“It’s kind of surreal. You realize that ‘wow the largest electric vehicle manufacturer on the planet is now acknowledging us and recognizing what we’ve accomplished.’ It’s a huge encouragement to continue working hard towards our goal of making the best electric vehicle in North America at these competitions,” Turnbull said.
Kaya Jones, the team’s accumulator lead responsible for the electric racer’s battery, stated that Tesla’s sponsorship effectively covered the vehicle’s most expensive component.
“All the power from the car starts there. Without the accumulator, the car would be a shopping cart essentially. Having the support from Tesla, both monetarily and having their backing, being able to consult with their engineers about the design and get their expertise, it’s invaluable to the team,” Jones said.
Jones also noted that the university’s SAE team has some of the brightest minds in the University of Manitoba. Thus, being able to participate in such a project, especially one with such a notable sponsor like Tesla, is a huge learning experience.
“SAE has some of the best and brightest students at the U of M, and being able to be around them and pick knowledge off them, pick their brains apart, I feel it helped develop myself as an engineer,” Jones said.
