ELECTRA SAEINDIA

Rule Book 2015

2015 SAEINDIA ELECTRA RULES

PART A ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS
GENERAL
ABOUT THE RULES
a) The Rules for SAEINDIA Electra 2015 events conducted in India are comprised of the Electra Official Rules
2015 Chapter I, hereinafter referred to as can be downloaded from the For Participants section of the SAEINDIA
website once available.
b) In this document functions and roles are defined as follows:
i. Organisers the SAEINDIA ENGINEERING EDUCATION BOARD that organises the ELECTRA event in all
persons acting on its behalf.
ii. Team group of individuals with a team name and one vehicle that has been accepted for entry to the
ELECTRA competition.
iii. Participant member of a Team.
iv. Team Captain a Participant that has been appointed on the event registration document as single focal
point for his/her team towards the Organisers.
v. Technical Head person appointed by the Organisers, who is responsible to manage and sanction all ontrack Technical activities.
vi. Track Marshall person appointed by the Race Director to act on his/her behalf, in particular to ensure on
track safety and observe on-track rule compliance.
vii. Convener person appointed by the Organisers, who is responsible to ensure the conduct of the Electra
competition.
Article 1: ELECTRA OVERVIEW AND COMPETITION
A1.1

Competition Objective:
The SAE India ELECTRA competition challenge teams of university undergraduate and graduate
students to conceive, design, fabricate, develop and compete with 2 seater, urban style, four wheeled
electric powered cars in a cross country rally event. The engineering event give teams the maximum
design flexibility and the freedom to express their creativity and imaginations, however there are very
few restrictions on the overall vehicle design.

A1.2

Vehicle Design Objectives

The teams are to assume that they work for a design firm that is designing, fabricating, testing and
demonstrating a prototype vehicle for a new and emerging market.

A1.2.1 The vehicle should have good performance in terms of range, acceleration, braking and handling and
be sufficiently durable to successfully complete all the events described in the ELECTRA competition
rules.
A1.2.2 Once the vehicle has been completed and tested, your design form will attempt to sell the design to a
company that is considering the production of an Electric vehicle.
A1.2.3 Each design will be judged and evaluated against other competing designs to determine the best overall
car.
A1.3

Good Engineering Practices

Vehicles entered to Electra competitions are expected to be designed and fabricated in accordance with
good engineering practices.
A1.4

Judging Categories
The cars are Judged in a series of static and dynamic events including technical inspection, cost,
marketing presentation and engineering design, range and endurance performance.

A1.4.1 Dynamic events are scored to determine the performance of the car.
The following points are possible:
Static Events :
Marketing Presentation
Engineering Design
Cost & Manufacturing

50
250
200

Acceleration
Endurance
Manoeuvrability
Gradient climb

125
200
125
50

Dynamic Events:

Article 2: ELECTRA COMPETITION 2015

A 2.1

Open Registration
Electra Competitions have open registration policies and accept registrations by student teams
representing universities duly recognised by UGC/AICTE which have a SAEINDIA Collegiate
Chapter/club.

A2.2

Official Announcement and competition Information

Teams are required to read and understand the published announcements by SAEINDIA on its website
from time to time during the period of conduct of the competition. www.saeindia.org

A2.3

Official Languages
The official language of the ELECTRA competition is English. Document submissions, presentations
and discussions in English are acceptable at all events in the competitions series.

Article 3: ELECTRA COMPETITION AND ORGANISER AUTHORITY

A 3.1

Rules Authority & Validity

The rules for the competition are issued under the authority of SAEINDIA Collegiate Design Series and
are valid for the calendar year of the competition.
Ambiguities or questions concerning the meaning or intent of these rules will be resolved by the Electra
Rules committee, SAEINDIA.

A 3.2

Rules compliance

By entering the Electra competition, the team, members of the team as individuals, faculty advisors and
the University agree to comply with and be bound by, these rules and all rule interpretations or
procedures issued or announced by SAEINDIA, the Electra rules committee and the other organising
bodies.
The Organisers reserve the right to rescind vehicle approval upon further or more detailed checks. The
Organisers must be notified of any modifications to the vehicle after inspection. Non-compliance with
this rule will lead to vehicle disqualification.
A 3.3

Participating in the competition

Teams, Team members as individuals, faculty advisors and other representatives of a registered
university who are present on-site at a competition are considered to be participating in the
competition from the time they arrive at the event site until they depart the site at the conclusion of the
competition or earlier by withdrawing.

A 3.4

Violations on Intent
The violation of intent of a rule will be considered a violation of the rule itself.

A 3.5

Right to Impound
SAEINDIA reserve the right to impound any onsite registered vehicles at any time during a competition
for inspection and examination by the organisers, officials and technical Inspectors.

A 3.6

General Authority
SAEINDIA and the competition organising body reserve the right to revise the schedule of any
competition and/or interpret or modify the competition rules at any time and in any manner that is, in
their sole judgement, required for the efficient operation of the Electra event.

A3.7

Restriction on Vehicle use

Teams are cautioned that the vehicle designed in compliance with the ELECTRA rules are intended for
competition operation only at the official ELECTRA competition.

Article 4: INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS

A4.1

Eligibility Limits
Eligibility is limited to undergraduate and graduate students to insure that this is an engineering design
competition.

A4.2

Student Status
Team members must be enrolled as degree seeking undergraduate or graduate students in the college
or university of the team with which they are participating. Team members who have graduated during
the seven month period prior to the competition remain eligible to participate.

A4.3

Society Membership

Team members must be members of at least one of the following societies: (1) SAEINDIA, (2) SAE
International, (3) SAE Australasia, (4) SAE Brazil, (5) JSAE, (6) TSAE. Proof of membership, such as
membership card, is required at the competition.
Note: Students can join SAEINDIA online at: www.saeindia.org.
A4.4

Age
Team members must be at least eighteen (18) years of age.

A4.5

Driver's License
Team members who will drive a competition vehicle at any time during a competition must hold a valid,
government issued driver's license.

A4.6

Liability Waiver
All on-site participants, including students, faculty and volunteers, are required to sign a liability waiver
upon registering on-site.

A4.7

Medical Insurance
Individual medical insurance coverage is required and is the sole responsibility of the participant.
Participants without a valid Medical Insurance will not be allowed to participate in the Dynamic Events.

A4.9

Onsite Registration Requirement

ONSITE REGISTRATON IS REQUIRED OF ALL TEAM MEMBERS AND FACULTY ADVISORS.
Bring your (1) Government issued driver's license or passport and (2) your medical insurance card
( Mandatory for Drivers) (3) College ID (4) SAEINDIA Membership Card, Approval Letter from College in
college letter Head and documentation to onsite registration.

Article 5: FACULTY ADVISOR

A5.1

Faculty Advisor

A5.1.1 Each team is expected to have a Faculty Advisor appointed by the university. It is mandatory for the
Faculty Advisor to accompany the team to the competition and will be considered by competition
officials to be the official university representative. Failure to abide by this rule may deny participation of
the team in Dynamic Events.
A5.1.2

Faculty Advisors may advise their teams on Fundamental principles, basic engineering skills and
engineering project management theory.

Article 6: VEHICLE ELIGIBILITY

A6.1

Student Developed Vehicle

Vehicles entered into ELECTRA competitions must be conceived, designed, fabricated and maintained
by the student team members without direct involvement from professional engineers, automotive
engineers, machinists or related professionals.

A6.2

Information Sources

The student team may use any literature or knowledge related to car design and information from
professionals or from academics as long as the information is given as a discussion of alternatives with
their pros and cons.
A6.3

Professional Assistance
Professionals may not make design decisions or drawings and the Faculty Advisor may be required to
sign a statement of compliance with this restriction.

A6.4

Student Fabrication
It is the intent of the SAEINDIA Collegiate Design Series competition is to provide direct hands-on
experience to the students. Therefore, students should perform all fabrication tasks.
The Fabrication should be done on-campus using in-house facilities of college / university. All works
done outside the Campus need to be informed to the ELECTRA organising Committee and prior
approval acquired for the same.

A6.5

ELECTRA Competition Year - First Year Cars

For the purpose of defining first, second and third year cars, a competition "year" is any consecutive run
of the Series, i.e. For example, a car that competes first time in ELECTRA 2015 is classified as a "first
year car" until the following year's ELECTRA 2015 roughly 12 month period counting from the event in
which a vehicle first competes in a competition.
Note: Teams are reminded that their vehicles must comply with the rules in effect for each competition
they enter.

A6.6

First year Vehicles - ELECTRA 2015 Competition Year

A6.6.1 First Year Vehicles may enter the ELECTRA 2015 EVENT. One vehicle built can participate in 3
successive events and will have different judging criteria.
A6.6.2 To be classified as a "first year vehicle" a car must, as a minimum, have a completely new frame.
Photographic or other evidence will be used to determine if the frame is new.
A6.6.3 If there is any question about whether or not the car is in fact a first year vehicle, it will be the sole
responsibility of the team to produce such evidence as the organizers or judges may require.
A6.6.4 Second and third year judgement criterion will be indicated in the ELECTRA subsequent edition rule
books
Article 7: REGISTRATION
A7.1

Registration - ELECTRA Competitions

Registration for ELECTRA competitions held in 2015 must be completed on-line. Online registration
must be done by either (a) an SAEINDIA member or (b) the official faculty advisor connected with the
registering university and recorded as such in the SAEINDIA record system.
Note: It typically takes at least 5 working Days between the time you complete an on-line SAEINDIA
membership application and our system recognizes you as eligible to register your team.

A7.2

Entries per University ELECTRA 2015 Competitions - Registering Teams

For the purposes of registering and competing, a Universities team are considered to be separate and
independent entities if they are from a different campus. A university may register as many teams in the
same competition; however only one team per university campus will be selected for the final event
based on their performance and university recommendation.

A7.3

Registration Limits - ELECTRA Competitions

Registration limits for the ELECTRA 2015 competitions will be posted on the SAEINDIA website.
Registration for each ELECTRA competitions closes as soon as the registration limit is reached. We
strongly advise teams to register as soon as registration opens. (First come First Serve Basis)

A7.4

Registration Dates - ELECTRA Competitions

Registration for the ELECTRA competitions will close at the date and time posted on the competition
website or when all the registration slots have been taken, whichever occurs first.
There are no exceptions to this registration policy.

A7.6

Registration Fees

A7.6.1

Registration fees must be paid to the organizer by the deadlines specified on the respective
competition website.

A7.6.2 Registration fees are not refundable and may not be transferred to a subsequent year's competition.
A7.7

Withdrawals

A7.7.1 Registered teams that find that they will not be able to attend the competition are requested to officially
withdraw by notifying the following no later than one (2) Months before the event:
A7.7.2 ELECTRA Event withdrawals: Mr. Bibhu kumar, Mail ID: cdsevents@saeindia.org
A7.10

On-site Registration
All team members and faculty advisors must complete the on-site registration procedures immediately
after they arrive at the competition site.
On-site registration must be completed and the credentials and/or other identification issued by the
organizers properly worn before the car can be unloaded uncrated or worked upon in any manner.

Article 8: VEHICLE DOCUMENTATION, DEADLINES AND PENALTIES

A8.1

Required Documents and Required Forms

A8.1.1

"Business Logic Plan" - Use required form located at www.saeindia.org.

A8.1.2

"Cost Report" - Report must comply with the Cost Event Rules. Both an electronic version and a hard
copy version are required.

A8.1.3 "Design Report" - Report must comply with the Design Event Rules - Electronic version and hard copy
version is required.

A8.1.4 "Design Spec Sheet" - Use required form located at www.saeindia.org.Program Submissions - Material
required for programs is specific to each competition. Check the website(s) of the competition(s) your
team has entered for requirements.
A8.2

Deadlines
Volunteer judges evaluate all the required submissions and it is essential that they have enough time to
complete their work. There are no exceptions to the document submission deadlines and late
submissions will incur penalties. Please note that different documents or submissions may have
different deadlines - check the event website.

A8.3

Submission Addresses and Formats

The procedures for submitting documents and the website and/or addresses to which the various
documents should be sent are published on the individual event websites or otherwise released by the
organizers. Most required documents must be submitted in a format specified in the individual event
rules or using a prescribed form. Failure to submit a document in the proper format, or with an incorrect
file name, will be considered as "Not Submitted."
Carefully read the event rules and check the website of the competition you are entering.
Notice - Teams will not be notified if a document is submitted incorrectly. Each team is responsible for
confirming that its documents have been properly uploaded and that the deadlines have been met.
Email confirmations to teams are not sent

A8.4

Late Submission Penalties

Documents received /uploaded after the deadline will be penalized negative ten (-10) points per day, or
partial day, late with the following penalty caps and exclusions:

A8.1.1 "Business Logic Plan" - The penalty for late submission of the BLP is capped at negative fifty (-50)
points.
A8.1.2 "Late Submission of Cost Report" - For the first 15 days after the deadline submission penalties for late
Cost Reports are capped at negative eighty (-80) points. After the first 15 days a late Cost Report is
classified as "Not Submitted". Cost Reports that are not submitted will receive negative one hundred (100) points and may not participate in the Cost Event.
A8.1.3 "Penalty for Late Submission or Non-submission" - The Design Report and Design Spec Sheet
collectively constitute the "Design Documents". Late submission or failure to submit all, or any one, of
the Design Documents will be penalized at the standard negative ten (-10) points per day to a maximum
of negative one hundred (-100) points. If your Design Documents are received more than ten (10) days
late they will be classified as "Not Submitted" and your team will not participate in the Design Event and
will receive zero (0) points for design.
Transfer of Team Captain Responsibility - Important
If your captain is leaving the team, through graduation or otherwise, it is important that the departing
captain "pass the baton" by designating one to the Electra SAEINDIA coordinator and will be displayed
in the website. No new members can be added after the registration.

Article 9: PROTESTS & PENALTIES

A9.1

It is recognized that thousands of hours of work have gone into fielding a vehicle and that teams are
entitled to all the points they can earn. We also recognize that there can be differences in the
interpretation of rules, the application of penalties and the understanding of procedures. The officials
and SAEINDIA staff will make every effort to fully review all questions and resolve problems and
discrepancies quickly and equitably

A9.2

Preliminary Review - Required

If a team has a question about scoring, judging, policies or any official action it must be brought to the
organizers or SAEINDIA staffs attention for an informal preliminary review before a protest can be filed.

A9.3

Cause for Protest

A team may protest any rule interpretation, score or official action (unless specifically excluded from
protest) which they feel has caused some actual, non-trivial, harm to their team, or has had a
substantive effect on their score. Teams may not protest rule interpretations or actions that have not
caused them any substantive damage.

A9.4

Protest Format and Forfeit

All protests must be filed in writing and presented to the organizer or SAEINDIA staff by the team
captain. In order to have a protest considered, a team must post a twenty-five (25) point protest bond
which will be forfeited if their protest is rejected.

A9.5

Protest Period
Depending on the nature protests must be lodged within the following times:
a) Vehicles: before track closure on the current day
b) Team and Driver behaviour: within 30 minutes following the end of the attempt.
c) Results: within 1 hour after the result of an attempt has been posted.

A9.6

Decision
The decision of the competition protest committee regarding any protest is final.

A9.7

Penalties
a) Non-compliance with the driving rules will result in a formal warning, invalidation of the best overall
attempt or disqualification of the Team, depending on the severity of the breach.
b) The Organisers will exclude, disqualify or otherwise penalise any Participant who, in the judgement of
the Technical Head, has gained an unfair advantage as a result of any breach of the Official Rules,
hindrance of other Participants, departure from the normal course, or any act or omission capable of
misrepresenting performance.

ARTICLE 10: DRIVING KNOWLEDGE AND TEST

a) Only the registered Driver and the Reserve Driver will be authorised to drive the vehicle.

b) Drivers may be questioned about their knowledge of the driving rules during inspection. The
Organisers reserve the right to deny track access to Drivers with insufficient knowledge of the Rules.
c) Driving on-track: In the interest of safety it is important that Drivers learn and apply smooth and
predictable driving techniques, e.g. thinking well ahead, avoiding sudden directional changes, and being
fully aware of other vehicles around them.
d) The attendance of the daily Drivers Briefing is mandatory for the Team captain and all registered
Drivers every day. Failure in attending these Briefings by the Team Captain and Drivers will disqualify
the team from practicing and/or competing that day.
e) At no time on the race track are drivers allowed to push their vehicle or have it pushed, including to
start the run or to cross the finish line. It is forbidden to drive in reverse gear or to drive against the race
direction.
f) Drivers are required to give clear passage for other vehicles wishing to overtake. Drivers in overtaking
vehicles must sound their horn and pass with caution. The Driver of the overtaking vehicle is
responsible for the safety of the manoeuvre. Drivers of the vehicles being overtaken must use their
mirrors and must not change course suddenly. On the track, overtaking is authorised on both the right
and the left, as long as the above-mentioned safety rules are followed.

ARTICLE 11: QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ELECTRA RULES

A10.1 Question Publication
By submitting a question to the ELECTRA Rules Committee or the competition's organizing body you
and your team agree that both your question and the official answer can be reproduced and distributed
by SAEINDIA, in both complete and edited versions, in any medium or format anywhere in the world.

A10.2 Question Types

The Committee will answer questions that are not already answered in the rules or FAQs or that require
new or novel rule interpretations. The Committee will not respond to questions that are already
answered in the rules. For example, if a rule specifies a minimum dimension for a part the Committee
will not answer questions asking if a smaller dimension can be used.
A10.4 Question Format
A10.4.1 All rules questions must include (1) the full name and email address of the student submitting the
question, (2) the name of the university - no abbreviations, (3) the number of the applicable rule and (4)
the specific competition your team has, or is planning to, enter.
A10.4.2 The following limits apply to questions submitted to the ELECTRA Rules Committee (1) No photograph,
drawing or other attachment may exceed 500 KB in size (2) the total size of any question, with all
attachments, must not exceed 2 MB.
A10.5

Response Time

A10.5.1 Please allow a minimum of two (2) weeks for a response. The Rules Committee will respond as quickly
as possible, however responses to questions presenting new issues, or of unusual complexity, may take
more than two weeks. Please do not resend questions.

SAE TECHNICAL STANDARDS

The SAEINDIA has made the following SAE Technical Standards available on line, at no cost, for use by
Collegiate Design teams. Standards are important in all areas of engineering and we urge you to review these
documents and to become familiar will their contents and use.
All Collegiate Design Series teams registered for competition have access to all the standards listed below including standards not specific to your competition.
J429

- Mechanical and Material Requirements for Externally Threaded Fasteners

J452

- General Information - Chemical Compositions, Mechanical and Physical Properties of SAE Aluminum
Casting Alloys - Information Report

J512

- Automotive Tube Fittings - Standard J517 - Hydraulic Hose - Standard

J1153 - Hydraulic Cylinders for Motor Vehicle Brakes - Test Procedure J1154 - Hydraulic Master Cylinders for
Motor Vehicle Brakes - Performance Requirements - Standard J1703 - Motor Vehicle Brake Fluid - Standard
J2045 - Performance Requirements for Fuel System Tubing Assemblies - Standard
J2053 - Brake Master Cylinder Plastic Reservoir Assembly for Road Vehicles Standard
Standard Relevant to all CDS Competitions J1739 - Potential Failure Mode and Effects Analysis in Design
(Design FMEA) Potential Failure Mode and Effects Analysis in Manufacturing and Assembly Processes (Process
FMEA) and Potential Failure Mode and Effects Analysis for Machinery (Machinery FMEA)

PART T - GENERAL TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

ARTICLE T1: VEHICLE GENERAL DESIGN REQUIREMENTS
a) During vehicle design, construction and competition planning, participating teams must pay particular
attention to all aspects of safety, i.e. driver safety, the safety of other team members and spectator
safety.
b) All vehicles must have exactly four wheels, which under normal running conditions must be all in
continuous contact with the road. A fifth wheel for any purpose is forbidden.
c) Aerodynamic appendages, which adjust or are prone to changing shape due to wind whilst the
vehicle is in motion, are forbidden.
d) Vehicle bodies must not be prone to changing shape due to wind and must not include any external
appendages that might be dangerous to other Team members; e.g. pointed part of the vehicle body.
Any sharp points must have a radius of 5 cm or greater, alternatively they should be made of foam or
similar deformable material.
e) The vehicle interior must not contain any objects that might injure the driver during a collision.
f) Windows must not be made of any material which may shatter into sharp shards. Recommended
material: Polycarbonate (e.g. Lexan)
g) Any cover of the energy compartment (motor/transmission/battery, etc.) should be easy to open for
quick inspection access.

h) All parts of the drive train, including traction motor, battery, electrical system components, etc. must
be within the confines of the body cover.
i) All objects in the vehicle must be securely mounted, e.g. bungee cords or other elastic material are
not permitted for securing heavy objects like batteries.
j) All vehicles must have a solid floor and frame that prevents any part of the drivers body from
contacting the ground.
k) The body must cover all mechanical parts whether the vehicle is viewed from the front, the rear, the
sides or from above. However, the wheels and suspension must be fully covered by the body when
seen from above and up to the axle centre line when seen from front or rear. The covering for the
wheels and suspension must be a rigid integral part of the vehicle body.
l) Access to the vehicle by the driver must be as easy and practical as typically found in common
production type passenger cars. The door opening must be safe for the driver and passenger to ingress
and egress.
m) Any access opening mechanisms (e.g. doors) must be firmly attached to the vehicle body (e.g. by
means of hinges, sliding rails, etc.). Adhesive tape, Velcro, etc. are not permitted for this purpose.
n) The vehicle must have a roof covering the drivers compartment.
o) A windscreen with effective wiper (s) is mandatory.
p) A towing hook or ring with a minimum opening of 6 cm is mandatory on the front of the vehicle, under
the body and easily accessible, so that it can be towed with a cable by another vehicle. This hook or
ring must resist a traction force of 3,500 N (~350 kg).
q) Front and rear impact bumpers are compulsory.

r) Maximum speed in the reverse direction should be set < 20kmph

s) Clearance of the vehicle from the ground should be such that water does not enter into the vehicle
while driving through humps.
ARTICLE T2: CHASSIS/MONOCOQUE SOLIDITY
a) Teams must ensure that the vehicle chassis or monocoque is designed wide and long enough to
effectively protect the drivers body in the case of collisions or rollovers. The organizers will exclude any
vehicle whose construction is deemed to be dangerous.
A monocoque is a construction that supports structural load by using an object's external skin as
opposed to using a frame.
b) The vehicle chassis must be equipped with an effective roll bar that extends 5 cm around the drivers
helmet when seated in normal driving position with the safety belts fastened.
If this position impairs the driver visibility it will be deemed that the roll bar is not adequate. The
effectiveness of the roll bar and drivers visibility will be validated simultaneously, i.e. the driver must not

be in such position that he or she must raise their head or torso above the roll bar to pass the visibility
test.
c) This roll bar must extend in width beyond the drivers shoulders when seated in normal driving
position with the safety belts fastened.
It is permissible to either use a tubular or panel type roll bar. If a tubular roll bar is used, it must be
made of metal. A panel roll bar is the rigid partition separating the cockpit from the engine compartment.
Such a panel roll bar must be an integral part of the vehicle chassis or integrated in a monocoque.
d) Any roll bar must be capable of withstanding a static load of 700 N (~ 70 kg) applied in a vertical,
horizontal or perpendicular direction, without deforming (i.e. in any direction).
e) Vehicle must have a push bar which should be capable of push and pull the vehicle
f) There must be two jack points in the vehicle, one in the front and other in the rear end.
g) Teams are free to use any material of AISI or ASTM standard fabricating the chassis, but it should full
fill the safety requirement. For body works teams can prefer glass fibre, carbon fibre, GI sheet, or any
other material which is water resistant.
h) Use of Lock Nuts (nylon nuts) is compulsory in Wheels, Motor mounting, Suspension system, and
Steering system in the vehicle.
ARTICLE T3: PROPULSION AND ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM ISOLATION
a) A permanent bulkhead must completely separate the vehicles propulsion and energy storage
systems from the drivers compartment.
This means batteries, Super Capacitors, etc. must be placed outside the drivers compartment behind
the bulk head. Any gaps and holes between the body and the bulk head is to be avoided. It is
recommended to seal gaps with materials such as metal / aluminium sheet.
b) This bulkhead must be of fire retardant material and construction.
e) The bulkhead must prevent manual access to the energy compartment by the driver.
f) If holes are made in the bulkhead to pass through wires, cables, etc. it is essential that the wires /
cables are protected by a grommet or similar protective material to prevent chafing or damage. All
gaps/holes must also be filled.
ARTICLE T4 : VISIBILITY
a) The Driver must have access to a direct arc of visibility ahead and to 90 on each side of the
longitudinal axis of the vehicle. This field of vision must be achieved without aid of any optical (or
electronic) devices such as mirrors, prisms, periscopes, etc. Movement of the drivers head within the
confines of the vehicle body to achieve a complete arc of vision is allowed.
The drivers helmet must be 5 cm below the roll bar at all times.
b) The vehicle must be equipped with a rear-view mirror on each side of the vehicle, each with a
minimum surface area of 25 cm (e.g. 5 cm x 5 cm). The visibility provided by these mirrors, and their

proper attachment, will be subject to inspection. An electronic device must not replace a rear-view
mirror.
c) In technical inspection visibility will be checked in order to assess on-track safety by using 60 cm high
poles spread out every 30 in a half-circle, with a 4 m radius in front of the vehicle.
d) For all vehicles, wet weather visibility is also mandatory
ARTICLE T5 : SAFETY BELTS
a) The drivers seat must be fitted with an effective safety harness having at least five mounting points
to maintain the Driver securely in his/her seat. The mounting points should be fitted so that the belts will
self align with the direction of the load.
b) The safety harness must prevent any upward or forward motion of the drivers torso. Any slack in the
harness must be adjusted by using the seat belt length adjuster. The adjustor must be located as close
as possible to the connection point. The crotch strap mounting point should be behind the chest line and
the topmost straps should be at an angle of at least 10 below the shoulder line.
c) The safety harness must be worn and fastened at all times to prevent the driver from having any free
movement when the vehicle is in motion.
d) The fitness for purpose of the harness and its fitting will be evaluated during technical inspection.
This will be done by raising the vehicle with the Driver on board using the safety harness buckle as the
lifting point, this must be capable of withstanding 1.5 times the Drivers weight.
e) The vehicle safety harness must be specifically manufactured for motorsport use (e.g. certified or
compliant with FIA standards).
ARTICLE T6 : VEHICLE ACCESS
a) It is imperative for drivers, fully harnessed, to be able to vacate their vehicles at any time without
assistance in less than 10 seconds.
b) For all vehicles, the opening release mechanism must be easily and intuitively operable from the
inside and the outside of the vehicle. The method of opening from the outside must be clearly marked
by a red arrow and must not require any tools.
c) It is forbidden to use adhesive tape to securely close the drivers opening from the outside.
ARTICLE T7 : HORN
a) Each vehicle must be equipped with an electric horn mounted towards the front of the vehicle, in such
a manner that is effectively audible to other vehicles and track marshals. With the vehicle in normal
running condition, it must emit a sound greater than 85 dBA when measured 4 meters horizontally from
the vehicle.
b) The horn must have a high tone (pitch) of equal or greater than 420 Hz.
ARTICLE T8 : ON-BOARD FIRE EXTINGUISHER
a) Each vehicle must be fitted with a fire extinguisher (ABC or BC type CO2 or dry powder). Water
extinguishers (A type) should not be used. All drivers must be trained in the use of the fire extinguisher.

This extinguisher must have a minimum extinguishing capacity of 1 kg; equivalent size extinguishers are
not permitted. It must be full and have a certificate of validity bearing the manufacturer's number and the
date of manufacture or expiry.
b) Plumbed-in extinguishers may be located in the engine compartment and must discharge into the
engine compartment. Triggering systems must be located within the cockpit and be operable by the
Driver in his/her normal driving position.
c) Hand held extinguishers must be located within the cockpit and be accessible to the driver once they
have vacated the vehicle. These should be securely mounted to prevent movement while
driving/braking. In the event of a fire, drivers should first exit the vehicle and then if possible, remove the
extinguisher and attempt to extinguish the fire if safe to do so.
d) The on-board fire extinguisher does not replace the need for an adequate fire extinguisher for the
teams garage area.
ARTICLE T9 : DRIVER POSITION
For safety reasons, the head-first driving position is prohibited. The driver position should be such that
the helmet is 5 cm below the roll bar AND that the visibility for the driver is unimpaired at the same
ARTICLE T10 : TRANSMISSION COVERING
The installation of effective transmission chain or belt guard(s) is mandatory. This is required to protect
driver or technician when working on the car in the event of the chain or belt breaking. It must be made
of metal or composite material rigid enough to withstand a break.
ARTICLE T11 : SOUND LEVEL & EMERGENCY SHUTDOWN
The sound level of the vehicle must not exceed 90 dBA when measured 4 metres away from the
vehicle. Maximum sound levels will be measured and recorded at the start line and teams exceeding
the permissible level will be notified with a request for correction within a reasonable timeframe.
The emergency shutdown mechanism must provide a physical isolation of the propulsion battery from
the vehicle electrical system. If relays are used, the relays must be a normally open contact type. It is
not necessary to isolate the accessory battery.
There must be both an internal and an external shutdown mechanism.
i.
ii.
iii.

The internal emergency shutdown mechanism is for driver operation and can be designed in
any effective way.
The external emergency shutdown mechanism must be at the rear of the vehicle and
permanently installed on a non-detachable part of the bodywork.
A red arrow (on a white background) at least 10 cm long and 3 cm wide at the widest point
must be positioned on the vehicle body to indicate clearly the exterior position of the
emergency shutdown actuator.

A latching red push button type, external emergency shutdown mechanisms should be used.

ARTICLE T12 : VEHICLE BUILDING

DIMENSION
a) The total body width, excluding rear view mirrors, must be between 120 cm and 130 cm.
b) The total vehicle length must be between 220 cm and 350 cm.
c) The wheelbase must be at least 100 cm.
d) The ground clearance must be sufficient to tackle normal road condition.
ARTICLE T13 : TURNING RADIUS AND STEERING
a) Vehicle steering must be achieved by one system operated with both hands using a turning motion. It
must be precise, with no excessive play.
b) Steering must be achieved using a steering wheel only.
c) Steering bars, tillers, joysticks, indirect or electric systems are not permitted.
d) The turning radius must be less than 6 m. The turning radius is the distance between the centre of
the circle and the external wheel of the vehicle. The external wheel of the vehicle must be able to follow
a 90 arc of 6 m radius in both directions.
e) A vehicle handling course may be set up in order to verify the following when the vehicle is in motion:
driver skills, turning radius and steering precision. In particular, Inspectors will verify that steering is
precise, with no excessive play.
f) At any point of time, the steering wheel should be able to control atleast two wheels simultaneously
ARTICLE T14 : WHEELS
The wheels located inside the vehicle body must be made inaccessible to the driver by a bulkhead. Any
handling or manipulation of the wheels is forbidden from the moment the vehicle arrives at the starting
line until it crosses the finish line.
ARTICLE T15 : TYRES
The choice of tyres is free as long as they are fitted on the type and size of rims recommended by their
manufacturers and have a minimum tread of 1.6 mm. The tyre/rim assembly must have a minimum
width of 80 mm, measured from sidewall to sidewall. The width is measured with the tyre fitted on its rim
at its rated pressure.
Caution: the manufacturers size indications should not be taken as measure, as the width of the rim
directly impacts the width of the rim/tyre assembly.

ARTICLE T16 : SUSPENSION

Teams may or may not use suspension system in their vehicle depending on their choice, but if any
team wishes to use the suspension system, it must be used in all four wheels and a total travel of at
least 2 inches must be there. That is 1 inch of jounce and 1 inch of bounce.
ARTICLE T17 : LIGHTING
The vehicle must have a functional external lighting system, including:
a)Two front headlights
b) Two front turn indicators
c) Two rear turn indicators
d) Two red brake lights in the rear
e) Two red rear lights (may be combined with the brake lights)
f) The centre of each headlight unit must be located at an equal distance and at least 30 cm from the
longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
ARTICLE T18 : BRAKING
a) The vehicle must be equipped with a four-disc hydraulic brake system, with a brake pedal, which has
a minimum surface area of 25 cm.
b) The brakes must operate independently on the front and rear axles or in an X pattern (i.e. right front
wheel with left rear wheel, and left front wheel with right rear wheel).
c) A single master cylinder may be used, provided that it has a dual circuit (two pistons and dual tank)
d) The effectiveness of the braking system will be tested during vehicle inspection for both drivers.
The vehicle must remain immobile with the Driver inside when it is placed on a 20 percent incline with
the main brake in place. Moreover, a dynamic inspection may be performed on the vehicle-handling
course.
e) A parking brake function is required in order to keep the car stationary during technical inspections
and fuel measurements. It must provide a brake force of at least 50 N.
f) Wet weather capability is mandatory
ARTICLE T19 : WET WEATHER RUNNING
a) During weather conditions of light rain/drizzle, the (only) may be required to drive on the track during
competition with approval from the Race Director. Therefore, all vehicles must be adequate for running
under such conditions.
b) The vehicle must be equipped with an effective electric windscreen wiper arm assembly typically
found in a production car.
c) The operation of the wiper assembly must be activated by an independent switch easily accessible to
the driver.

d) The wiper operation must provide the driver a clear view.

e) The vehicle must be adequately ventilated to prevent drivers compartment from fogging.
f) The vehicles electrical system must be suitable for wet weather conditions (e.g. will not malfunction
during wet conditions).
g) Tyres must have a minimum tread of 1.6 mm
h) The vehicles brake effectiveness may be re-inspected before and/or after any run.
i) The effectiveness of the vehicle to run in wet conditions will be evaluated during the initial inspection
phase.
ARTICLE T20 : VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
a) For safety reasons, the maximum voltage on board of any vehicle at any point must not exceed 48
Volts nominal and 60 Volts max (this includes on-board batteries, external batteries, Super Capacitors).
b) The electrical system is to have a propulsion battery and an accessory battery.
c) If Lithium-Ion based batteries are used, Battery Management Systems (BMS) tailored to this
chemistry must be installed to control and protect the battery against risk of fire.
d) Temperature rise test Temperature rise at all the High voltage terminals like motor, controller,
Battery, contactor to be tested and temperature should not go beyond 85 deg C during driving.
e) Creepage and clearance distance between all the terminals of the components should be minimum
3mm
f) All the connectors should have positive locking to avoid wrong connection.
g) All the HV & LV terminals should be checked for terminal tightening torque. HV cables Mid joints are
not allowed
h) There should be standard safety marking for all high voltage areas in the vehicle
i) There should be no overlapping of the HV cables over each other. During continuous operation,
temperature of the cables may rise and lead to chances of short circuit.
j) Wiring harness should not be clustered and clumsy at a particular area. Proper design optimization &
layout design should be available
k) All the fuses in the vehicle should be verified for their operation during short circuit.
l) Charge drive interlock should be provided during charging. Key should not come on and no movement
of the vehicle should be possible during charging.
m) Brake over riding requirements to be checked. Also the firm connections of the accelerator and
brake potentiometer to be checked to avoid unintended acceleration during driving.
n) No jerks should be observed during acceleration, braking and intermittent operation of acceleration
and brake. Indication should be given if parking brake is not engaged before egression.

o) All the plastic enclosures which are being used for the vehicle should be fire retardant (Fire should
not propagate)
p) Battery should be automatically disconnected in case of accidents. Electrical components exposed to
under body (below the vehicle platform) not be allowed as they may touch the ground while driving
through humps

q) Follow IS 1293 requirements for charging. Also it is necessary to incorporate 16A MCB and ELCB in
the charging system.
r) RCD should be implemented in charge cable to earth leakage, earth missing, short circuit, reverse
polarity etc, while charging.
s) Electrical components that are being used in vehicle should have its own thermal protection.
t) LV cables mid joints are allowed with proper soldered joints with heat sink tube covered over that. Fire
retardant protective caps for HV terminals are mandatory.
u) All batteries must be short circuit protected. Protection may be in the form of a fuse, fusible link, or a
current interrupting device (circuit breaker). Automatic reclosing current interrupting devices are not
allowed. Short circuit protection devices must be located on the positive conductor and as close as
possible to the battery or Super Capacitor itself.
v) All vehicle electrical circuits must be protected against electrical overload. Overload protection may
be in the form of fixed current limits within electric controllers or by the insertion of individual circuit
fuses.
w) The accessory battery must maintain a negative ground.
x) For safety reasons, the propulsion battery or Super Capacitors, both positive and negative circuits
must be electrically isolated from the vehicle frame and the accessory battery circuit.
y) The capacity of the accessory battery must be sufficient to power all the accessory loads with
sufficient safety margin which will be verified during inspection. The accessory battery is not allowed for
propulsion related controllers in E-mobility vehicles.
z) The Organisers reserve the right to request Teams to install one joulemeter, intended to measure the
quantity of energy provided by the accessory battery. If this amount of energy exceeds the power
typically required to operate the horn and safety devices the competitor will be disqualified.
aa) Both propulsion and accessory batteries must be installed outside of the drivers compartment
behind a bulk head. The following devices may be powered by batteries other than the propulsion or
accessory battery provided they use built-in batteries: radio communication system, GPS system, data
loggers excluding engine management units, driver ventilators.
ab) All electrical/electronic enclosures built and populated by the teams must be made of transparent
material or at least have a transparent cover to allow the technical inspectors to view the contents.
ac) The drive train in the Battery Electric category is restricted to a maximum of one electric storage
device, and up to two electric motors, with associated control units. The electric motors may be

purchased, purchased-and-modified, or purpose-built. Motor controllers built from sub-components such

as single-board computers, power stages, etc. are encouraged.
ad) Any electric storage device may be used.
ae) The maximum amperage of the accessory battery should not exceed 100Ah
af) Vehicle should meet High Voltage test requirement. 1KV for 1 min OR Insulation Resistance test
should be done at the vehicle level with 55V for 1 min and resistance must be more than 10Mohm.
ag) There should be provisions in terms of access points which would facilitate the technical inspectors
to check the important electrical systems and components.

ARTICLE T21 : KILL SWITCH

(A) Cockpit Switch The cockpit switch must be located in the front of the cockpit within easy reach of
the driver with the safety harness tight. The switch may not be mounted on a removable steering wheel
assembly.
B) External Switch The external switch must be mounted on the drivers right side of the vehicle, on a
panel generally perpendicular, the switch must be mounted rigidly, with no sharp edges nearby. It must
not be necessary to reach inside the roll cage to actuate the switch.
ARTICLE T22 : TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATION
a) Competitors must provide the Organisers with a precise technical description of the vehicles energy
storage system and electrical circuitry. This documentation serves only to verify that the teams have an
understanding of the Rules. Admission to the competition in no way constitutes a pre-approval for the
Technical Inspection phase. Final technical approval is only granted at the event.
b) Technical Documentation prior to event. Deadlines will be indicated in the SAEINDIA Website
i. Competitors must provide, through the online submittal process, documentation on the energy
storage system, power-train and vehicle electrical system.
ii. For all vehicles, the electrical systems documentation may be in form of one or more block
diagrams/electrical circuit diagram containing the following:
1.Point to point vehicle wiring diagram showing the location of all major relevant electrical
components of the system, such as batteries, Super Capacitors, fuses/circuit protectors, lights,
horn, joule meter etc.
2. Component voltage, current, and power ratings of major components.
3. Locations and ratings of all circuit protection devices.
4. Illustration of how the emergency stop system works, and presence of both external and
internal emergency switches in the electrical circuit. Separate sheet may be used to illustrate if
necessary.

5. A description of any batteries or Super Capacitors being used in the system, including type,
rated voltage, max charge voltage and capacity in amp-hours or capacitance.
c) Technical Documentation at event (to be reviewed during Technical Inspection)
i. Competitors must have available for inspection with the vehicle, a printed copy of the latest
version of the documents submitted above and the additional documentation as defined below.
Accessing the information on-line via the internet during inspection is not allowed. No
documentation = No inspection
ii. For all vehicles, if a Lithium-Ion battery is used as accessory battery, printed/written
documentation on the BMS operation must be provided. Accessing the information on-line via
the internet during technical inspection is not allowed. The requirement for BMS system
operation data is independent of whether the BMS is integrated into a purchased battery, part
of the charger or special built.
The BMS data MUST include:
1. Cell over-voltage protection limits.
2. Operation of cell balancing (how and when)
3. Battery operation when over-voltage limits are reached. (i.e. what will the BMS/Battery do
when these limits are reached )
iii. For vehicles printed/written documentation on the BMS operation must be provided.
Accessing the information on-line via the internet during technical inspection is not allowed.
(Note, the requirement for BMS system operation data is independent of whether the BMS is
integrated into a purchased battery or special built.)
The BMS data MUST include:
1. Cell over-voltage and under-voltage protection limits
2. Battery over-current limit
3. Operation of cell balancing (how and when)
4. Battery over-temperature limit
5. The technical documentation must also include information about how the BMS will
protect the battery when an over-voltage, under-voltage, over-current or overtemperature condition is reached, i.e. how will the BMS isolate the battery when these
limits are reached.

ARTICLE T23: VEHICLE REQUIREMENTS & RESTRICTIONS

T23.1 Technical Inspection The following requirements and restrictions will be enforced through technical
inspection. Non-compliance must be corrected and the car re-inspected before the car is allowed to operate.

T23.2 Modifications and Repairs

T23.2.1 Once the vehicle has been presented for judging in the Cost or Design Events or submitted for Technical
Inspection, and until the vehicle is approved to compete in the dynamic events, i.e. all the three inspection
stickers are awarded, the only modifications permitted to the vehicle are those directed by the Inspector(s) and
noted on the Inspection Form.
T23.3 Breakdowns and other incidents
a) Intentional stopping on the track is forbidden.
b) The Driver is allowed 30 seconds to attempt to re-start the vehicle from within its driving position.
c) If a vehicle breaks down or is involved in a minor disabling accident on the track, the Driver must
immediately make every attempt to drive the vehicle to the side of the track and wait in the vehicle for
the Marshalls to arrive.
d) In an emergency, the Driver must get out of the car and wait in a safe place off the track for the Track
Marshals to arrive and recover him/her and the vehicle.
e) It is forbidden to carry out repairs on the track. In the event of a flat tyre, even when near the starting
line, a new start will not be granted for the attempt in question.
T23.4 Helmets
a) For practice and competition, Drivers must wear Motorcycle or Motorsport style helmets that comply
with the safety standards specified. Helmet labels must be clearly readable. Helmets worn by the Driver
and Reserve Driver will be subject to inspection.
b) Only full-face or three quarter helmets are permitted. Generally, the full-face and three quarter style
helmets can be affixed with face shields which are highly recommended. If a face shield is not utilised,
safety goggles are required. The helmets must correctly fit the Drivers; otherwise they will not be
approved for the event.
T23.5 Driver Clothing
a) All Drivers must wear a racing suit as the outermost layer of clothing (fire retardant highly
recommended). Casual clothing and street wear are not permitted. Chapter II provides further
guidelines regarding the racing suit specifications and availability. Wearing synthetic outer clothes or
underwear is strictly forbidden for Drivers when seated in their vehicle.
b) Gloves (covering all fingers fully leather or canvas) and shoes with fire resistant material (Carbon X,
Indura, Nomex, Polybenzimidazole and Proban SFI 3.3, FIA 8856-2000) are required. Socks should
be fire resistant.

T23.6: Driver comfort

The Organisers reserve the right to restrict individual driving time by any means at their sole discretion,
e.g. shortening the distance, requesting driver change (pit stop), limit maximum number of attempts per
driver per day, etc.
T23.7: Transponders
Transponders will be used as part of the timing system for the dynamic events at the ELECTRA
competition which will be provided by the organiser SAEINDIA,
T23.7.1 Transponder mounting requirements are:
a. Orientation - The transponder must be mounted vertically and orientated so the number can be read
"right-side up".
b. Location - The transponder must be mounted on the driver's right side of the car forward of the front
roll hoop. The transponder must be no more than 60 cm (24 in) above the track.
c. Obstructions - There must be an open, unobstructed line between the antenna on the bottom of the
transponder and the ground. Metal and carbon fiber may interrupt the transponder signal. The signal will
normally transmit through fiberglass and plastic. If the signal will be obstructed by metal or carbon fiber, a 10.2
cm (4 in) diameter opening can be cut, the transponder mounted flush with the opening, and the opening
covered with a material transparent to the signal.
d. Protection - Mount the transponder where it will be protected from obstacles.
- for all drivers including arm restraints, helmets, suits, gloves, eye protection,
socks and shoes.

nspection.
*************************************

Contact:
Mr. Bibhu Kumar,
Officer CDS Events,
Email id: cdsevents@saeindia.org
Mobile: +91 8870471510
SAEINDIA #1/17 Ceebros Arcade, 2nd Floor, 3rd Cross, Kasturba Nagar, Adyar, Chennai - 600 020
Ph: +91 44 24411904, 42152280.
www.saeindia.org