Penn Electric Racing

Name

Penn Electric Racing

Legal name

Penn Electric Racing

Website

https://pennelectricracing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Penn Electric Racing is the University of Pennsylvania's Formula SAE Electric team, designing and building fully electric racecars that compete in FSAE Electric events across North America. It serves Penn engineering students seeking hands-on EV design experience, funded by 50+ corporate sponsors and individual donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Student Formula Electric Racecars

NAICS

Sporting and Athletic Goods Manufacturing (33992)

SIC

Services-Racing, Including Track Operation (7948)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAKAGAB

Motorsports Teams & Entrants (Factory & Independent)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Motorsports Series, Teams & Promoters

Keywords

• Electric formula racecars
• Formula SAE electric
• Student racing team
• Electric vehicle engineering
• Battery management systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Penn Electric Racing is funded through donations via Penn's Giving website. The team actively fundraises to support car development, with a notable 2024-2025 campaign raising $40,000 for four-wheel-drive transition ($11,467 raised as of the campaign period). Donations are tax-deductible and some employers match employee donations.
2. Corporate Sponsorship: Over 50 sponsors provide financial support, parts, raw materials, software licenses, manufacturing services, and expertise. Sponsors receive visibility through car branding, website logos, social media, competition displays, recruiting sessions, and career fair access.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Penn Electric Racing is the University of Pennsylvania's Formula SAE Electric Team that designs, builds, and races fully electric formula-style racecars each year for FSAE Electric competitions. The team also develops custom electronics (battery management, power distribution, powertrain control modules), in-house circuit boards, custom planetary gearboxes, regenerative braking, and software for telemetry and vehicle control. Outputs include award-winning competition vehicles, student engineering talent, and brand visibility for sponsors.

Product overview

Penn Electric Racing is the University of Pennsylvania's Formula SAE Electric racing team that designs and builds award-winning electric racecars. The team has operated for over 10 years (2013-present), producing 11 generations of Formula-style electric racecars (REV0 through REVX), along with legacy projects including the OPUS electric scooter conversion and RENEGADE electric dragster. Each vehicle represents iterative engineering advancement in electric powertrain technology, battery systems, aerodynamics, and vehicle dynamics. The current REVX (2024-2025) celebrates their 10th anniversary as their 'best design car yet,' incorporating custom electronics, refined planetary gearbox design, and upgraded data acquisition with wireless telemetry. The team's vehicles compete in FSAE Electric competitions, where they have achieved 41 trophies and multiple records including the North American 0-75m acceleration record.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• REVX The 2024-2025 model year electric Formula SAE race car celebrating Penn Electric Racing's 10th anniversary. Features custom planetary gearbox design, refined powertrain, and upgraded data acquisition system with wireless telemetry. Competed at FSAE EV Michigan 2025, placing 1st in Cost Event and 2nd in Business Presentation.
• REV9 The 2023-2024 model year electric Formula SAE race car. Notably the lightest racecar in team history at 189 kg curb weight, with a custom planetary gearbox, custom motor controller, and regenerative braking system.
• REV8 The 2022-2023 model year electric Formula SAE race car. Most tuned and tested car to date with Emrax 228 HV motor producing 124 kW peak power. Placed 4th in Skidpad and 6th in Autocross at FSAE Michigan 2023.
• REV7 The 2020-2022 model year electric Formula SAE race car. First in-person vehicle since 2018, featuring redesigned 2WD powertrain with Emrax 228 MV motor and higher voltage 450V accumulator.
• REV6 The 2019-2020 model year electric Formula SAE race car. Third four-wheel drive car built on developments from REV4 and REV5, though season was cut short due to COVID-19 pandemic.
• REV5 The 2018-2019 model year electric Formula SAE race car. North America's first 4-wheel drive to place at competition, taking 3rd place overall at Formula SAE Lincoln Electric. Featured award-winning flexible PCB battery pack with CelLink technology.
• REV4 The 2017-2018 model year electric Formula SAE race car. First racecar with 4-wheel drive and custom in-wheel powertrain using four Parker GVK 142 motors.
• REV3 The 2016-2017 model year electric Formula SAE race car. Placed first at Formula Lincoln with best 0-75m acceleration in North America, faster than freefall.
• REV2 The 2015-2016 model year electric Formula SAE race car. Broke the North American 0-75m Acceleration Record with 0-60mph time of 2.6s and took 2nd place overall at FSAE Electric 2016.
• REV1 The 2014-2015 model year electric Formula SAE race car. America's first fully functional, student-built electric racecar with 100 kW motor and 5.3 kWh capacity.
• REV0 The 2013-2014 model year electric Formula SAE race car. First electric racecar with dual Enstroj Emrax 228 HV motors producing 85 kW combined power and 240 Nm torque.
• OPUS Electric conversion project (2011-2013) of a Honda Ruckus. Features 18650 Li-ion cells, 72V pack voltage, 8.5 hp peak power, 50 mph top speed, and 240 lbs weight.
• RENEGADE NHRA Dragster project (2006-2011) converted to electric. Features deep-cycle Lead Acid cells, 250 hp peak power, 500 lb-ft peak torque, 276V pack voltage.
• Solar Cars (Independence) Solar car program (1989-2006), including the 1997 Independence model. Early experimental electric vehicles preceding the Formula SAE program.

Quantifiable outcome

• 41 trophies across 10+ years of FSAE competition
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CelLinkcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2019Penn Electric Racing partnered with CelLink to design an award-winning flexible PCB battery pack management solution for REV5's accumulator. This innovative design integrated cell connection, pack monitoring, and fusing into one elegant package, winning the Cummins Design Applied Technology Award at FSAE Lincoln 2019.
• XometrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerXometry helped Penn Electric Racing manufacture bellcranks and accumulator substack endplates for REV4 and REV5. Their manufacturing capabilities enabled the team to produce precision components for the racecar.
• Leading Edge CompositesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading Edge Composites welcomed Penn Electric Racing to their facility and coached the team throughout the entire composites process as they built an aero package for the first time.
• Gridless PowerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGridless Power donated their Gridless Core, which powers testing equipment and allows the team to work just about anywhere.
• TextrememinorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTextreme donated raw carbon fiber material that was used to create REV2's carbon fiber body and aero package.
• Hillock AnodizingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHillock Anodizing anodized some of the team's aluminum parts to add color to REV2's components.
• SendCutSendminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSendCutSend provided custom-cut suspension parts for the team's racecars.
• SiemenscoreTechnology or IntegrationSiemens Software provides Penn Electric Racing with design and development software that helps the team design and develop a better car, especially to overcome challenges of testing during the COVID-19 pandemic. REV6 won the 4th place Siemens Digital Twin Award for advanced simulation work.
• Speed RacewayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpeed Raceway supported the team with FSAE driver training, providing a venue for drivers to practice and develop their skills.
• Elefant Racing (Germany)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPenn Electric Racing developed a partnership with Elefant Racing from Bayreuth, Germany to advance autonomous systems development for the team.
• Ping'an Xiaocainiang TeamminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Ping'an Xiaocainiang team from China helped Penn Electric Racing film and create a documentary video about the team's journey with REV8 at FSAE EV 2023.

Scale indicators20 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Stanford Formula Racing: Stanford's FSAE Electric team, another well-resourced West Coast university program that competes in the same FSAE EV events. Directly comparable on competition class, talent profile, and electric powertrain focus.
• Georgia Tech Motorsports: Georgia Tech's Formula SAE Electric program, an established EV team competing in the same FSAE EV events as Penn. Comparable in structure, scope of subsystems, and competition circuit.
• MIT Motorsports: Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Formula SAE Electric team. As another high-caliber engineering school program, MIT Motorsports competes in the same FSAE Electric events as Penn Electric Racing, with similar talent density and technical expectations.
• Waterloo Formula Electric: University of Waterloo's Formula SAE Electric team, a perennial top-ranked FSAE Electric program in North America and globally. Directly comparable to Penn Electric Racing on vehicle class, competition format, and university-student team structure.
• University of Michigan MRacing: FSAE Electric team at UMich, sharing the same Formula SAE Electric competitions (Lincoln, Michigan) where Penn Electric Racing competes. Both programs build fully electric racecars from mechanical, electrical, and software subsystems with similar performance targets and sponsor bases.
• TUfast (TU Munich): Technical University of Munich's Formula Student Electric team, a top-tier European FSAE Electric competitor with extensive industry partnerships. Comparable to Penn Electric Racing on competition format and electric-powertrain design scope.
• Virginia Tech Motorsports: Virginia Tech's FSAE Electric team, an established competitor in Lincoln and Michigan. Comparable to Penn Electric Racing in competition calendar, vehicle architecture, and student-team organization.
• UC Berkeley Cal Racing: UC Berkeley's Formula SAE Electric program, another strong EV-only program competing in the same FSAE EV events. Direct peer on competition class and engineering discipline depth.
• ETH Zurich AMZ: ETH Zurich's Academic Motorsports Club Zurich, the world-leading Formula Student Electric team in Europe. Same vehicle class and competition category (Formula-style electric). Comparable in engineering ambition, though more resource-intensive than Penn.
• KA-Racing Karlsruhe: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology's Formula Student Electric team, a top-ranked German program in Formula Student competitions. Builds fully electric racecars in the same vehicle class as Penn Electric Racing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/PennElectricRacing
• Facebookfacebook.com/pennelectricracing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/penn-electric-racing
• Instagraminstagram.com/pennelectricracing
• Xx.com/Penn_racing

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Penn Electric Racing