Aristotle University Racing Team Electric & Driverless (Aristurtle)

What Aristotle University Racing Team Electric & Driverless (Aristurtle) does

Aristotle University Racing Team Electric & Driverless (Aristurtle) is a student research team within the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, founded in 2013. The team designs, develops, and builds electric single-seater race cars to compete in Formula Student (FSAE) competitions across Europe. Across eight vehicle generations from Electra (2015-2016) through Calypso (2022-2024), Aristurtle has progressively advanced from its first electric race car in Northern Greece to building the first autonomous/driverless electric race car in the Balkan region with Thetis DV in 2021. Recent platforms (Persephone and Calypso) support dual-mode capability, competing in both driver-operated and autonomous categories.

Technical work is organized across eight subdivisions: Aerodynamics, Autonomous System, Chassis & Ergonomics, Composite Materials, High Voltage, Low Voltage, Operations, and Suspension. Core technology spans high-voltage electric powertrains with custom battery management and inverter control, low-voltage electronics with over 25 self-designed PCBs, composite materials engineering using carbon fiber and kevlar with FEA-simulated components, and aerodynamic packages validated via CFD and wind tunnel testing. The autonomous subsystem implements a dual-camera perception pipeline, custom graph-optimization SLAM, multi-sensor state estimation (IMU, GNSS, wheel-speed, cameras), and ML-based path planning with drive-by-wire actuation, supported by an on-board processing unit for real-time computer vision. The team relies on partnerships with dSPACE, MathWorks, Altium, SolidWorks, Ouster, embotech, ABB, and Sunlight for tooling and hardware.

Aristurtle generates no commercial revenue; the team is funded exclusively through tiered corporate sponsorships (Premium, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze) and university support. The primary 'customer' counterparties are sponsors, with Protergia (MYTILINEOS) as the exclusive premium sponsor, alongside a broader industrial ecosystem. The team's value proposition centers on providing engineering students with hands-on practical experience, advancing research in electromobility and autonomous driving, and promoting sustainable mobility awareness in Greece and Europe.

Name

Aristotle University Racing Team Electric & Driverless (Aristurtle)

Legal name

Aristotle University Racing Team Electric & Driverless

Website

https://aristurtle.gr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Aristurtle is a student research team at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki that designs, develops, and builds electric and autonomous single-seater race cars for Formula Student competitions, including the first driverless electric race car in the Balkan region, funded through tiered corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electric Formula Student Race Cars

SIC

Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAKAGAH

Motorsports Support & Feeder Series (Developmental Championships)

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

SECONDARYMPAKAJAJ

Motorsport Driver Training Schools & Racing Academies

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Sports Camps, Academies & Training Centers

Keywords

• Electric race cars
• Formula student racing
• Autonomous driving systems
• Student engineering teams
• Composite vehicle manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Thessaloniki

HQ country

Greece

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Sponsorship Revenue: The team operates primarily through corporate sponsorships from various companies across tiers (Premium, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze). Sponsors provide financial support, equipment, materials, and services in exchange for brand visibility and promotion.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Aristurtle is a student research team that designs, develops, and builds single-seater electric and autonomous race cars for Formula Student (FSAE) competitions. The team's core deliverable is a new generation race car each season, integrating electric powertrains, composite chassis, low-voltage electronics, and driverless/autonomous capabilities. The team operates as a non-commercial engineering research project rather than a product vendor.

Product overview

Aristurtle is the student research team of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki that designs, develops, and builds electric Formula Student race cars. The product portfolio consists of eight generations of electric single-seater race cars (Electra, Eve, Iris, Thetis, Nemesis, Persephone, Calypso) plus the autonomous Thetis DV variant. The evolution spans from first electric car in Northern Greece (Electra, 2015-2016) to the first driverless race car in Greece (Thetis DV, 2021). Recent models (Persephone and Calypso) feature dual-mode capability, competing in both driver-operated and autonomous categories. Technical subdivisions include Aerodynamics, Autonomous System, Chassis & Ergonomics, Composite Materials, High Voltage, Low Voltage, Operations, and Suspension teams working on vehicle development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Electra First-generation electric single-seater race car built by Aristurtle for the 2015-2016 Formula Student season, featuring a tubular steel frame, dual 55kW electric motors, dSpace Microautobox II ECU, and electronic differential.
• Eve Second-generation electric race car from the 2016-2017 season introducing an aluminum monocoque chassis, planetary gear system, CAN protocol communication, and carbon fiber aerodynamics package.
• Iris Third-generation electric race car from the 2017-2018 season, continuing the team's evolution in electric vehicle technology.
• Thetis Fourth-generation award-winning electric race car from the 2018-2020 season featuring a planetary gearbox reducer; the base platform later converted into the autonomous Thetis DV.
• Nemesis Fifth-generation electric race car from the 2020-2021 season with optimized aluminum monocoque frame, dual RWD 39kW motors, 600V tractive system, 7.5 kWh accumulator, CFRP accumulator container, and 120 km/h top speed.
• Thetis DV (Driverless) First autonomous/driverless electric race car in Greece and the Balkan region, based on the Thetis platform with drive-by-wire steering and braking, dual camera perception pipeline, custom SLAM via graph optimization, and multi-sensor fusion state estimation.
• Persephone Sixth-generation dual-mode electric race car from the 2021-2022 season, the first Aristurtle vehicle designed to compete in both driver-operated and autonomous categories.
• Calypso Seventh-generation dual-mode single-seater race car from the 2022-2024 season, capable of competing in both driver-operated and autonomous categories under new regulations.

Quantifiable outcome

• First driverless electric race car in the Balkan region
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship, major and supporting.

• Aristotle University of ThessalonikicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Aristurtle's primary academic institution and supporter since 2013. The team appertains to the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, with the university providing facilities in the Faculty of Engineering for design and manufacturing.
• Protergia (MYTILINEOS)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerProtergia, the Electricity and Natural Gas Division of MYTILINEOS, is the exclusive premium sponsor of Aristurtle. The partnership focuses on innovation in electric propulsion and electricity generation. Protergia has also installed electric vehicle charging stations at its headquarters and is developing a network of recharging points throughout Greece.
• dSPACEcoreTechnology or IntegrationPlatinum sponsor providing hardware and software tools for development, testing, and validation of electronic control systems. Key technology partner for ECU and simulation systems.
• JAMSport Suspension SystemscoreTechnology or IntegrationPlatinum sponsor providing suspension systems and expertise. Key partner for vehicle dynamics and handling components.
• EY GreecemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatinum sponsor providing business advisory and professional services support to the team.
• SunlightmajorTechnology or IntegrationPlatinum sponsor providing battery systems and energy storage solutions for the electric race cars.
• ABBmajorTechnology or IntegrationGold sponsor providing industrial automation and electrical equipment technology.
• OustermajorTechnology or IntegrationGold sponsor providing lidar sensors for autonomous driving applications.
• embotechmajorTechnology or IntegrationGold sponsor providing motion control and automation technology for the autonomous systems.
• InteramericansupportingOthersGold sponsor providing insurance and financial services support to the team.
• Electric Machines Laboratory (EMLab)coreTechnology or IntegrationUniversity laboratory providing specialized equipment for testing and analysis of electric machines and systems, supporting the team's high-voltage systems development.
• MathWorkssupportingTechnology or IntegrationBronze sponsor providing MATLAB and Simulink software for modeling, simulation, and analysis.
• SolidWorkssupportingTechnology or IntegrationBronze sponsor providing CAD software for 3D modeling and design.
• AltiumsupportingTechnology or IntegrationBronze sponsor providing PCB design software for electronic circuit development.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Global Formula Racing (Oregon State University): Oregon State University's Formula Student team with a transatlantic partnership. Direct competitor in international FSAE events; comparable electric vehicle development and academic-sponsor model.
• FAU Racing Team (FAU Erlangen): Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg's Formula Student team. Direct European peer competing in the same electric FSAE events with comparable engineering scope.
• KTH Formula Student (KTH Royal Institute of Technology): KTH Royal Institute of Technology's Formula Student team competing in European FSAE events with electric and driverless vehicles. Direct peer with comparable student-led engineering and sponsorship model.
• TUM Autonomous Racing: Technical University of Munich's driverless racing initiative, focused specifically on autonomous Formula Student competition. Direct peer in the driverless EV category where Aristurtle's Thetis DV competed.
• KA-RaceIng (KIT Karlsruhe): Karlsruhe Institute of Technology's Formula Student team with both electric and driverless vehicles. Direct competitor in European FSAE; comparable engineering scale and multi-year vehicle development.
• DUT Racing Team (TU Delft): Delft University of Technology's Formula Student team with electric and driverless programs. Direct competitor in European FSAE events; comparable team size and full-stack engineering approach.
• AMZ (ETH Zürich Racing): ETH Zürich's Formula Student team competing in the same electric and driverless FSAE categories. Direct competitor in FS East and European FSAE events; comparable in building full-stack electric/autonomous single-seaters with industry sponsors.
• UPBracing Team (Paderborn University): Paderborn University's Formula Student team active in electric and driverless FSAE categories. Direct European peer with similar student-led, sponsor-funded vehicle development model.
• TUfast (TU Munich): Technical University of Munich's Formula Student team with strong electric and driverless programs. Direct competitor in European FSAE events; similar scope of in-house vehicle development and high-tier automotive sponsorship.
• GreenTeam (University of Stuttgart): University of Stuttgart's Formula Student electric team, historically one of the strongest in driverless categories. Direct competitor in European FSAE events with comparable EV/autonomous engineering scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aristotle.university.racing.team.electric

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Aristotle University Racing Team Electric & Driverless (Aristurtle)