Given the unproven platform that QEV-4 proved to be due to the lack of track testing before competition, the team set out in 2024 to Evolutionise, not Revolutionise. Throughout the start of the year, the team worked hard on making small iterative changes that would give us the most performance gain. To the naked eye, this car would not look very different to QEV-4, but that means we achieved our goal! In fact, the version of the car we launched is not the final evolution of the vehicle, with upgrades coming to the mode decoupled suspension system, new undertray, optimised software systems, driver aids such as launch control and traction control all planned to be added before competition.

QEV-4 Evo was the first vehicle the team developed the chassis from start to finish ourselves, with the core routing, ply layer cutting and aluminium mold preparation all happening on campus, before bagging the chassis up and taking it to Craig International Ballistics to cure in their Autoclave. The chassis has ended up being lighter than last year, weighing sub 20kg. The powertrain of the vehicle has seen small changes, with a smaller 2P accumulator being tested and validated as being the preferred option over a larger 3P accumulator. The team has spent various days on a stationary dyno, to test our field weakening software to ensure that the vehicle will work when we turn up the wick at competition.

The team is excited to take QEV-4 Evo to competition in December to see how it performs.