Taiwan Tech Formula Racing Team held a new car launch event on October 17, officially unveiling its second-generation electric race car, LEOPARD 02. The upgraded model features comprehensive enhancements in chassis structure, powertrain, and suspension design, significantly improving handling performance, stability, and safety while achieving a lighter build. Demonstrating the team’s strong capabilities in engineering integration and independent R&D, LEOPARD 02 marks another milestone in Taiwan Tech’s pursuit of innovation. The team will represent Taiwan Tech in the FSAE-Australasia competition this December, competing against top student formula racing teams from around the world and striving to bring honor to Taiwan.

The Taiwan Tech Formula Racing Team is composed of passionate students dedicated to vehicle design, manufacturing, and driving. Its members come from diverse departments, including Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Materials Science and Technology, Electronics and Computer Engineering, Industrial Management, Business Administration, and Design.

Building on the foundation of its predecessor, the new LEOPARD 02 achieves a 20% weight reduction - about 60 kilograms lighter - through structural and material optimization. The chassis has evolved from a traditional steel tube frame to an aluminum alloy monocoque with an integrated roll cage, enhancing body rigidity while providing greater agility and stability in acceleration and handling. In terms of powertrain, the team replaced the previous single rear motor with in-wheel motors, enabling four motors to deliver a combined output of over 120 horsepower for stronger performance. The transmission system was also upgraded from a chain drive to a planetary gear set, improving power efficiency and durability.

The new model features comprehensive upgrades in chassis structure, powertrain, and suspension design - significantly enhancing handling performance and stability while maintaining both safety and lightweight efficiency.

The suspension system adopts a decoupled design, allowing quick and precise adjustments based on race conditions for greater adaptability across different tracks. In addition, the team developed a high-efficiency inverter in-house to optimize energy conversion between the battery and motors, enabling faster acceleration and improved handling stability. These innovations highlight the students’ strong capabilities in independent R&D, while giving them valuable hands-on experience and a deeper understanding of electric vehicle system integration.

The team developed a high-efficiency inverter in-house to optimize energy conversion between the battery and motors, giving the new car faster acceleration and improved handling performance - a testament to the team’s strong capabilities in engineering integration and independent innovation.

Taiwan Tech President Jia-Yush Yen remarked that despite working under limited resources, the Taiwan Tech Formula Racing Team has demonstrated competitiveness on par with top universities. He expressed gratitude to the team’s industry sponsors for their continued support, which has enabled ongoing improvements in vehicle design and systems, culminating in the successful launch of the next-generation electric formula race car - a reflection of the team’s long-term dedication and effort.

Yulon Motor Vice Chairman Chen-Hsiang Yao also praised the team via video message, commending their perseverance and growth since the team’s founding. From design and manufacturing to testing, he noted, the team has shown remarkable professionalism and collaboration. He encouraged the students to continue embracing innovation and challenges, striving for even greater success in future competitions.

Taiwan Tech President Jia-Yush Yen delivers a speech.

The Taiwan Tech Formula Racing Team is composed of passionate students dedicated to vehicle design, manufacturing, and driving, with members from various departments including Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Business Administration, and Design. Every aspect of the race car - from the chassis structure and suspension design to the electronic control system and power configuration - is independently designed and integrated by the students.

Chassis leader Hung-Hsin Lin shared that the team builds everything from scratch, requiring strong technical expertise and design experience at every stage. Through this process, he has learned how to balance performance, weight, and reliability, while also gaining valuable hands-on experience in manufacturing and testing. He emphasized that the project deeply reinforced the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and effective team management.

Through innovations in the chassis, motor, and suspension systems, the students demonstrated strong technical capabilities in independent research and development. The process also allowed them to gain extensive hands-on experience and a deeper understanding of system integration in electric vehicle technology.

Vice Captain Tsung-Yu Lai shared that the team’s extensive racing experience has helped them continuously learn, grow, and strengthen their ability to face challenges. “In the future, we’ll keep pushing our limits and competing on more international stages,” he said. “We hope to bring home even better results and let more people see our dedication and perseverance.” The team also expressed gratitude to the Taiwan Tech Intelligent Electric Vehicle Center, corporate sponsors, and alumni - including T-Global Technology Co., Ltd., Amita Technologies Inc.

, King Tony Tools Co. Ltd., Yulon Motor, the Yen Tjing Ling Industrial Development Foundation, and Humon Technology - for their technical guidance, equipment support, and research funding. These partnerships enabled the team to successfully complete vehicle development and testing while giving students valuable opportunities to sharpen their engineering design and problem-solving skills in real-world conditions.

Since its establishment in 2021, The taiwan Tech Formula Racing Team has achieved remarkable success. In 2023, the team won the Harry Watson Best Contribution Award at the FSAE-A competition in Australia, showcasing the professionalism and technical talent of Taiwanese students on the global stage. In 2024, they secured second place overall at the FST Taiwan competition, marking another record-breaking achievement for the team.

Looking ahead, the team aims to continue using domestic competitions as platforms for testing and collaboration, refining their technology and teamwork through real-world challenges. Building on this foundation, they plan to take on more international events to expand their horizons, enhance competitiveness, and nurture a new generation of electric vehicle engineers skilled in both practical engineering and innovation.

The Taiwan Tech Formula Racing Team held its new car launch event on October 17, officially unveiling its second-generation electric race car, LEOPARD 02. Pictured: Team members, sponsors, and faculty advisors.