For the first time in the team’s history

the race car was ready to drive one month and three days ahead of the previous record set in 2013

After eight intensive months of development and production, Revolve NTNU officially unveiled its latest electric race car.

Sponsorship & Collaboration

Revolve NTNU unveils this year’s race car: VEGA

After eight intensive months of development and production, Revolve NTNU officially unveiled its latest electric race car, VEGA, during a high-profile launch event at Studentersamfundet in Trondheim on 29 April.

  • Text:Njål Frilseth

    Photo:Revolve NTNU

Revolve NTNU is a volunteer student organization founded in 2010, with a mission to develop world-class engineers and leaders. The organization brings together students from across NTNU, and this year’s team – R25 – includes 67 members from 18 different academic disciplines, spanning fields such as cybernetics, robotics, and business administration.

KONGSBERG is a proud sponsor of Revolve NTNU – a student organization that combines cutting-edge technology, interdisciplinary collaboration, and hands-on learning.

“We view Revolve NTNU as a unique learning environment where theory and practice intersect in a way few other student projects can match. It’s a platform where future engineers have the opportunity to grow – both professionally and personally,” says Linn Winsnes Thrane, Project Manager for the KONGSBERG Technology Forum.

Each year, the team designs, develops, and builds an electric and autonomous race car from scratch. Through this process, students gain valuable experience in technology development, project management, and interdisciplinary teamwork. Revolve NTNU is now recognized as one of the world’s top teams in Formula Student – the largest student engineering competition in the world.

“The road to the unveiling has been demanding, but incredibly educational for the entire team. From day one, development and innovation have been our core focus, resulting in a new design for most of the car’s systems,” says Martin Olsen, Project Manager at Revolve NTNU.

A new record and new ambitions

For the first time in the team’s history, the car was ready to drive as early as 26 April – one month and three days earlier than the previous record set in 2013. This gives the team a strong starting point ahead of the upcoming international competitions. This summer, Revolve NTNU will participate in Formula Student events in Austria, the Czech Republic, and Germany, competing against university teams from around the world.

Technological advances: From mechanics to software

Revolve NTNU has worked systematically to maximise the car’s grip on the track. Among the innovations are a completely redesigned wheel rim – wider and lighter than previous versions – and a refined drivetrain, saving over one kilogram in weight. The suspension stiffness has been increased by 200%, and the team has developed a progressive suspension geometry that improves both mechanical and aerodynamic grip.

With a new design philosophy, the aerodynamics package has also been significantly upgraded. Despite tighter regulations on chassis design, the team has managed to reduce the structural weight of the car by 5%, bringing it down to just 18.7 kg.

On the electrical side, the focus has been on reliability. A redesigned wiring harness simplifies both manufacturing and maintenance. For the first time in several years, the team has also introduced new battery cells, offering higher energy density and reduced heat generation. The custom-built inverter, now in its fourth generation (i25), is 37% smaller in volume and weighs under three kilograms

To push performance even further, the team has developed a new simulation platform, allowing them to test and optimize the car’s autonomous systems digitally. Four out of five modules in the autonomous driving stack have been rewritten – including updated SLAM and control systems. The planning algorithm has also been rewritten in C++ for improved performance.

The team has further enhanced power distribution between the wheels with a new torque vectoring logic tailored to individual driver preferences. A new telemetry solution enables real-time data and trackside analysis, improving both testing efficiency and driver training.

An investment in the future

The collaboration with Revolve NTNU is a strong example of how partnerships between industry and academia can generate real value – for both sides. For students, it offers the opportunity to lead and deliver ambitious, high-quality technical projects. For KONGSBERG, it’s a way to build strong relationships with the next generation of engineers and technology leaders.

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