“Projecto de Sustentabilidade Energética Móvel” (PSEM) is a student group at Instituto Superior Téncico, Univesity of Lisbon, whose members all have in common a passion for engineering
How it started
In its current form, PSEM started in 2013, as Siemens wanted to have a team representing Instituto Superior Técnico in Greenpower. With that goal in mind, students from Mechanical Engineering to Electrical Engineering joined forces to start building in SolidEdge what would later become the team's first prototype, the GP14.
2014
In 2014, the team built the GP14 prototype to compete in the international final at Goodwood. With an aluminum spaceframe chassis and a car body made of carbon fiber and fiberglass, the total weight of the vehicle was less than 65kg. Although we were unable to compete due to technical problems, we realized that we had one of the most advanced prototypes in the competition due to the way the car's suspension was built and the lightness of its chassis.
2015
After the 2014 race, having returned to Lisbon, the team immediately started working on the car again. After analyzing the errors and failures of the previous year, we realized there were many points to improve. With this in mind, we focused on correcting all these problems. Thus, the GP14.EVO was born, which we took to England to compete. We finished in 14th place out of 40 participants and won the Siemens Engineering and Design Award for the first time!
2016
After the great results of 2015, we continued to improve the GP14.EVO, turning it into the GP14.EVO2. Simultaneously, we started designing a new prototype, the GP16, which would only be built in 2017. In the 2016 competitions, we finished in 24th place, a result that was not very satisfactory compared to what we had achieved the previous year, which was partly due to technical problems during the race. Still, we managed to win the Siemens Engineering and Design Award again for the GP16 project, which, with some changes, gave rise to the GP17 prototype.
2017
After the final at Rockingham in October 2016, it was decided that PSEM would move forward with the construction of a new vehicle, the GP17. Given this ambitious goal, the team developed a car that was completely different from what had been done before. This year, the team participated in a set of Greenpower competitions, the F24+, in which it had not yet participated. After two F24+ races, we were able to qualify for the International Final at Rockingham, where we achieved the team's best result to date, 6th place.
2018
With the new year, the team decided to move forward with the construction of the evolution of the GP17, overcoming the difficulties encountered in the 2017 competition and building innovations that would bring good results to the team. This year, the team participated with the GP17.Evo, qualifying for the International Final at Rockingham, resulting in a 7th place, despite the problems that occurred in the final moments of the race.
2019
With the beginning of a new season, the team's focus was to optimize the GP17.EVO and build the GP19, our new prototype for Greenpower competitions. Thus, the 2018/2019 season was marked by the various phases of conception of the GP19. This year, PSEM achieved its best result ever: 2nd place in East Fortune, Scotland! The result obtained in the final was lower than expected, but it does not represent the remainder of the competitions of this season, nor did it shake our ambition to consistently achieve top positions in the standings.
2020
For the 2019/20 season, the main goal was to finish and optimize the GP19, while the GP21 project was underway. The recruitment process was much better than in previous years, and it was very successful, resulting in the formation of a team of 32 members. Inevitably, the season was marked by the pandemic, which led to the cancellation, postponement, or delay of many activities, also resulting in the cancellation of all competitions. However, due to the hard work of a motivated team, it was possible to complete the GP21 project and carry out all the tests so that the GP19 was ready to go for new achievements.
2021
After many members’ exits at the end of the previous season, another extensive recruitment effort was required. That resulted in the formation of a large but less experienced team, which would have to continue the development of the GP21. As it was still a pandemic-influenced year, only one race took place, at Navarra Circuit in Spain. Here, sadly, GP19 stopped while leading, due to a technical failure. As such, 20/21 was a disappointing year in terms of results, but many vital lessons were learned for future seasons.
2022
Going into the 21/22 season, various design issues meant that the GP21's concept had to be reworked in many essential areas. However, despite the very short timeframe, the car was built and ready to compete in the English races in September! Whilst the results obtained in England this season weren't the best, with a 3rd place at Dunsfold and 5th in the International Finals being the highlights, the year was regarded as a great success, due to the big effort that allowed both GP21 and GP19 to finish almost all the races, and to achieve a 1-2 finish in Navarra!
2023
Before the 22/23 season, it was decided that, besides optimising the GP21, the team would create a new car, the GP23. Externally, it would be very similar to the GP21, but its internal components would be greatly reworked compared to its predecessor. After a successful conception and building process - itself a great victory - the team had its best period of competition to date: a disappointing 4th after tyre troubles in Navarra, but then two race wins at Dunsfold and Aintree, which were only topped by winning the international finals at Goodwood! Solid results for the GP21, three wins for the GP23, and the ultimate prize of being the Greenpower Champion of 2023!
2024
Following a fantastic end to the 22/23 season, 23/24 was set to be a year of evolution rather than revolution. Development and testing of the GP23 and GP21 continued, whilst work started for a new competitor, the GP25. In the competition season, the team had a great start, with two wins and a 2nd place in England for the GP23, along with a podium for the GP21. However, at the International Finals, a blown fuse at the start lost the team’s main competitor 20 minutes, which put it out of the running for the top 10, whilst the GP21 finished a solid 6th. A big disappointment in the biggest race of the year, but it only gave the team more motivation to make 24/25 its best season yet!