About Us
Student-Designed. Student-Built.
Terrier Motorsport is Boston University’s Formula SAE Electric team. We design, manufacture, and race a fully electric, formula-style car built entirely by students across engineering, computer science, and business.
We run the team like a real engineering program: requirements, reviews, design cycles, manufacturing, testing, and
iteration. We learn by doing, prioritize safety and reliability, and compete annually at Formula Hybrid + Electric.
Two-Year Design Cycle
Year 1 focuses on subsystem design and DFM. Year 2 turns those designs into a complete, rules-compliant electric race car.
Subteams design components from the chassis, aero, and suspension to the accumulator, powertrain, and electrical systems. All parts follow strict DFM (design for manufacturing) guidelines.
Build-Phase Ownership
After the design phase, members manufacture the majority of our parts in-house. We weld the chassis, fabricate suspension geometry, mold aero panels, assemble the accumulator, test PCBs, validate low-voltage and tractive systems, and prepare the car for competition.
When buildup begins, the next cycle of design starts again.
Fully Student-Run
Students own everything: CAD, wiring, machining, testing, budgeting, sponsorship, business & operations, and team leadership.
Alumni and faculty advise—but students execute. Members build real engineering portfolios that hold up in technical interviews.
Our Design Cycle
Year 1 — Design
Subsystem requirements, DFMEA, rules and cost checks, peer reviews, manufacturing plans, and complete subsystem designs.
Year 2 — Build & Test
Fabrication, welding, machining, wiring, validation, reliability runs, driver training, and competition prep.
Handoff — Documentation
CAD, schematics, test data, procedures, and design notes recorded so future teams move faster.
How We’re Organized
Terrier Motorsport is organized into three primary groups:
- Mechanical — Chassis & Suspension, Aero, Drivetrain
- Electrical — Accumulator/BMS, TS/GLV wiring, PCBs
- Business & Operations — Finance, Sponsorships, Marketing
Each subteam has a Lead and Deputy, allowing members to specialize in one part of the car while collaborating across systems.
Want to learn more about subteam responsibilities? Visit the Join the Team page.
Our Philosophy
Terrier Motorsport is a student-run organization whose mission is to design and build an electric racecar—and compete for the win at the Formula Hybrid + Electric competition.
Boston University teaches theory; we apply it. Members design hardware in SolidWorks, create PCBs in KiCad, machine parts in-house, develop electrical systems, validate software, and handle sponsor relations. This work builds genuine industry-level skills across engineering, business, and operations.
The Formula Hybrid+Electric competition allows students to showcase their work to judges from companies like Ford, LG Chem, and FCA/Stellantis. Every team member submits a resume for distribution to attending engineers, giving students access to real hiring pipelines.
To learn more about the competition, visit the Formula Hybrid+Electric site.
Support Terrier Motorsport
Partners help us accelerate student engineering at BU. Product donations, machining services, and financial sponsorships make a meaningful difference in our ability to design, manufacture, and compete.
Questions? Contact us at butm@bu.edu.