‘I still profit from the network I built at URE’

You started your own company. What does XYZ Dynamics do?

“When I started my pre-master's, my associates and I began the XYZ Dynamics start-up. Our mission is to ease the energy transition for the commercial vehicle industry. Owners in this segment need and want to become more sustainable, but most commercial vehicle manufacturers don't yet offer zero-emission vehicles. We fill that gap. Our seven-person strong team focused on electrifying vehicles used in food and furniture transportation and at airports.”

Did your time on the team influence your future career?

“Most certainly. Our current business comprises former URE members. We gained our knowledge of electric powertrains when we were on that team. We also learned how to go about the work and qualitative development. Those development processes form the foundation of our current development processes. I still profit from the industry network I built during my board year at URE.”

What was team URE's goal?

“Building an electric race car to participate in the Formula Student Competition, the world's biggest engineering competition for students. In the summer, we took that car on tour through Europe - the Netherlands, Austria, Germany, and Spain - racing on different tracks. This team is unique in that every part of the vehicle was designed in-house and, when necessary, produced in collaboration with partners. From the electric motor to the battery pack, even the tires are our own design.”

What was your role?

“I began part-time at URE - the university's oldest and largest student team - in 2016. For two years, I was responsible for cost reporting and the business plan, two events held during the Formula Student Competition. My last year was a full-time board year, where I took care of the finances, partner relations, and, eventually, also the business plan and cost report.”

What did you learn from your time on the team?

“You can solve any problem. The team is key: strengthen or remove the weak links. I also learned to plan well and work in a project-based way.”

What was a personal highlight of your time on the team?

“That we achieved fifth place overall at the Formula Student Germany. That may not sound like a top performance, but more than 200 hundred teams participate, including top German universities with strong automotive backgrounds. And we beat several of those teams. As a result, we immediately qualified for this competition again for the following year and secured another sponsorship deal with Audi.”

Were there low points too?

“It looked like we were going to get first prize, overall, at the Formula Student Netherlands, but the car broke down during the last race. We just made it to the podium. Not a bad performance, but it felt like we'd missed the boat.”

What advice would you give students who are hesitant about joining a student team?

“Accept that your studies will be delayed, but this experience is well worth it.”