Lauritz Knudsen & Orion Racing India: Powering the Next Gen of EV Engineers

Empowering Grassroots Innovation: A Strategic Partnership with Orion Racing India to Fuel the EV Ecosystem

MUMBAI — March 2026 — Lauritz Knudsen Electrical and Automation, a powerhouse in India’s electrical landscape, has announced a strategic partnership with Orion Racing India, the Formula Student team from the K J Somaiya School of Engineering (Somaiya Vidyavihar University).

The collaboration is a targeted effort to strengthen India's electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem at the foundational level. By supporting student engineers who are designing, building, and racing electric and autonomous prototypes, Lauritz Knudsen is investing in the specialized talent required to manage the nation’s shifting energy and mobility landscape.

From Textbooks to the Track: The Orion Racing Legacy

Orion Racing India has been a staple of the global Formula Student circuit for nearly two decades. Since making the pivotal switch from Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) to electric prototypes in 2019, the team has turned its workshop into a high-stakes laboratory for sustainable mobility.

• Live Learning Platform: The team's electric racecar allows students to solve real-world challenges in power systems, energy management, and high-performance safety.

• Future-Ready Skills: The partnership focuses on hands-on experimentation, ensuring that the next generation of engineers enters the workforce with practical experience in EV infrastructure and power distribution.

• Institutional Continuity: Each batch of students builds upon the data and technical legacy of their predecessors, creating a cycle of constant engineering improvement.

Building the Foundation for Scalable Electrification

For Lauritz Knudsen, this engagement isn't just about motorsport; it’s about the broader electrical infrastructure that makes EVs viable. The partnership aligns with the company’s focus on robust charging infrastructure and safe power distribution systems.

"India's electric mobility journey will be shaped by the ecosystem we build today. By engaging with students who are actively working on electric vehicle technologies, we are helping develop future-ready talent that will play a defining role in India's mobility and energy future." — Naresh Kumar, COO, Lauritz Knudsen Electrical and Automation.

Dr. Ukrande, Director of K J Somaiya School of Engineering, noted that support from industry leaders like Lauritz Knudsen motivates students to move beyond theoretical learning and tackle the critical engineering hurdles of India's mobility future.

FAQ.

What is "Formula Student" and why does it matter to the industry?

Formula Student is an international engineering design competition where students build small-scale formula-style race cars. For the industrial sector, it serves as a premier talent incubator. Engineers coming out of these programs are highly sought after because they have experience managing full project lifecycles—from CAD design and sourcing to manufacturing and track-testing under pressure.

How does Lauritz Knudsen’s expertise fit into an EV racecar?

While the students build the car, Lauritz Knudsen’s domain expertise in automation, switchgear, and power distribution is directly applicable to the "under-the-hood" electronics of an EV. Managing high-voltage batteries and ensuring efficient power delivery to the motors requires the same principles of safety and reliability that Lauritz Knudsen applies to industrial power grids.

Why is "grassroots" support critical for the EV transition?

A massive shift to electric mobility requires more than just cars; it requires a workforce that understands battery chemistry, thermal management, and smart charging grids. By supporting students early, companies ensure there is a steady pipeline of engineers who think in "clean energy" terms before they even start their professional careers.