How Formula E can overtake F1 and help save the world.

[Agschmid]

Find out why this electric racing series has a shot at becoming huge -- and how its technology could change the cars we drive for the better.

It might seem a bit of a stretch to say that a motor race can help save the world, but with Formula E, that's not such an outlandish statement.

[center][/center]

This new race series, held on the streets of cities around the world, uses cars that look almost identical to the vehicles seen in the globally popular Formula 1 series, but are powered entirely by electricity rather than petrol.

Aside from becoming a popular and profitable race series, Formula E has two main goals. The first is to act as a testing ground for new electric motor technologies which can filter down into mass-produced production cars. The second and arguably more important goal is to inspire the general public into seeing electric cars not simply as a novelty driven by an eccentric few, but as an exciting option for everyday people.

British businessman Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, sees Formula E as a catalyst to create more energy-efficient electric technologies, potentially leading to a cleaner world that's less reliant on fossil fuels. His Virgin Racing team finished fifth in this year's inaugural team championship.

"Formula E makes green energy sexy," Branson explained at Virgin Racing's press conference before the final races of the season in London last weekend. "If you go back 10 or 20 years, people thought electric cars were something granny drove. Now they see wonderful hybrids, looking sleek, looking sexy, and that puts a spur on the revolution the world needs. It's going to be a very exciting revolution.

Source.

[daleanime]

1. K&R.....

[leveymg]

2. F1 is a shell of what it once was. It needs something new and relevant . . .

Actually, the World Sports Car (WSC) series has done a huge amount to improve diesel technology. The best thing F1 could do would be to create a formula that limits emissions and fuel consumption, but leaves the technology approach open.

[cherokeeprogressive]

3. It's an interesting concept to be sure, except for the idiotic "fan interaction" bullshit.

Voting for your favorite driver to give them a five second power boost? Dumb dumb dumb.

I'm wondering how they solve the distance problem... change batteries during pit stops?

Silent racing. I could see it.

[Agschmid]

9. If you go to the link there is a recording of what it sounds like, it's pretty cool.

Not nearly as quiet as I thought. But I guess friction and air turbulence make noise!

[cherokeeprogressive]

14. I heard the recording. Different.

One thing I like about motorsports is the sound... They ruined F1 when they went to the six-cylinder engines as far as the cool sound goes. Nothing sounds quite like a V-8, and 43 guys in V-8s all standing on the gas at the same time at the start of a NASCAR race has to be heard to be believed.

I'd watch. I have an open mind... but 140 mph is a little slow for race cars.

[hunter]

4. Cool.

Car racing is boring because internal combustion engine, traction, suspension, and aerodynamics technology has evolved to the point where everything has to be controlled and choreographed, otherwise the race turns unacceptably deadly to both drivers and race fans.

It's almost like television wrestling.

Battery powered electric vehicle technology is evolving rapidly and any significant engineering advances will be rapidly demonstrated on the race course. For example, technology in a race car that can go 500 miles in less than six hours without recharging, or maybe with one quick recharge, would have direct application to ordinary vehicles.

[leveymg]

5. It would be more interesting if they gave them 10 gallons of fuel for 500 miles. Leave the rest

to the best possible low emissions technology.

[hunter]

6. But maybe 50 mpg isn't pushing the envelope hard enough.

Maybe 5 gallons of fuel for 100 miles per gallon?

That would require some innovative ways of doing things, probably demanding hybrid electric technology too.

[leveymg]

7. They can hike the mpg limit each season. For now, this would press conventional

gas or diesel hybrid technology to a higher level, and would be almost immediately transferable to mass produced vehicles. Most bang for the buck.

[Fumesucker]

12. Define "race car"

There are a lot of forms of racing and types of race cars, for some forms of racing five hundred miles in six hours on a single charge would be impossible for quite a few years while for others it would be doable with current technology so to speak.

[hunter]

15. There isn't any class of automobile race that's "unlimited."

Our technology is well beyond what any human driver or pilot can control with any reasonable margin of safety, thus the race track limitations.

Human reflexes are too slow and human bodies are too fragile to pilot our most powerful machines. We've built plenty of machines that can withstand g-forces that would incapacitate or kill any human being in the driver's seat.

That's one reason I think modern military "fighter aircraft" are obsolete, and I suspect the "Top Gun" human pilots of today and tomorrow are in for a nasty surprise if there's ever an all-out war (God forbid!) between major economic powers.

If you know some such "Top Gun" person, and you like them, it might be a kindness to break both their arms or otherwise disable them the moment it seems such war is imminent.

In some imaginary unlimited class automobile race, cars driven by robots, that might be interesting to watch on television, but no sane person would want to be anywhere near it.

No grandstands, and any human pit crews in bomb shelters. The crashes are spectacular, with mushroom clouds, cracking windows and setting off car alarms ten miles distant.

In e-racing the time/miles formula is important, and would probably best be sorted by weight class too. You might not want the ultra-lightweight butterflies competing in the same races as the two ton monsters.

It's simple physics.

[Fumesucker]

16. There's an unlimited class in the Pikes Peak Hill Climb

Pikes Peak unlimited class was dominated by 2wd custom purpose built race cars until 1985 when an AWD Audi Quattro won overall, this year an electric won the unlimited race for the first time, I put a video of the winning car on this thread. Land Speed record racing also has an unlimited class, all the way up to jet engine powered supersonic cars.

There are Electrathon racers which are designed for distance over time with a strictly defined battery system..

A higher speed version of an Electrathon racer with enough battery could do your 500 miles in 6 hours on a single charge fairly easily on a banked oval course.

[Fumesucker]

8. Within the next five years or so electrics will definitely be quicker than internal combustion

Over long distances the fossil fueled car has an advantage in energy density for range but for sprints the electric has an advantage in power density for instant torque and ability to get more of it to the ground through the tires.

The Pikes Peak Hill Climb unlimited class was won by an electric for the first time this year.

There's actually quite a bit of electric racing going on at a fairly low level, for instance there has been an National Electric Drag Racing Association, NEDRA since 1997. You can take a used Nissan Leaf, change the tires, put stickers on it and go bracket racing which is kind of like a handicap in golf, it doesn't really matter how fast you are, consistency is the key to winning and electrics are easier to be consistent on than fossil.

http://www.nedra.com/

Don Garlits is eighty three and now races electrics.

For sheer madness nothing beats the TT races on the Isle of Man and there is an electric class, TT Zero.

[Agschmid]

10. Cool videos thanks!

[hunter]

17. I kept feeling like my ears were going to pop in the Pikes Peak video.

I'll argue it's the driver's sense of self-preservation that is the limit in these "unlimited" races, and to a lesser extent, funding.

But I like to argue...



Would this "automobile" be as exciting if it had a robot pilot?

Probably not.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-33110292

[hifiguy]

11. I just rewatched the 1966 film "Grand Prix"

a couple of nights ago. THAT was the golden age of F1. Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Dan Gurney, Jackie Stewart, Bruce McLaren, Jochen Rindt, Jack Brabham and so many more greats drove in that era. When I was 10 I wanted to be Dan Gurney when I grew up.

[harris8]

13. Thanks for sharing this awesome news!

I was aware electric cars & motorcycles are now out-performing gasoline/fuel-powered vehicles in certain types of races, but I hadn't heard of Formula E - awesome!

See for example, this year's Pikes Peak International Hill Climb : electric cars were #1 & #2 in 4-wheel class, and an electric motorcycle won the 2-wheel class - again!