Electric powered F1 cars

[JamesH]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

Lola and Drayson Racing are collaberating on an electric powered car:

http://www.draysonracingtechnologies...ollaboration-7

Good for them.

I'm of the opinion that an electric vehicle (with a gas turbine or IC engine as electricity source rather than batteries) could actually be faster than an equivalently but conventionally engined F1 car with the same fuel load.

If only the FIA would allow it....

[luke g28]

Originally Posted by JamesH

Good for them.

I'm of the opinion that an electric vehicle (with a gas turbine or IC engine as electricity source rather than batteries) could actually be faster than an equivalently but conventionally engined F1 car with the same fuel load.

If only the FIA would allow it....

They should be faster as they have such a huge power band and you could run much more efficient energy recovery systems.

[Spritle]

Originally Posted by ECW Dan Selby

Don't worry about it, it's only in the pits...

Selby

Don't worry about it, it's finished:

http://en.espnf1.com/f1/motorsport/story/56218.html

[HughGJohnson]

I love the idea of using electrical power (how long before someone gets run over in the pit lane because they can’t hear the cars anymore?). That would be a great way to make F1 more road relevant. I think the FIA should give the teams carte Blanche if they can power their cars with electricity or an alternate fuel source. Bernie would love Hydrogen fuel—water exhaust; saves money on sprinklers.

In seriousness, investing in alternatives to petroleum-based fuels would be a worthwhile investment. Recently there has been a mass exodus of manufacturers from formula-1. Audi have again refused to join F1, citing lack of road relevance. Cost-cutting measures are taking the life out of the sport. Taking the engine noise might actually be the way to put it back in. Producing green cars would: be great publicity, give manufacturers a reason (or an excuse, at least) to participate in F1 and be safer. Furthermore, it would be cheaper to run green cars and it would bring more money into the sport. You’d have car manufacturers fighting to get back into F1 and sponsors lining up.

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by HughGJohnson

Audi have again refused to join F1, citing lack of road relevance.

Wolfgang Ullrich (Audi boss):

“We believe formula one and Audi do not fit, so long as the technology has no relevance to the development of our production cars,”

He said of DTM and Sports cars:

“The technologies are closely related to those used by our clients, so they directly benefit from our motor racing. In F1 that is not currently the case,”

Originally Posted by HughGJohnson

Cost-cutting measures are taking the life out of the sport.

He also said:

“So, the DTM continues to be the benchmark in cost-versus-benefit,”

DTM is also to have another cost reduction of 50% for the 2012 season. Will it be 50% less good?

Most F1 teams still spend in excess of $100,000,000 per season, just to put two racing cars on the grid! Crazy! I'm surprised that it's managed to stay off pay-per-view in the UK for as long as it has!

There have been concerns about the use of electric only power in the pit lane.

Eric Boullier (Renault):

"Personally I have some concerns about the electrical running in the pit lane," he said. "I understand the environmentally friendly push, but there is a safety issue. For me it is very dangerous to have silent cars in the pit lane."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/93321

Some form of warning siren, perhaps?

BE says 'NO' to electric (in the pit lane).

http://www.gpupdate.net/en/f1-news/2...ic-pit-motors/

“We can’t blame Jean Todt because this was started by Max. It was Max’s original idea. His idea is what is being promoted now.”

It seems, like most do, that he's blaming the former government for all F1s current problems.

[Bononi]

Originally Posted by Marbot

“We can’t blame Jean Todt because this was started by Max. It was Max’s original idea. His idea is what is being promoted now.”

Oh we all know that so well.

[GT-Driver]

Mark my words for that; The future of motorsport isn't as bad as you think. Wait and see.

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by Bononi

Oh we all know that so well.

Problem is that the F1 commission has been newly set up by Todt, and it is they that have voted in the new regulations. Lots of people don't like them. Bernie is just diverting flack.

I've recently got very tired of Todt bleating on about 'green' issues (on the few occasions he's made his presence known), so I can't believe that this isn't any of his doing.

Can't wait to hear Max's reply.

[wnut]

Originally Posted by Marbot

Problem is that the F1 commission has been newly set up by Todt, and it is they that have voted in the new regulations. Lots of people don't like them. Bernie is just diverting flack.

I've recently got very tired of Todt bleating on about 'green' issues (on the few occasions he's made his presence known), so I can't believe that this isn't any of his doing.

Can't wait to hear Max's reply.

You are correct here, trying to blame Max for the current rubbish is a bit steep!

Bernie's rubbish about the silence in pit lane being a problem is just plain retarded.
Every truck on the road has a warning beeper for reverse, put a beeper on the cars that has to be automatically activated upon entering pit lane - done.
Give them all horns - road relevance - puke!

[JeremySmith]

Things, ideas get tossed around and IMHO I think this one, is a rubbish idea...

[Bononi]

Yes it is !

[JeremySmith]

Originally Posted by Bononi

Yes it is !

I have never heard a more stupid idea...

The only electric motors I want to hear is on a "censored" of mine..

[HughGJohnson]

Originally Posted by wnut

Every truck on the road has a warning beeper for reverse, put a beeper on the cars that has to be automatically activated upon entering pit lane - done.
Give them all horns - road relevance - puke!

I agree, but they would have to be loud enough not to be drowned out by passing traffic on track, however. It's a legitimate concern, but not something that can't be solved easily.


I don't think this idea is rubbish. To me it sounds like a bunch of people resisting change. I mean; KERS is already on the car. KERS is a dangerous gimmic with little or no road (or race) value. Formula One is and always should be pinnacle of motorsport where everything is aimed at making the quickest possible racing cars. However, making it more road relevant can only help the sport. Are F1 fans really that attached to noise? What if in the next decade cars were quicker than they are now while running on something other than petrol? Would that be a disaster?

I think this is a good starting point for road relevance and alternative power. Getting the resources and minds in F1 involved in this endeavor is a great thing. Look at what the teams do with downforce every year. The engines rev at 19,000 RPMs and are very reliable. Why not get these guys working on moving away from fossil fuels?

[tristancliffe]

If F1 wants to improve it's environmental credentials they need to ban KERS and battery-powered cars. The only battery allowed should be the usual 12V lithium one that the dashboard and ECU run off.

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by tristancliffe

If F1 wants to improve it's environmental credentials they need to ban KERS and battery-powered cars.

According to Bernie, F1 doesn't need to be green at all. Although I'm not sure how banning KERS and battery powered cars will make its environmental credentials better?

[JeremySmith]

But having them does not make its environmental credentials better either...

[Bononi]

The whole concept is wrong, it's a long way for F1 to become "green".

[Marbot]

The FIA are to introduce a new 'Formula E' championship.

http://www.fia.com/en-GB/Documents/fia-formula-e.pdf

[JeremySmith]

Originally Posted by Bononi

The whole concept is wrong, it's a long way for F1 to become "green".

I completely agree, I really wonder why the need for F1 to become more green in the first place?

I just can't the point as race cars are just not road car relevant at all, and would making them so attract more of the public to car racing? I doubt it..

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by JeremySmith

I just can't the point as race cars are just not road car relevant at all, and would making them so attract more of the public to car racing? I doubt it..

It's not the public they are trying to attract to the sport. It's car manufacturers and sponsors. 'Green' is very marketable these days.

[JeremySmith]

I am somewhat of a tree hugger myself up and to a point, but fishing causes more environmental damage than F1 racing ..

Bring back Tobacco advertising by the way..

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by JeremySmith

I am somewhat of a tree hugger myself up and to a point, but fishing causes more environmental damage than F1 racing ..

I always remember to take my litter home after a days fishing.

Obviously F1 can't do much about the silly way in which human beings take fish from the sea. But at least the UK has a law coming in that is going to prevent dead fish being thrown back into the sea because a trawler ship has gone over its quota. Each must put their own house in order, I guess.

Originally Posted by JeremySmith

Bring back Tobacco advertising by the way..

Reduce the world population by means of more dangerous pastimes. Good idea.

[JeremySmith]

The points that I was making are as follows.

Tobacco advertising in car racing had zero influence on whether I smoked or not..

I am not talking about the leaving of litter at fishing sites, although there is no excuse for this behaviour.. I am talking about all the cars that people use to get themselves there in the first place..

I see staff at Hospitals all the time that smoke? Go figure that one..

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by JeremySmith

Tobacco advertising in car racing had zero influence on whether I smoked or not..

Me neither. So why is it that some people smoke? And why is it that tobacco companies spend (and still do in F1, albeit subliminally) many, many millions to advertise their goods? Remember that they are not really advertising to get people to smoke or even any particular brand of cigarettes. They are just advertising the condoned use of cigarettes. So which brand one chooses is neither here nor there as long as it's one of the brands that your particular company is selling. And there aren't that many companies, but there are a lot of brands. Chances are that someone's buying one of yours because they've been reminded to buy some cigarettes after seeing your competitors ad.

Originally Posted by JeremySmith

I am not talking about the leaving of litter at fishing sites, although there is no excuse for this behaviour.. I am talking about all the cars that people use to get themselves there in the first place..

People use their cars to get to lots of places. I hardly think that most of a cars mileage is taken up by 'going fishing'. Should we ban 'shopping' or 'getting to work' etc? Perhaps it's that short journey to the airport that's most destructive to the planet?

Originally Posted by JeremySmith

I see staff at Hospitals all the time that smoke? Go figure that one..

Because they are addicted to a drug?

Perhaps they were addicted to it long before they decide to enter the nursing profession?

People are weird, aren't they.

[HughGJohnson]

Originally Posted by Marbot

It's not the public they are trying to attract to the sport. It's car manufacturers and sponsors. 'Green' is very marketable these days.

Agree 100%. Being green is nice, but it's all about the money.

Originally Posted by JeremySmith

Bring back Tobacco advertising by the way..

Again, I agree. The powers that be act like people are too stupid to know what they're doing. Nobody thinks their smoking to coat their lungs in a protective film. Tobacco isn't coming back, though. That's why being green is so important. Racing can ill afford the loss of sponsorship from car manufacturers considering there is no tobacco money.

Originally Posted by Marbot

Reduce the world population by means of more dangerous pastimes. Good idea.

awful, I know... I was looking for the shrug smiley, but I saw this.