Where is Car Racing Headed

[Compromised]

Before anyone gets too excited...

Do rare earth metals grow on trees ie. are they renewable, does their extraction require heavy plant?

What's the recycling plan for all these new electronic components (batteries etc.)

Will the initial electricity be generated by a coal power plant? Maybe solar - I think those panels grow on trees too, also easy to recycle...

I like the idea in theory and emissions from the car itself will definitely be lower but we need to look at the big picture

[AnnoyedMoose]

In most, if not all, countries that are committed to switching to electric vehicles production of electricity by renewables is already at over 50% with coal being a tiny percentage in most.

The actual grid capacity isn't an issue either (not in the UK anyway and I don't see why not elsewhere) as electricity needs have been falling rapidly because of more efficient devices etc. In the UK our peak need was 16% higher ten years ago than it is now and the worst estimates say capacity would be up 10% to charge cars.

The batteries have a far longer life than people realise. They can easily exceed 10 years in a car and still have useful capacity before moving onto off-grid storage for another 10 to 20 years.

Of course the single biggest advantage for electric is that there are no emissions in major population centres and the noise pollution is dramatically reduced.

As for motorsport I don't see an issue really. The top end will go with what the manufacturers want so that will be electric but club can be whatever it likes for decades yet I would think. There will come a time when the people getting into motorsport will see an ICE as irrelevant and antiquated. I already know several youngsters who have zero interest in ICE but are all over the latest electric vehicle technology.

[Casper]

Originally Posted by Compromised

Before anyone gets too excited...

Do rare earth metals grow on trees ie. are they renewable, does their extraction require heavy plant?

What's the recycling plan for all these new electronic components (batteries etc.)

Will the initial electricity be generated by a coal power plant? Maybe solar - I think those panels grow on trees too, also easy to recycle...

I like the idea in theory and emissions from the car itself will definitely be lower but we need to look at the big picture

Batteries are being made, used then recycled and possibly used twice by installation in home solar systems before they finally die and then get recycled. Cars in Europe now generally get recycled and all new cars are built to be recycled.

[Casper]

The Fleet emission penalties for failing to meet the EEU requirements. These penalties have the manufacturers terrified of being driven to bankruptcy if they are not met and are the driver behind the stampede to comply

https://fleetworld.co.uk/paying-the-...ld-hit-fleets/

https://www.wardsauto.com/industry/m...tly-automakers

One bright aspect to all this is the manufacturers are going to make a motza out of the changeover as the majority of the world's car fleet is replaced.

[Tourer]

Originally Posted by Casper

One bright aspect to all this is the manufacturers are going to make a motza out of the changeover as the majority of the world's car fleet is replaced.

They very possibly are but it'll still take a while.

The biggest sales year for new vehicles that we've ever had in Australia was one million vehicles (give or take) and the vehicle park in Oz is about 22-23 million last time I checked. That means IF everyone buys only electric AND buy at the rate of our biggest sales year ever, it'll take 23 years to roll over to a full electric vehicle park (assuming that everyone gets rid of their ICE vehicles).

[Maggo]

Why should all car racing be electric?
There might be some electric races, but that doesn't mean there should be no more internal combustion engine races.

I see it like the horses.
Horses are usually no longer used for transportation, but many people have horses as a hobby. There are horse races in different disciplines.

But certainly a lot more races with combustion cars.

Maybe this could be the way with electrics.

The only difference: From horse to car, the buyers have decided what to use and what is "the better system".
From the combustion engine to the electric , the government decides what is "better", not the buyer. For me it is still very questionable whether this is the right approach.

[chavez]

Originally Posted by Maggo

Why should all car racing be electric?
There might be some electric races, but that doesn't mean there should be no more internal combustion engine races.

I see it like the horses.
Horses are usually no longer used for transportation, but many people have horses as a hobby. There are horse races in different disciplines.

But certainly a lot more races with combustion cars.

Maybe this could be the way with electrics.

The only difference: From horse to car, the buyers have decided what to use and what is "the better system".
From the combustion engine to the electric , the government decides what is "better", not the buyer. For me it is still very questionable whether this is the right approach.

The way in which a new horse is made and an ICE automobile is made is somewhat different.

[Oldtony]

Wonder what the stud fee would be for a Group 1 winning Mustang and how many covers it could achieve in a season?

[Casper]

Rory said a few words of wisdom overnight on the 2030 deadline for the ICE in the UK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGjFwZZpxS8

[richy01908]

Originally Posted by Oldtony

Wonder what the stud fee would be for a Group 1 winning Mustang and how many covers it could achieve in a season?

Certainly scrappage cost of a horse in the UK far higher - costs may hundreds to get your dead horse taken away, they pay you to take your scrap car away

[tux]

Just wait. in 2030 they'll be saying "Where are we going to store all these batteries"

[GORDON STREETER]

A friend of mine is serious about having an electric motor fitted in his S2 Elan

[one five five]

Originally Posted by Maggo

Why should all car racing be electric?

It shouldn’t

Any touring car series should though if that is where the car market heads

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

A friend of mine is serious about having an electric motor fitted in his S2 Elan

Wasn't there a programme on the tele recently (I didn't watch it) that had them converting a VW Karmann-Ghia to electric? Made me turn green (not with envy).... I have a soft spot for them, my first car at age 19 was a K-G......

[Adam43]

Cool first car.
Those and beetles and 911s have a big EV conversion market, especially in California.

If I had an old Beetle (it’s way down the list) I’m up for it being EV. Not sure about the other two.