"Speedmonkey" (Speedmonkey)
07/08/2014 at 11:10 • Filed to: Formula E, electric cars
0
10|
"Speedmonkey" (Speedmonkey)
07/08/2014 at 11:10 • Filed to: Formula E, electric cars | 0
| 10 |
Formula E, the new electric racing series, starts next year. The races take place in cities around the world, and I reckon it'll fall flat on its face.
daender
> Speedmonkey
07/08/2014 at 11:20 |
|
I'm honestly surprised the organizers are dumb enough to not run it in tandem with F1 and GP2. This will probably fail just as fast as the unfortunate demise of the Spec-B racing series in the US.
Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
> Speedmonkey
07/08/2014 at 11:28 |
|
Very interesting, this is the first I am reading about it. I am not that impressed with this whole car-switching maneuver. I'd rather they do a battery swap... I think whatever car started the race, should finish the race, are there any other racing series that allow car swaps?
Either way there is this 50 miles on a charge nonsense... Can they at least just get a range extender? It'd still be different from F1 where the hybrid system compliments a combustion engine, in this case a combustion engine would compliment an electric drivetrain.
Orrrr how about inductive charging under the track? Lol.
thebigbossyboss
> Speedmonkey
07/08/2014 at 11:57 |
|
I didn't go to the link, but I am guessing it's partly because the cars don't make race car noises and people like to hear race car noises at the races.
PatBateman
> Speedmonkey
07/08/2014 at 12:04 |
|
Biggest reason why it will fail: little sound.
Dusty Ventures
> Speedmonkey
07/08/2014 at 13:39 |
|
Great article, I think you're dead on. In regards to the range issues I think they should have gone with the same idea as the SRI EV-1 desert race buggy and used a swappable battery system. More practical and it adds some drama to the pit stops.
The EV-1, by the way, finished a four day, 1000 mile race in Mexico with it's hot-swappable battery system, coming in 25th out of about 150 cars.
RWS Motorsport
> Speedmonkey
07/08/2014 at 13:40 |
|
Im heading up to Donnington for the official test for Formula E tomorrow.
I think it has a reasonable chance of success. City centre racing means you have a captive audience who dont have to pay/travel to a track. instant crowd
Drivers aren't the most inspring bunch, but they are atleast names some people will have heard off (as they are ex F1)
Supporting F1 doesn't make sense, likewise WEC. The whole point is the series is being different, rather than just being another single seater.
The car switching is only for the first 1/2 years. The plan is to bring in wireless charging (Qualcomm are the supplier/partner bringing this tech forwards).
My biggest issue is the stupid social media power boost. that is a truly unnecessary gimmick.
Im trying to keep an open mind about the series. I dont want to be all doom and gloom about a new series. Theyve got the cars built and running. theyve got the teams involved, theyve got tracks lined up. Hopefully it will last, but if nots its being given a damn good shot.
|
Speedmonkey
> Dusty Ventures
07/08/2014 at 14:23 |
|
That's pretty damn good. Formula E would be better if they used some version of Tesla's battery swap system
|
Speedmonkey
> RWS Motorsport
07/08/2014 at 14:24 |
|
Good. I hope it does succeed - I just can't see it. Next point, you're going to Donnington when there's an F1 test at Silverstone!!!??? (I can't go unfortunately)
|
Speedmonkey
> thebigbossyboss
07/08/2014 at 14:25 |
|
No, nothing to do with that. I don't mind the lack of noise and don't think most people will either. It's all the other things...
|
RWS Motorsport
> Speedmonkey
07/08/2014 at 14:26 |
|
haha, yes, i went to the silverstone test last year. My issue with it is, the track is only open to spectators from club (last corner) to farm i think. or some other very very short section of track so not great for viewing. Plus, formula E is free, Formula 1 is about £15/20 (i forget)