Why Tesla Needs to go Racing!

"Jonathon Klein" (jonathon-klein) 03/31/2014 at 15:53 • Filed to: Tesla, Racing, Sportscar Racing, Hoon Everything

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Everyone knows that if you want to really test your car's capabilities, you go racing. The pinnacle of performance and durability. Car manufacturer's go racing to show how capable their cars are, whether this is rally, LeMans, F1 or stock car racing. Racing can either show the cars strengths, or provide a scale for their weaknesses. One manufacturer still needs to go racing. Tesla. Now you might remember that I am a recent convert to the Church of Musk. I now believe that these are truly capable cars. But there are no teams racing Tesla Model S's and that needs stop. We need Tesla's racing. Elon should put stock in racing. Racing allows fans to interact directly with a company's product and to prove that their cars are the best. Musk has the product and the backing to show that this car is truly a beast. It needs to go racing.

While racing a Model S will be great for Tesla in the long run, having an electric car that goes racing provides a challenging dilemma to normal issues that come up in racing. But it can be done. First and foremost is deciding where and which event to race the car. Obviously their arena is not Formula 1, and with the addition of Formula E debuting this year. Tesla doesn't necessarily have to develop a car for this series. I would like to see them sponsor it though as a first foray into the world of racing. Just to get their toes wet so to speak. Rally too seem's out of the question as of this moment since their new AWD system hasn't been debuted yet. However, after they do debut it, I believe that rally would be a great secondary racing series for Tesla. It's where the massive amounts of immediate torque would come in handy, and being that rally courses are usually shorter than a normal track race, you wouldn't need to worry about battery depletion. But more on rally later. Stock car racing, i.e. NASCAR, doesn't line up with the potential customer base that Tesla is catering towards as of right now. Which leaves one real style of racing. Road Racing. Road racing like ELMS, GT3, WEC, TUSC, or DTM. This is where this car and indeed Tesla can shine.

Now making a case for it involves a few details to be fleshed out. First is over impact and visibility. To make a racing team make sense to investors and sponsors, you have to consider the visibility and potential market growth of sponsoring a race team. Road racing caters to the fans of BMW, Audi, Mercedes, and the like which is already what Tesla's cars are being marketed at. The likely Tesla shopper will be cross shopping most likely between these four automakers. Having a presence in motorsport, especially one in road racing, would like bump up Tesla's own market share and possibly put more people on the inside of a Tesla. Putting a race team with a Tesla on the grid in any of these racing series where there are already big brand names sponsoring cars or events just goes to show that the marketing ability is already there and unlike Formula E, there is a strong foundation to work with and enhance one's own image. Racing has been shown to boost sales and increased visibility for automakers and with Tesla's already massive image and dominance in the media, going racing seems like the next logical step.

But with that next step comes the hurdles of motorsport. Not only do they have to deal with the normal issues and hurdles of racing, but with the added issue of being an EV. Electric vehicles have always been on the fringe of the auto industry and never been able to really make in in motorsport. Two have recently popped up but haven't been able to complete full races. The first is the DeltaWing ZEOD and the Drayson B12. Neither have been able to truly make it in real racing conditions. However, I feel as if Tesla has the ability to truly make a good go of it. The problem that inherently lies in Electric cars racing is the fact that their battery's die. But this shouldn't be as big of a concern as everyone might think. Think of a normal gasoline powered race car. Essentially it's "power" dies also when it runs out of gas. Gas powered race cars in road racing have to keep coming into the pits in order to refuel. Why can't this be done with an electric car? Tesla and Musk have shown that they have the ability to do it in less than 90 seconds. Fast for a fill up in the real world, ungodly slow in the racing world, especially when you consider that F1 pitstops are around 2 seconds. But this is a hurdle we can overcome. Earlier this year there was a discussion I was part of on Jalopnik talking about all the issues involved going racing and discussing how Tesla could speed up their pitstops. We decided that the best way of speeding up pitstops, besides just giving all the technical plans to the race teams would be to speed up the process of switching the battery packs. Right now the battery swaps are slow because the machinery doing the swaps are slow and massive. What we talked about was designing a system based on air jacks, and a regular hydraulic jack that in unison would switch the battery packs in under ten seconds. So here's a quick run down on how we envision this would work. First there are four air jacks built into the car that when the car comes into the pits, the team would hook up the air hose and lift the car immediately. Pop! Then a team member would slide a coverted hydraulic jack that is too hooked up the air hoses and ratchets that take the bolts off holding the battery pack in place. The battery drops down into the cradle and the pitcrew pulls the old battery pack out. Another pitcrew slides another cradle jack under the car lifts it up, bolts it back into place, the air jacks drop and the car is off. Fairly complicated when you read it but it seems like it would be easier in practice. Broken down its only six steps; lift up, jack under and drop, pull out and in, push up, jacks down and off. And with practice and an experienced pit crew, Tesla would have no difficulty perfecting the swap into an art form.

( Essentially something similar to this F1 jack )

Speaking of range, right now the GTC class of Le Mans is restricted to 90litres of fuel, which comes out to be 23 gallons. With these cars, that equals about 100 or so miles to a tank, which is right around the range of a Tesla Model S can achieve when at full chat. So range inefficiency is not a problem after solving the issue of swapping batteries quicker. Pitting would be right around the same time as all of the other cars, giving them no real unfair advantage over the rest of the field. However, where they do have an advantage over the other cars would be that the other cars don't have the same torque that the Tesla's can offer off the line, giving them a better shot at going out in front and staying out in front.

Rally would be the next best racing series for Tesla to get into, but only after they introduce the Model E or something that could replace the Roadster. The new AWD system coupled to the immediacy of torque that is provided by the motors would be a true force to be reckoned with on a rally stage. If I were to take a Tesla Rallying, I would first start off with a traditional chassis from an already proven Rally winner. Something like the Fiesta or the very dominant VW's right now, and splice together the battery and drive train tech of the Model S just to see how they could dial in all the systems for it to work. That way they aren't building it from scratch and much of the development time can be used to ensure the car is dialed in perfectly. A light chassis with the massive torque curve of the Tesla drive train would make it a Rally weapon.

While it may not be the same racing that we all are used to, a quiet race, it would make for some great racing. Imagine having these cars bully around the track, racing LeMans, or tearing up the dirt in Finland. Granted, I would miss the noise, like I miss the noise from the V8's and V10's in F1, or the insane popping from a Group B car, but racing must progress, and if Tesla can show us that these cars are quicker than their combustion engine counterparts, they might have a better chance at converting the rest of the population that the electric car is a force to be reckoned with. Moreover, like Mr. Richard Hammond says, the only way to truly test a vehicle is through the "crucible of motorsport."

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Photo Credit to Juan Barnett, WRC, Tesla, ALMS and Craig Scarborough

For Sweden > Jonathon Klein 03/31/2014 at 15:56

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The Pirelli World Challenge is the best series for Tesla.

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/electric-touri…

Jonathon Klein > For Sweden 03/31/2014 at 15:58

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I could definitely see them in PWC, but I feel like if Musk would go into racing he would want to show off a bit and the would most likely be at LeMans or something of that nature.

willkinton247 > Jonathon Klein 03/31/2014 at 16:02

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Make sure you give credit where credit is due... I'd be giving credit to Juan Barnett for the Tesla Race car picture if I were you...

Stef Schrader > Jonathon Klein 03/31/2014 at 16:05

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I want to see this, but considering how the car went into limp mode after half a lap at COTA when my friend tried to take his Model S out there...ouch! They'll have to work out better cooling for sure.

Jonathon Klein > willkinton247 03/31/2014 at 16:07

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Thanks I forgot to put the photo credit!

Jonathon Klein > Stef Schrader 03/31/2014 at 16:09

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Every car needs air ducts! Please someone photoshop a Model S with like a million race airducts! Also I'm betting if they switch the body from Aluminum to Carbon that would great reduce the need for a lot of cooling just due to the weight decrease.

briannutter1 > Jonathon Klein 03/31/2014 at 16:31

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Excellent article and leads to a question. I'll draw a parallel for the sake of discussion by stereotyping the Prius and typical owner (admittedly a step removed from the more upscale Tesla). Not that they're all basket weavers, but many by definition associate Racing with hurting the environment or being wasteful (rather than seeing it as a testbed of new new technologies as we do). Thinking Nascar, Monster Trucks, and Dirtbikes rather than Kers and Formula E. Although wrong, I could see Prius owners switching brands if they felt disenfranchised. A Tesla owner may be a different breed, but what do you think of the psychology?

Jonathon Klein > briannutter1 03/31/2014 at 17:05

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Totally different breed in my experience, my uncle who let me drive his Tesla, also has an NSX, and two Vipers. I feel the average Tesla owner is not really in it for the feeling they get for being green, and feeling high and mighty, but rather they are in it for the technology and advancements that Tesla is showing it can contribute too. I think Racing would go over much better than seeing the LEAF or Prius race.

teslap85 > Jonathon Klein 03/31/2014 at 17:25

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Jonathon,

Great article. You're the man.

I suspect Tesla will have as much success penetrating the ensconced racing establishment as they've had opening up dealerships in New Jersey. Seriously, they had a better chance dealing with the NADA wise guys.

I'm old enough to remember what happened when Andy Granatelli showed up to the 1967 Indy 500 with a strap-on Pratt and Whitney aircraft turbine engine. That fucking guy had balls, BTW.... woulda won but he blew a tranny. (get your mind out of the gutter). Anyways, the turbine engine was what we now call "disruptive" technology, just like the 200 pound 420 HP Tesla polyphase engine that was based on the design patented by Nikola Tesla... on May 1, 1888, just one year after the world's first auto race somewhere in France. But after the 1967 Indy race, it was the rule books that were disrupted, and poof, turbine cars were banned. Wouldn't want to off the Offy, ya know. IF electric cars were allowed into the soot-spewer's frat house, they would be knee-capped... er... handicapped in order to make it fair. More likely, an electric-only racing circuit will spring up. As soon as Toyota and Nissan build EV's that are worth a shit.

tromoly > Jonathon Klein 03/31/2014 at 17:25

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You know how to make a million dollars in racing, right?

Start with two million dollars.

Clown Shoe Pilot > Stef Schrader 03/31/2014 at 17:35

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came here to say the same thing, looks like you're holding down the fort :)

Stef Schrader > Clown Shoe Pilot 03/31/2014 at 17:43

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I do this.

...

Can I have a 918?

briannutter1 > Jonathon Klein 03/31/2014 at 18:45

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Ive seen a promo video of the car rocking the quarter mile, so I think this may indeed be a first step away from Priusvillian thinking. Btw, I built a heavily modded 9 battery 5000w hubmotor ebike scooter that did 100km/hr while on assignment in China. Terrorized Santana taxis. Im a fan of hopping up alternative anything.

Jonathon Klein > briannutter1 03/31/2014 at 21:37

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Yeah you give a problem like range or power to a group of speed freaks and they will get the job done! I suspect they will try, hopefully soon, but like my uncle pointed out in a email today, they might get banned like the Turbine Indy car. That would certainly be a step backwards, but with the ZEOD and the Drayson racing car, and Formula E coming into being I think they would have a definite chance.

Jonathon Klein > tromoly 03/31/2014 at 21:37

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Luckily Musk has a few billion lying around!

Jonathon Klein > teslap85 03/31/2014 at 21:45

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Well you have Formula E coming about, but it still in it's infancy, and you have the Nissan LEAF racing car that wants to compete in Touring car competitions, in addition you have Drayson Racing with their Lola EV, I think there will be more and more EV's popping up in racing very soon. I think it will at first meet with some resistance, but overall I feel they will come into play.

However, I do think they will meet some strong resistance from the fans at first, just due to lack of noise. Just look at how F1 has been treated this year because of their lack of noise. Australia is threatening to sue! And you have Vettel, Hamilton, and Ecclestone all complaining about the lack of engine noise. Now this may change next year I foresee after so much fan and supporter outcry. But it does not bode well for the EV's that want to get into racing.

I like the sound or weird whirring noise of EV's, but will too miss the sound of the gasoline engine. I feel a comprise needs to be made between the two. That's why I love the new WEC cars, they are fantastic, and when the switch between the electric motors to the gas motors comes on it the greatest chorus of technology ever! Especially the Toyota TS040.

I do believe they are coming though, and with more manufacturer help, like Tesla, Toyota, Nissan and maybe even BMW, I think they can get fans on board. What I would love to see is a EV drift car, they were practically built for it, a bazillion torques at Zero, that is what you call tire slaying ridiculousness.

briannutter1 > Jonathon Klein 03/31/2014 at 21:59

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racers push harder than engineers. Like 1000 monkeys.

DeltawingGothamDeserves > Jonathon Klein 04/01/2014 at 10:51

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Have them enter in Formula E. Just to start out.

After that equip a model S with regenerative braking systems and wha-laa! Electric killer.

antmicmkii > Jonathon Klein 04/01/2014 at 15:08

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I don't think 90 seconds is ungodly slow for a Lemans pit stop.

First one I found took about 60 as they cannot change tires until they have finished refueling the car (I think). So if ASO rules that all electric cars can change battery and tires at the same time, because it is presumably less dangerous than racing fuel though I could be wrong, that would save them tons of time. Plus when "tested through the crucible of motorsport" could get much quicker with practice.

Not discrediting your idea, I'm sure many ways would be looked at to speed up the change in a race setting, I say get it going now and quicker pit stops will come

TESLARATI > Jonathon Klein 04/01/2014 at 16:09

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We're currently racing the Model S across various open track events in the interest of gathering data that we feel may help the next generation of Tesla tuners

http://bit.ly/1llXQ7Z

Jonathon Klein > TESLARATI 04/01/2014 at 16:21

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How's the cooling? If it were to really go racing would it need a bunch more air ducts in your opinion? Also what was your best speed?

TESLARATI > Jonathon Klein 04/01/2014 at 16:43

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We typically turn our best lap time within the first 2 laps before power limiting occurs presumably as a safety precaution to keep the electric motor cool. The cooling system for the battery is fantastic and manages to keep operating temperatures within its operating range.

The speed is electronically limited to approximately 130 mph

Jonathon Klein > TESLARATI 04/01/2014 at 17:33

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So if the Model S were to be tuned for racing, one would need to see if that safety precaution power limiter could be deactivated, in addition to some more cooling just to be safe? And also the limiter.

Fred (FreddsterExprs) > Jonathon Klein 04/02/2014 at 13:52

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A P2 car would be great. It doesn't take as much effort as a full LMP1, and they can race overall victories in Asia, Europe and the USA. I imagine a 2 car assault in the TUSC, including battery changes during pitstops. They wouldn't even have to design their own chassis, they could employ Morgan or ORECA to do it in their name, as seen with the recent Ligier.

And if it all goes well, the ACO will surely open the gates to Le Mans.