"Gabor Vajda (@Gabor_V)" (gaborvajda)
03/26/2014 at 10:07 • Filed to: formula e, formula 1, formula one, f1, super formula, formula nippon, andros trophy, trophee andros, andretti, andretti autosport, mahindra racing, drayson racing, abt racing, super aguri, venturi grand prix, virgin racing, jarno trulli |  0
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Formula E is getting ready to kick off its first season this year. It has to be said, not even two weeks has passed since the Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne. One of the hottest topics in open-wheel, single-seater racing on the consumer front recently is the soundtrack. F1 !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , Super Formula !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and the Internet !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! shouting "No Formula Hoover".
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Formula E does not have any sound. Or at least not something you'd expect from a full-scale competition car. Formula One veteran Jarno Trulli tested the new, fully electric single seater that has only been showed doing some test and demonstration laps so far. The new video reveals some hot laps done with the lightning bolt racer:
It is without a doubt that the exclusively battery-powered car is very much an agile and able one for a quick lap or two, and possibly short stints of racing as well. There's no evidence to saying the races will be daft or boring. Electric cars proved to be very much competitive and exciting to watch in e.g. the electric division of the Andros Trophy.
Where you are hearing drifting sound, imagine tyre-squeals for Formula E and that is all you get, should be interesting to watch.
Whether one likes it or not, Formula E adds a new pages to competition. It's not necessarily the powertrain itself that makes it interesting, but the forced exposure. This enables Formula E not only to start a new chapter in motor racing, but possibly to open up a brand new volume. Whether the audience buys into it or not, should be another question - thus making it a best-seller or a complete failure -, the success (or the lack of it) of F-E could be an indicator of the future of the automotive industry.
As a reminder, here are the teams that already signed up to race:
Drayson Racing
China Racing
Andretti Autosport
Dragon Racing
e.dams
Super Aguri
Abt
Mahindra Racing
Virgin Racing
Venturi Grand Prix
Still not interested in Formula E?
All images are Creative commons licenced, except Dragon Racing (courtesy of autoweek.com), Mahindra Racing, (courtesy of motoroids.com) and Venturi Grand Prix (courtesy of msport1.com)
Dst
> Gabor Vajda (@Gabor_V)
03/26/2014 at 10:22 |
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I can't wait for this series. The cars looks absolutely fantastic. I like those front wheel triangular things
Nonster
> Gabor Vajda (@Gabor_V)
03/26/2014 at 10:34 |
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Here's a thought I just had. With a lack of the high-octane, noise-making go-juice, is there really a need for a full-on fire suit? Assuming the batteries are Li based there is still a fire risk, Boeing 787 battery fires come to mind, but I expect that these are much less likely to go up in flames than one filled with racing fuel.
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Gabor Vajda (@Gabor_V)
> Nonster
03/26/2014 at 10:43 |
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Well, they have to wear something.
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Nonster
> Gabor Vajda (@Gabor_V)
03/26/2014 at 11:14 |
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As awesome as it sounds I don't expect them to race in jean shorts. Its better to be safe than sorry so they'll keep racing in full suits, but maybe they could wear a lighter, more breathable suit
pirates-ecu
> Gabor Vajda (@Gabor_V)
03/28/2014 at 03:31 |
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anyone have a date for the first race.... ill definitely watch this. I am a glutton for all things open wheel.
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pirates-ecu
> Nonster
03/28/2014 at 03:33 |
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if anything was to light the carbon itself on fire, the carbon will burn SUPER FAST.... the batteries alone are a strong risk for fire.
As long as they make race cars out of flammable materials, the fire suit will always be needed.... besides where would all the sponsor logos go without race suits.
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pirates-ecu
> Gabor Vajda (@Gabor_V)
03/28/2014 at 03:41 |
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damn the dyson e-racer is 0-100 mph in 5 secs... that's sniffing around f1 rate of acceleration....
ascendingnode
> Gabor Vajda (@Gabor_V)
04/01/2014 at 00:40 |
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Super Best Friends are coming back? Awesome.
Also, the nose certainly looks better than any of the current ones from F1...
John Surovik
> Nonster
04/01/2014 at 00:46 |
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Over-discharging, shorting, or pulling too much power out of a lithium based battery pack can cause a pretty nasty explosion and fire (I lost a couple R/C lipo packs that way)