Formula E

[autogyro]

I will post details as soon as I receive the latest information Tim.

[Richard]

Seems to be common sense to have a spec chassis available for customer teams. Just like F1 in the 60 & 70s.

It also seems to be a good idea to run the first year as a spec series so both FIA & teams can get to grips with the organisation & sporting regs. It also allows teams to get a feel for the technical & performance issues before launching their own cars, less of a leap into the dark.

[Tim.Wright]

I will post details as soon as I receive the latest information Tim.

Cool, thanks.

Any chance we will see your magic box in one of these cars?

[turbof1]

I hope marketing wise they'll do better then the deceased F2.

It has great potentional; if it turns out to be succesful, there would be no reason to open up the power train rules, so that car manufacturers can join in.

I hope they hire a good presentator for such races; it'll be awefully quiet around the tracks.

Do you guys think they can, once the power train is opened up, import technology out of cars participating in the world solar challenge? Not inmediately harvesting sun energy, but the energy consumption efficienty?

[flynfrog]

I hope marketing wise they'll do better then the deceased F2.

It has great potentional; if it turns out to be succesful, there would be no reason to open up the power train rules, so that car manufacturers can join in.

I hope they hire a good presentator for such races; it'll be awefully quiet around the tracks.

Do you guys think they can, once the power train is opened up, import technology out of cars participating in the world solar challenge? Not inmediately harvesting sun energy, but the energy consumption efficienty?

the WSC cars dont have all that advanced of a power train most of them are using a pretty dated design. either the cisiro or NGM not sure if any one has used a bodine in WSC. They are all around 98% efficient direct drive hub motors.

cisiro
http://www.csiro.au/en/Outcomes/Climate ... motor.aspx


NGM
http://www.ngmcorp.com/Products.htm


Bodine
http://www.bodine-electric.com/Asp/News ... =13&Page=1


Tritum has a nice controller that doesn't cog as bad as the older NGM

http://tritium.com.au/


The technology is really not that new 3 phase dc motors.


I really don't see the point if they are running spec power train, chassis, and batteries. do we really need another spec open wheel series?

[turbof1]

I really don't see the point if they are running spec power train, chassis, and batteries. do we really need another spec open wheel series?

It's a good of getting to know if the series is viable for life. If it shows to be, they should loosen the rules for drive train and batteries. Not for chassis; I feel chassis development isn't what this series is about.

[flynfrog]

I dont see to many teams that sign up for a spec series sticking around if the regs open up. Indy teams dont have much for test facilities as there is very little to be gained from it.

[Tim.Wright]

I really don't see the point if they are running spec power train, chassis, and batteries. do we really need another spec open wheel series?

It's a good of getting to know if the series is viable for life. If it shows to be, they should loosen the rules for drive train and batteries. Not for chassis; I feel chassis development isn't what this series is about.

Fair enough, run it as a spec series for a year or two to see if its viable, but I think the electric vehicle industry would realy benefit from the racing community throwing loads of resources at electric powertrains to improve their performance. Electric cars need a massive step in development if they are to become as use-able as an IC car and I think that motorsports could play a massive role in this.

I don't agree with restricting chassis technology either. Electric vehicles open up massive possibilites for active ride, active kinematics, torque vectoring, active aero etc etc. The thing that kills most of these systems now is that you need to add large batteries to the car to run them. On an e-car, you already have this power source. An electric vehicle doesn't stop only at the powertrain.

Once they get these cars lapping faster than an F1 car (doubtful while its ruled by the FIA) then people will start to take them seriously. If they insist on keeping it a spec series, then its just more green washing BS to me.

I hope they hire a good presentator for such races; it'll be awefully quiet around the tracks.

I don't understand why people have this mindset that electric cars are quiet. They make quite a loud and very annoying sound.

[autogyro]

Spark racing technology in France are building 40 cars for the series with McLaren powertrains and electrics.
Two for crash tests etc.
I am waiting for details of the regulations in regard to other car entries.

[MOWOG]

Possibly pertinent here:



When Drayson Racing Technologies and Lola Cars introduced the B12 69/EV last year, the electric race car promised to be one of the fastest of its kind. Six months later, it set a record at the Goodwood Hillclimb, and it's now gunning for an even bigger record. Drayson announced this week that it plans to make an attempt at an FIA electric land speed record within a month. It will try to best the 175 mph (282 km/h) mark that was set back in 1974.

Company founder Lord Paul Drayson will attempt to drive a special low-drag version of the B12 69/EV into the FIA record books on June 25. His target will be the FIA World Electric Land Speed Record, sub-1,000 kg (2,204 lb) division. The attempt will be made at the 1.86 mile (3 km) runway of the RAF Elvington airfield in Yorkshire, UK.

The current record of 175 mph was set by the Battery Box at the Bonneville Salt Flats amidst a total of four speed records in August 1974. Driven by Roger Hedlund, the 1,900 lb (862 kg) semi-streamliner used 28 lead acid batteries to power a GE forklift motor.

While electric vehicle technology has come a long way since Hedlund strung together 28 12 V batteries to power his record, Drayson says that this record has stood because of the difficulty of running such a lightweight electric vehicle consistently at high speeds. Hedlund's overall EV record was broken two decades later, but the Battery Box remains the record holder in its weight class.

"It is not the outright speed that is impressive about this record attempt, but the engineering challenge of accelerating a 1000 kg electric vehicle to such a high speed and sustaining that speed over a measured mile, before stopping safely all within a relatively short distance then turning round and doing it again within an hour," Lord Drayson explains. "It’s a tremendous technical challenge but we believe it’s about time someone moved this record on to demonstrate just how far EV technology has come.”

Because the B12 69/EV was designed to race around the track, not land speed record runs, Drayson is making a number of changes to the racer for its record attempt. Changes, including low-drag bodywork, a smaller 20 kWh battery pack and a detuned 600 bhp version of the 850 bhp drivetrain, are aimed at increasing traction, dropping about a 100 kg (220 lb) to put it under the 1,000 kg point, and giving the car the ability to accelerate to speed, maintain that speed and stop safely. Drayson will not transform the car into the streamliner configuration typical of a land speed record vehicle, however.

"The reason we are doing this is to showcase the maximum level of EV performance at the moment – and in a real racing car rather than a teardrop-shaped land speed record car," Drayson says. "We are also demonstrating the future potential of technologies like wireless charging in speeding the adoption of high performance EVs."

Via Gizmag.com

[lizardfolk]

What's not so clear to me is if this is effectively a spec series. Are Renault designing a spec powertrain? Or is that just a demo car?

Formula E have the opportunity of opening things right up, at least for a few years, and create a bit of a golden age of technology like F1 was in the 60s-70s.

A spec series would not only deny us that, but would make the whole concept of Formula E pointless

From what I understand, its not a spec series, but they will have a spec car for sell to teams that want to race, but don't have the resources to build their own EV racer.

It makes me very glad to see very smart decisions like this. If things turn out well and a little bit of luck. FE might flourish. I'm certainly keen to see where FE can take us when it comes to pushing the pinnacle of electric powered cars

[flynfrog]

I don't see how a spec series will push you anywhere. Without battery development there is really nothing more to be gained. We had high 90% efficient motors and controllers at least 15 years ago. The solar car motors I posted earlier are around 98% in most operating ranges. The issue has always been the storage.

If you want to see electric cars pushing the limits

http://buckeyebullet.com/

[autogyro]

I have been trying to get Monaco to allow me to dig up the road circuit and instal induction coils etc.
The result would be electric racing without the need for ANY batteries.

Such projects in major cities could not only result in electric racing with no need to re-charge but if extended, it could be used as the basis of a pollution free and cost effective City transport infra structure.

But then what do I know?
It wont sell any oil of course.

I am having more success raising money for a special needs children's school in the UK if anyones interested.

[Forza]

Williams Advanced Engineering to supply Formula E battery units

Williams Advanced Engineering will supply the battery power units for the FIA Formula E championship.

The company, based at the same Grove facility as the Formula 1 squad, will partner with Formula E constructor Spark Racing Technology to design and assemble the batteries for the fully-electric championship.

Williams said Formula E was a perfect fit given the established success of its Advanced Engineering arm.

"This is an exciting new racing series that will play a key role in highlighting the growing relevance of technologies originally developed for motorsport to the wider world," WAE head of commercial operations Kirsty Andrew said.

"Energy efficiency is an important issue for Williams and whilst our work in this field is now spanning a number of market sectors beyond racing, motorsport will always be the ultimate proving ground for our technologies.

"Electric vehicles are becoming an increasingly important part of the automotive industry and Formula E is the perfect opportunity for Williams to validate the latest developments in battery technology."

Vasseur said that Williams' involvement boosted the credibility of the series, adding: "The vast experience from Williams in the field of hybrid systems and electric engine power guarantees quality.

"Spark Racing Technology is extremely proud to bring together some of the biggest names in motorsport and expects no less from Williams as they accompany us in the highest level of the first championship for electric cars."

Last month Formula E unveiled Renault as a technical partner, while last year it announced McLaren will provide engines, transmissions and electronics.

Spark Racing Technology, headed up by ART GP2 boss Frederic Vasseur, is part of a consortium of international investors tasked with creating and assembling 42 cars for the series, due to be launched next year.

London was included as one of eight host cities on a preliminary 2014 calendar, while Bangkok was added as a ninth venue last month.

[Pup]

Are Renault designing a spec powertrain?

Now that we know that Williams is doing the batteries; McLaren the engine, transmission and electronics; and Spark the chassis - my only guess is that Renault is supplying a spec logo for the rear wings.