Anyone watched any Formula E this season? I'm watching the Buenos Aires ePrix from a couple of weeks ago right now on YouTube and I have to say there's some seriously good racing going on. I watched some last year and wasn't impressed, but this is genuinely good racing.
I'll have to check it out, I don't think I even knew what formula e was (maybe didn't care) until I saw a car on forza 6, I drove it and liked it. My question is, obviously before I watch, but how many laps can they go on a charge? Do they hot swap batteries to keep going or are they short races...must go learn more...
Is there any way to watch it live?
35 lap race, swap cars in the middle. Pull into pit. Jump out, jump into new car and go. Min pit stop time for safety. I'm guessing 30ish min race
I watched it last year when I happened to find it on. But the TV coverage in the U.S. seemed spotty, so I could never figure out when it aired.
I like the idea and figure it's where we'll be going in the next few years, anyway. I'd love to see Tesla really get behind it.
Do they still have the fan voting thing this year? I remember something last year that fans could tweet or vote or something and the winning driver got an extra boost of power or something? I understand trying to get fans involved, but it seemed kinda silly.
-Rob
Interesting, it would be neat to see some technology trickle down to consumer cars. If there is anything they use that say a Prius doesn't.
Who am I kidding I'll just wait 10 years and buy formula e batteries and motor, add Prius, mix well then bake for 30min at 350*
YEah, they have the 'fan boost' but it doesn't seem to make much difference.
The last 5 laps of this race were awesome, they have some great camera angles plus cameras front and rear on all cars.
An honestly good race regardless of series.
What kind of G's are these cars pulling in the corners?
WildScotsRacing wrote: What kind of G's are these cars pulling in the corners?
Looks like they're getting close to 2Gs sustained.
Fun fact, the performance of a FE is very similar to a Radical SR3 in every way. About the same power, weight, size, downforce, and rubber on the ground.
Fanboost is silly but as Adrian pointed out, it doesn't make much difference. I watched a few events before and I downloaded the Buenos Aires event this year after I heard about how good it was. Starts out kind of slow but the latter half was really good.
GameboyRMH wrote: Fun fact, the performance of a FE is very similar to a Radical SR3 in every way. About the same power, weight, size, downforce, and rubber on the ground.
That's interesting. That's lighter than I expected. I wonder how much the batteries weigh and how they are packaged.
I've often thought in my lotto winning multi millionaire eccentric car crazed future a Formula E car with the wick tuned up would be an awesome hillclimb car.
The maximum allowed battery & capacitor weight is 200kgs (441lbs) and the car's minimum legal weight with driver is 1764lbs...so the FE car itself probably weighs a little more than an SR3, although I'd heard that the weight of the prototypes when they were being tested was about 1300lbs.
According to 2014 info, they're using one big liquid-cooled battery pack which is a stressed member in the middle of the car.
Is Formula E related to any of the major racing series?
92dxman wrote: Is Formula E related to any of the major racing series?
It's a stand alone series with a big big push from the FIA. It's big attraction is it's 'green' credentials, which yes you can argue is bunk all day long, but at the end of the day nothing is coming out of the tail pipes of the cars, and very very importantly for many places there's very very little noise. That's why there are races in places like central London that are on record as saying no way motherberkeleyer to F1 or other noisy or emission producing series.
It's also getting a lot of sponsor $$'s behind it and look at the pedigree of drivers. I bet 80% of the grid have F1 and/or Indy car experience. It seems to be shaping up to be a destination series on it's own right rather than a 'not quite made it to the top' series as a diversion.
As more freedom is allowed I think it's going to get very interesting from the tech point of view in the future.
I understand the element of being "green", and I have watched both this season and last season. I thought this season they would be faster, but they still look like the slowest class in club racing. I honestly think my kart with a electric engine would be faster. If they can't figure out having less then one car and going a decent speed I don't see how this will be around for 2 years, especially with the gas prices.
In reply to trigun7469:
The current gas prices are artificially low, and it isn't going last all that long.
gas prices have nothing to do with it. first gas is still $8+ a gallon in much of Europe, the fact it's effectively free here doesn't reflect the real world. also the 'perceived' greeness, the lack of noise and the lack of on the spot pollution is more important. in many ways they are looking for a new demographic of audience, one that has never been to or watched a motor race before but thinks Teslas, iPhones and Gizmodo are cool.
Every time I try to watch an FE race, the high-pitch whine wakes my cat up & makes him leave the room. After a lap or so, I turn it off because I can't stand the noise.
I'd like them to at some point become powerful enough that they can give them proper racing tires and still be hard to drive.
Currently, they're so slow that they have to limit grip by giving them awful treaded tires in order to make it somewhat of a challenge.
In reply to drdisque:
I think in the long run 5-10 years it will happen. it's all down to the power density of the batteries.
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