The 24 Hours of Lemons has introduced an all-new fully electric category for their 2019 racing season. Officially called “The Lemons Electric Class Presented by AltThusiast,” the category is being touted as the first time that electric cars and internal-combustion cars are going to be racing within the same field.
Besides the “5 1/2 Tons on Money” cash prize of 1 million nickels (approximately $50,000) up for grabs to the first electric team to win overall at a Lemons race, there are also a new set of rules—namely that the recharging of the car is done in the same area as refueling, the swapping of batteries is allowed, and that the powertrain systems and energy storage are excluded from the $500 cap.
For those interested in the new category, the full Electric class rulebook can be found here.
Excited about the new category? Have a good idea of what you would run? Let us know in the comments below.
I was daydreaming about this yesterday. Easiest way forward right now seems to be buying a half-dozen crashed Leafs at CoPart, setting up a quick-change battery swap method, and plan on pit stops every 30 minutes.
Given the frequency of stops, even if you got them down to 5 minutes or so, it would still require 0 other problems and a bit (lot) of luck to win overall with this strategy.
How many tracks have multiple drops of 100 amps of 480V 3 Phase in the pits?
Trailer mounted generators are not super cheap to rent.
as a reference, we're at page 3 over here:
If I had half a dozen leaf packs I'd probably triple them up or at least pair them up. The hit would be a lot easier on the packs at WOT.
What happens when you track a leaf? I'm betting a lot of overheating cells and power limiting.
It would be awesome if you guys could hire someone named Rutledge Chapman.
I'd expect to need to change at least one, if not two full sets of brake pads and at least as many sets of tires, due to the weight of EV's. Although, regenerative braking may subsidize some of the braking effort, but that isn't going to help the tires any.
I imagine they might be quick on some tracks, but from what I've seen of past efforts to run more pedestrian EV's on a track, I doubt we'll see an overall victory any time soon. Good luck to all those that try though! Has anyone successfully campaigned an EV in any sort of endurance racing event? I'd imagine the cooling factor would be the limiting one...
I am sure Lemons has thought of this, but I will say it anyway. I hope the safety crews are prepared for the challenges presented by electric race cars: high voltage, potential battery fires, etc. Not that crashes ever happen at Lemons races...
In reply to RichardSIA :
I don't really agree with you.
Nevertheless, I don't think we need to resort to yelling, and semi-flounder-vaguely-conspiracy-theory to voice your disagreement.
Build your own Class A Lemons car, and make it fast enough that no one ever has a chance to win the nickles.
RichardSIA said:&@#^%#*()&!, and )(**$#@!(_*
Any time we support electric IN ANY WAY we shoot ourselves in the foot!
Remember, the Green Mafia want to OUTLAW our ICE cars and is counting on everyone embracing "Green" electric (Actually mostly COAL!) in the next few years, voluntarily or not.
Seriously dumb comment, sorry.
In reply to 93gsxturbo :
None of it will be cheap... for some time. But a trailer load of charged batteries next to the pits for true dc-to-dc recharging could be a strategy... eliminating ac altogether.
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