Four crate classes

[Clayton_Wetter]

I don't think it would be too hard to build a smooth variac for power supplied to the motor.

I'm thinking that the battery itself would just change the car so much because of the physical space it would take, and in one large location. A totally new concept of chassis and design would be a very busy and evolving process.

How about safety issues from fires, possible overheating, batteries exploding, ie driver safety?

How long batteries would last, especially in long features. Weakening batteries coming into play especially during longer races and cautions. Shorter feature races?

Wide bore batteries!!!!! (An inside quip, just for you. lol)

[KAOS]

I don't think not driving or electric cars will kill anything. First off the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) does very well in NYC, and has been gaining in popularity for decades despite the fact that less and less live in rural areas. Another is most people who watch the other sports never played them in a organized manner. Finally their can still be racing with internal combustion engines and electric cars being the main passenger car.

[Clayton_Wetter]

I don't think not driving or electric cars will kill anything. First off the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) does very well in NYC, and has been gaining in popularity for decades despite the fact that less and less live in rural areas. Another is most people who watch the other sports never played them in a organized manner. Finally their can still be racing with internal combustion engines and electric cars being the main passenger car.

Now that's more like it. The gas powered cars would still remain at the race tracks and the battery cars will be on the road. But I will not buy one personally. lol

My opinion is that if gasoline is to be replaced, that something far better than batteries will have to happen.

[mcarter815]

I'm thinking that the battery itself would just change the car so much because of the physical space it would take, and in one large location. A totally new concept of chassis and design would be a very busy and evolving process.How about safety issues from fires, possible overheating, batteries exploding, ie driver safety?How long batteries would last, especially in long features. Weakening batteries coming into play especially during longer races and cautions. Shorter feature races? Wide bore batteries!!!!! (An inside quip, just for you. lol)

I don't think it's anymore dangerous than breaking a carb off, rolling upside down and leaking fuel onto the headers, or knocking the fuel pump off the engine in a crash. They have already tested electric midget race cars. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ho4xdJvmrnA

[Matt49]

I'm thinking that the battery itself would just change the car so much because of the physical space it would take, and in one large location. A totally new concept of chassis and design would be a very busy and evolving process.

How about safety issues from fires, possible overheating, batteries exploding, ie driver safety?

How long batteries would last, especially in long features. Weakening batteries coming into play especially during longer races and cautions. Shorter feature races?

Wide bore batteries!!!!! (An inside quip, just for you. lol)

We're obviously getting a little off topic here but fun to discuss nonetheless.
Lithium Polymer batteries have changed the landscape of smaller forms of motorsports like RC cars and trucks. Combined with brushless motors, they FAR outperform their gas-powered (Nitro) counterparts that were far superior back in the day of brushed motors pushed by heavy NiMH batteries. In the RC world, Nitro stuff is dying quickly as the brushless motors and LiPo batteries are much faster and easier to maintain.
From a technology standpoint, there is no reason that this won't scale to full size cars. Even race cars. LiPo batteries are VERY light weight and with the speed controllers in use, there is no power output drop through battery drain due to the way they do a continuous discharge on the battery.
All that being said, everyone sure will miss the sound and it will be a whole new ball game when it comes to tech on power plants. I'm certainly not ready for it but it will happen eventually.
Anyway this is all old news really. Open wheel is already doing it a high level with Formula E. Everything trickles down in motorsports and electric power will be no exception. But it will take a while.

[Clayton_Wetter]

I don't think it's anymore dangerous than breaking a carb off, rolling upside down and leaking fuel onto the headers, or knocking the fuel pump off the engine in a crash. They have already tested electric midget race cars. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ho4xdJvmrnA

Well at least they don't have to push start them.

[CageFaraday]

We're obviously getting a little off topic here but fun to discuss nonetheless.
Lithium Polymer batteries have changed the landscape of smaller forms of motorsports like RC cars and trucks. Combined with brushless motors, they FAR outperform their gas-powered (Nitro) counterparts that were far superior back in the day of brushed motors pushed by heavy NiMH batteries. In the RC world, Nitro stuff is dying quickly as the brushless motors and LiPo batteries are much faster and easier to maintain.
From a technology standpoint, there is no reason that this won't scale to full size cars. Even race cars. LiPo batteries are VERY light weight and with the speed controllers in use, there is no power output drop through battery drain due to the way they do a continuous discharge on the battery.
All that being said, everyone sure will miss the sound and it will be a whole new ball game when it comes to tech on power plants. I'm certainly not ready for it but it will happen eventually.
Anyway this is all old news really. Open wheel is already doing it a high level with Formula E. Everything trickles down in motorsports and electric power will be no exception. But it will take a while.

Formula E is in decline, they just lost there key event 2 weeks ago, sponsors and promoters are pulling out because it isn't profitable. Electric car sales are in decline. Electric cars were a big buzz once before, then gas got cheaper, mileage improved and interest plummeted. Tesla still hasn't even turned a profit. To me its just a fad, like Ugzz and parachute pants. Since younger peeps don't even want cars or to learn to drive, then they won't buy electric either. Smart cities is probably the only place electric might make a go of it, but in rural areas I don't see it. They've already shot down Elon's tractor trailer he said he was gonna do and the explosion and fire for these electric cars is far worse than what we get now from a fuel pump getting knocked off.

[mcarter815]

Tesla doesn't need to turn an immediate profit. Just look at Amazon for an example of a company that never focused on profits and that hasn't slowed them down. Tesla is playing the long game. Electric car sales in 2017 were up 25% from 2016 in the U.S. They still have a long way to go to make a real dent in the market share, but I think it's reasonable to think that in 10 to 15 years electric cars are going to be common. Once fast charging is figured out, they are a no-brainer for the average consumer because they require less maintenance with the fewer fluids and moving parts compared to an internal combustion engine. Also, gas prices are going back up with the rising cost of crude. They were artificially low in the last year when the Saudis were pumping up the supply. https://arstechnica.com/cars/2018/01...les-in-the-us/

[KAOS]

Faraday, GM plans on having 20+ different electric models by 2023. Also just want clear something up from earlier posts. I think electric cars could kill crate racing because there would be less support from GM. I don't think that means all race cars would be electric.

[chupp n bloomer fan]

Tesla doesn't need to turn an immediate profit. Just look at Amazon for an example of a company that never focused on profits and that hasn't slowed them down. Tesla is playing the long game. Electric car sales in 2017 were up 25% from 2016 in the U.S. They still have a long way to go to make a real dent in the market share, but I think it's reasonable to think that in 10 to 15 years electric cars are going to be common. Once fast charging is figured out, they are a no-brainer for the average consumer because they require less maintenance with the fewer fluids and moving parts required to make a combustion engine run. Also, gas prices are going back up with the rising cost of crude. They were artificially low in the last year when the Saudis were pumping up the supply. https://arstechnica.com/cars/2018/01...les-in-the-us/

Did you just use facts on 4m, ahh heck no.

They get the fast charging in check it’ll catch on more.

[Josh Bayko]

Tesla doesn't need to turn an immediate profit. Just look at Amazon for an example of a company that never focused on profits and that hasn't slowed them down. Tesla is playing the long game. Electric car sales in 2017 were up 25% from 2016 in the U.S. They still have a long way to go to make a real dent in the market share, but I think it's reasonable to think that in 10 to 15 years electric cars are going to be common. Once fast charging is figured out, they are a no-brainer for the average consumer because they require less maintenance with the fewer fluids and moving parts required to make a combustion engine run. Also, gas prices are going back up with the rising cost of crude. They were artificially low in the last year when the Saudis were pumping up the supply. https://arstechnica.com/cars/2018/01...les-in-the-us/

Tesla isn't going to lead the charge into electric vehicles, they can't even get vehicles out there in a timely fashion.

I honestly think the Tesla's long term goal was getting bought out by a much bigger manufacturer. Thing is, all the big manufacturers have started development of their own electronic vehicles, so the investment in buying Tesla would be pointless.

[mcarter815]

Tesla isn't going to lead the charge into electric vehicles, they can't even get vehicles out there in a timely fashion. I honestly think the Tesla's long term goal was getting bought out by a much bigger manufacturer. Thing is, all the big manufacturers have started development of their own electronic vehicles, so the investment in buying Tesla would be pointless.

True. I think Tesla’s real value is in R&D and showing that there is an interest in electric vehicles. The bigger manufacturers are more risk-sensitive by nature.

[Clayton_Wetter]

Tesla isn't going to lead the charge into electric vehicles, they can't even get vehicles out there in a timely fashion.

I honestly think the Tesla's long term goal was getting bought out by a much bigger manufacturer. Thing is, all the big manufacturers have started development of their own electronic vehicles, so the investment in buying Tesla would be pointless.

If electricity is 12 cents per kWh — the national average — it would cost $3.48 to go 100 miles

Home charging stations take from 4 to eight hours to fully charge the car.

[old17ford]

Fastford do you build any NLMS engines ?

[jog49]

Fords are banned from most tracks because they leave too much iron oxide on the grounds while rusting away, thus polluting the environment. Dodges are also banned because, quite frankly, what is the use of having large boat anchors at a race track?