Are EV's the wave of the future? Yes.
I'm a huge fan of gas guzzling, engine roaring, Rev Limiter smashing, fossil fuel burning vehicles; my household vehicles average less than 14mpgs, and that's assuming my ACR is getting 12-15 on the street (not the .8-1.2 mpgs on the track).
BUT, I like fast. If painting my Viper fluorescent pink would drop my lap times, I'd do it.
The next ten years, ALL major manufacturers will have a fleet of EVs on the ground and delivering to customers. All in all, do I think EVs are better for the environment? No, not at this time anyways; with time and technological advancements they will be. BUT I do think they will provide the fastest track cars, from novice to semi-professionals.
Will they be as driver centered, as skill driven, or as impressive to say you ran a X.XX.XXX? No, but they will be faster. How? Let me tell you.
Let's take some technology that is out there now and wrap it all together. First, let's start with GPS. 10Hz (refresh rate) is starting to get cheaper and more available for the masses. Secondly, ECU tuning has gotten so complex in the past couple of years that the hp/torque management is insane. Next, traction control/stability control is insane.
How does pairing all of that technology together make a racecar faster, even for the most un-experienced driver?
Imagine having a car that you can select a track that you're at (like I select a track on my Garmin MARQ Driver watch) and it will automatically upload the track by it's GPS coordinates. The car will know the track (you can select multiple configurations, or make your own based on a learner lap), it would be able to maximize hp/torque depending on where you are on the track, and be able to work the traction/stability control to keep the car under control but not to the point where it is hindering performance.
You could more or less be 100% WOT or 100% on the brakes and the car would actually do the gas and brake for you.
FURTHERMORE, you could combine the same technology and totally take the driver out of the equation. The vehicle could do it all. Regulate the throttle, brake, turning, tire pressure, tire slippage, etc etc etc etc.
The Stig will be replaced with The Bot.
I'm a huge fan of gas guzzling, engine roaring, Rev Limiter smashing, fossil fuel burning vehicles; my household vehicles average less than 14mpgs, and that's assuming my ACR is getting 12-15 on the street (not the .8-1.2 mpgs on the track).
BUT, I like fast. If painting my Viper fluorescent pink would drop my lap times, I'd do it.
The next ten years, ALL major manufacturers will have a fleet of EVs on the ground and delivering to customers. All in all, do I think EVs are better for the environment? No, not at this time anyways; with time and technological advancements they will be. BUT I do think they will provide the fastest track cars, from novice to semi-professionals.
Will they be as driver centered, as skill driven, or as impressive to say you ran a X.XX.XXX? No, but they will be faster. How? Let me tell you.
Let's take some technology that is out there now and wrap it all together. First, let's start with GPS. 10Hz (refresh rate) is starting to get cheaper and more available for the masses. Secondly, ECU tuning has gotten so complex in the past couple of years that the hp/torque management is insane. Next, traction control/stability control is insane.
How does pairing all of that technology together make a racecar faster, even for the most un-experienced driver?
Imagine having a car that you can select a track that you're at (like I select a track on my Garmin MARQ Driver watch) and it will automatically upload the track by it's GPS coordinates. The car will know the track (you can select multiple configurations, or make your own based on a learner lap), it would be able to maximize hp/torque depending on where you are on the track, and be able to work the traction/stability control to keep the car under control but not to the point where it is hindering performance.
You could more or less be 100% WOT or 100% on the brakes and the car would actually do the gas and brake for you.
FURTHERMORE, you could combine the same technology and totally take the driver out of the equation. The vehicle could do it all. Regulate the throttle, brake, turning, tire pressure, tire slippage, etc etc etc etc.
The Stig will be replaced with The Bot.
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