Drayson Racing Goes Electric

[JAG]

Just read Speed TV's interview with Drayson, I think someone ought to tell him green technology will only become viable in real world applications if the end user doesn't have to make compromises.

Competing against established technologies in P1 ensures hybrid development will be rapid in order to gain a competitive advantage. Audi and Peugeot delaying their implimentation tells you they are interested in performance and efficiency rather than ticking a box. In the EVCup race formats will be designed around cars limitations reducing the incentive to push boundaries.

At a time when UK motorists are struggling to afford ever increasing fuel prices technology that can be implemented today, not 5, 10, 15 years down the line is needed. That means smaller, more efficient combustion engines, hybrid technology and systems like stop-start.

Going down the all electric route is a long-term project and gives Drayson the opportunity to preach to the masses while major manufacturers are the ones dealing with far more pressing matters.

[Tim the Grey]

Originally Posted by jondownunder

Plus, aren't there serious environmental impacts from the production and disposal of battery cells that electric vehicles use? Sorry if this is an over-simplistic and cynical view of it all, but I don't buy it. And I certainly won't be going to watch those abominations race.

AFAIK there are SERIOUS issues with certain metal supplies for leccy car storage. Lithium, I believe, is pretty much single sourced somewhere like Peru. They have no intent to increase supply, as there is around 50 years worth at current volumes! Then you have the Chinese near monopoly of Rare Earths, for motors, etc, and well, you see why Fuel Cells get plenty of attention!

Someone feel free to correct, this is all out of my memory, which is getting old, now!

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Tim the Grey

AFAIK there are SERIOUS issues with certain metal supplies for leccy car storage. Lithium, I believe, is pretty much single sourced somewhere like Peru. They have no intent to increase supply, as there is around 50 years worth at current volumes! Then you have the Chinese near monopoly of Rare Earths, for motors, etc, and well, you see why Fuel Cells get plenty of attention!

Someone feel free to correct, this is all out of my memory, which is getting old, now!

It isn't that China has the only access to Rare Earth elements, it is just that everybody else stopped mining them because the price China was selling them for. Now it seems China is going to be restricting exports Rare Earth elements, so they will indeed be harder to come by, but mines can open up (albeit with higher prices) in other countries.

[Bernard Bram]

Originally Posted by Joe Taylor

There may be efficiency gains as well. A diesel engine can operate at 40% and a petrol at 30% at best. If you take a fossil fuel powered steam plant, you could get an efficiency of up to 60% and even assuming a load of losses transferring from the power station to the car, you would probably still be more efficient overall.

But these gains would probably be negated by the energy storage problem. You have to lug around really heavy battery packs to get the same energy capacity compared to a tank of fuel. Electric cars are a dead end unless something really radical evolves in battery technology.

[Tim the Grey]

Fuel Cells? Combine H and O2 in there, and electric come out!

NASA have been doing this for what, 40 years, now?