Wednesday 25th May 2016

Bosch e-kart revealed

A top speed of 80mph, 60 in less than five seconds and road car applications - give us a go!

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Who doesn't love a go-kart? The super sharp responses, the sensation of speed and - if you're doing it properly - the pride in triumphing over your friends are all great feelings. Here we have the latest advance in kart technology, the Bosch e-kart.

Eco-friendly motorsport we can approve of!

Developed with FIA Electric, the New Energy Commission, the German Motorsport Association (DMSB), and kart manufacturer Mach 1, the e-kart is predictably enough designed to show what sustainable motorsport could look like. Very worthy. However, rather unlike Formula E, this little kart looks like a right giggle. Nobody watches or partakes in karting for an emotive noise now, do they?

Bosch is claiming a frankly ridiculous 221lb ft for its two-wheel drive kart, along with a 0-60mph time of less than five seconds and a top speed beyond 80mph. That's thanks to its Boost Recuperation System (BRS) - a 48-volt lithium battery stores the energy, which is then replenished when you slow to be used for acceleration. With regenerative braking there's even less need to touch the left pedal in a kart!

20 of these on a track sounds entertaining...

According to Bosch, the aim of this concept is to preview "a purely electric motorsport discipline that makes no compromises in power or performance." It's not like you could complain about the noise from an electric kart series, could you? And if you don't like the sight of them outdoors, how about a huge track inside? It must happen! Moreover, the BRS will be implemented into road cars from next year. In support of the combustion engine, Bosch says it provides an additional 13hp and 110lb ft with an improvement of 15 per cent in CO2 and fuel economy.

The e-kart was shown at the Berlin Formula E event last weekend; there's no confirmation of it actually being made, but Bosch vice-pres Dr. Klaus Bottcher said "over the coming weeks and months we will continue testing to further explore the capabilities of the new e-kart." Which sounds a bit like "try and make it even faster still." We look forward to bringing you more progress!

[Source: Bosch]

 

 

 

[simonrockman]

Give it two motors - one for each rear wheel - and you can have an electronic diff.

[ambuletz]

I bet it sounds like a dishwasher.

[alfie2244]

Will also need a 2 stroke smell generator of some kind.

[Shakermaker]

alfie2244 said:

Will also need a 2 stroke smell generator of some kind.

"After your race session why not come to the Race Shop where you can buy your own helmet, gloves, overalls and race attire, as well as a range of fragrances from the Coulthard Collection, such as Difflock, Burnin' Rubber and Greas'd"

[rb5er]

Like it but a silent karting race would be a bit eerie/weird. Not that karts make an especially nice sound but some noise is surely welcome.

[wst]

Could make for some exciting and inexpensive racing in unorthodox locations. I'd like to hear how they sound, I imagine the tyres would be making the most noise.

[Shakermaker]

rb5er said:

Like it but a silent karting race would be a bit eerie/weird. Not that karts make an especially nice sound but some noise is surely welcome.

yes and no.

I do often want the ability to have a good verbal dig at my chums when we go karting because then I can tell them what I really think.

as has been said, the tyres are going to sound just the same but the lack of engine screech would be quite welcome a lot of the time, especially with no compromise to performance.

Also, for someone like me, I wouldn't be constantly banging my elbow on the hot engine and/or fuel tank..

[Krikkit]

simonrockman said:

Give it two motors - one for each rear wheel - and you can have an electronic diff.

Shouldn't be too hard, although this just uses two motors powering a solid rear axle. Craig Scarborough took some good pics at the Berlin Formula E last weekend:
https://twitter.com/ScarbsTech/status/733714938368...
https://twitter.com/ScarbsTech/status/733715381571...

[Skornogr4phy]

I have done electric Go Karts in the US, and they were rubbish. I imagine they were using standard lead acid batteries from cars. Hopefully this will be better.

[Buff Mchugelarge]

220lbs ft in what is essentially a tea tray and a seat on wheels?!
I can't see that being boring tbh!

[dlockhart]

Doesn't the go kart track in Greenwich use something very similar? if so is there a technology leap here I am missing?

I know the electric ones in Mile end are about as advanced as ford orien.

[hoegaardenruls]

DELETED: Comment made by a member who's account has been deleted.

Similar experience here, Teamsport run them at their track in Bermondsey, and they a more fun than the petrol karts - instant torque..

[rb5er]

DELETED: Comment made by a member who's account has been deleted.

I totally forgot that I have indeed done electric Karting and still get the emails from Teamworks. The one I went to though were quite weak and underpowered compared to proper karts at somewhere like Buckmore Park although I'm sure this Bosch one is like a supercar compared to the Teamworks ones.

[BBS-LM]

B&$%k to bosch, these guys where doing it in 2013, but better.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-MD_4F7sNs

[K666ADM]

If the kart is silent then it will be terrible - everyone will hear me singing Kenny Loggins as I knock it into overdrive on the highway to the danger zone. Currently the engine screech masks my guilty pleasure, almost. Dont pretend we dont all either sing or make engine noises as we kart - come on people, Im not alone in this.

[Drawweight]

What would happen in the event of a breakdown?

Anybody jumping into another (unused kart) would surely have a power advantage over the karts that had already been used on track.

[Some Gump]

Isn't that utterly piss poor for a kart tho? Unless they're trying to reinvent god awful pro karts, obviously.
(Slinks off to google the performance of junior 100b from back in the day)

[agentbiscuit]

get one and use it in the local park …and u wont upset all the marks and spencer clad golfers….just give them and their dogs heart attacks ….no loss there then!!

[agentbiscuit]

i bet its quicker then my dishwasher

ambuletz said:

I bet it sounds like a dishwasher.

[Drawweight]

Nanook said:

Drawweight said:

What would happen in the event of a breakdown?

Anybody jumping into another (unused kart) would surely have a power advantage over the karts that had already been used on track.

Would they?

I'm assuming that a kart that has done possibly 3 heats and a semi final is going to have the battery depleted slightly compared to a fresh kart.
I know it has energy recovery but that doesn't give it an endless supply of power.