Tuesday 17th May 2011

Nissan Shakes Down Leaf Electric Racer

Nismo has ambitious plans for its new EV racer although it's not sure where it will compete yet...

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It does seem a little perverse to develop a racing car without a clear idea of exactly which series you are planning on competing in, but this appears to be what Nissan has done with a racing version of its Leaf electric vehicle, which has recently been undergoing shakedown tests.

Of course, there's plenty of scope for use as a promotional vehicle at race days, but Nissan also has other ambitious plans for its Nismo-developed racer, including races in places where conventionally engine cars simply could not compete, such as in city centres where noise restrictions would come into force, or even on indoor tracks, where a zero-emissions vehicle would really shine.

The racer uses the same drivetrain as the roadgoing Leaf, although its internals are packed closer to the centre of the car for better handling, and the body (mercifully) has been lowered, widened and has sprouted wings - all of which make it look rather better than the 'ordinary' Leaf.

Mind you, we'd still rather a racing car had a growling V8, or screaming six-cylinder motor - or anything that made a noise more exciting than that of a Unigate milk float, in fact...

 

[anonymous-user]

I like it. It sounds a bit Star Wars-ish

[300bhp/ton]

I want to see it in an Enduro race, maybe the Nurburgring 24hrs or something similar.

Lets face it, if they could pull it off, it would go someway to fooling the public about the range and durability of leccy powered cars.

[dbanes]

Like it or not electric cars are here, but I agree with everyone else that it'll be a while before the technology gives us range and fast 'refuelling'. But I will miss the sound of a nice V6 or V8...

[anonymous-user]

Shirley, the No1 aim for an electric race car, with it's limited total energy storage capacity, would be to get the drag as low as possible?? Otherwise you run the risk of having just one very quick lap......

[Stevemcmaster]

Could they not just whip out the batteries and plug charged ones in to replace refulling + increase race length?

Me being simple I am sure...!

Steve

[dbanes]

Stevemcmaster said:

Could they not just whip out the batteries and plug charged ones in to replace refulling + increase race length?

Me being simple I am sure...!

Steve

This type of thing has been discussed, in fact I'm sure I saw an EV prototype that would do this at a refuelling station, swap a charged for an empty cell automatically.

[Frimley111R]

It appeals to me more than diesel cars on racetracks tbh. I

[montyvr6]

An electric race series would be brilliant test and development bed for new battery technologies. It is also a good environment for batteries as the race car can pit and have new power units installed if needed. These could then be charged up later.

I'm a total petrol head without doubt but, if electric cars had been invented first and someone was now trying to plug petrol cars we'd be moaning about the added vibrations and noise. Change is painful but history shows that we will develop a solution and ultimately it will surpass what we already have in years to come.

Before anyone accuses me of being too green remember all you eco nuts that electricity still comes with a cost either from burning fuel or nuclear waste or burning of more fuel and use of energy to build dams, solar panels and wind farms!

[300bhp/ton]

Frimley111R said:

It appeals to me more than diesel cars on racetracks tbh. I

Is there any sense of logic in that statement?

[MrOrange]

Frimley111R said:

It appeals to me more than diesel cars on racetracks tbh. I

Seconded. Also, the unconventional nature of the drivetrain could make for some pretty interesting layouts and designs. Need to embrace it, I suspect, as it will be the future and with good development will not see the end of petrol fun cars ("The V8 didn't see the end of the horse, just transformed into a 100% leisure activity")

[Andrew[MG]]

This article needs some speed and power stats!

[annodomini2]

montyvr6 said:

if electric cars had been invented first

Electric car pre-dates petrol

http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/223/electric-car-time... Electric car 1833

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automobile Petrol car 1885

[marcosgt]

Just waiting for Jaguar to enter their jet powered electric racer at Le Mans!

Maybe we could persuade the FIA to let them race in Silk Cut colours too!

M.

[Insight]

How about a 'Le Mans 24 Minutes' race for electric cars!?

[300bhp/ton]

Insight said:

How about a 'Le Mans 24 Minutes' race for electric cars!?

Strangely there used to be Lotus Elise 24 minute racing... in homage of the 24hrs races.

[mike-r]

I really like that. I'd actually love an electric car, what's not to like. They just need to get range to ~200 miles and stick charging stations in parking bays in carparks and I'm sold, stick a quid in for a few hours. SIMPLE.

[simonrockman]

Does it still have funny headlights?

[BIGBerries]

Article said:
"including races in places where conventionally engine cars simply could not compete, such as in city centres where noise restrictions would come into force, or even on indoor tracks, where a zero-emissions vehicle would really shine."

that would be so cool!

[cookie1600]

Yes, interesting! I'm just visualising the teams right now





With the right kind of sponsorship, we could have a winning formula!



Just need that young lad Vettel to sign up......

[Yeloperil]

The EV race car is being promoted heavily by the FIA and many car manufacturers and motorsport companies are playing with the idea. The problem is the relative lack of energy density from currently available cell chemistry, probably no more than 20 minutes absolute maximum. Once the boffins overcome this issue, then we will start to see formulae for electric touring cars and many others.