Thursday 1st July 2010

Think Electric City Car Goes Racing

Don't forget to unplug the extension cord, chaps...

---

Okay, so it's hardly Le Mans or the Indy 500, but electric cars are taking their first tentative steps in motorsport.

Scandinavian EV maker, THINK, has created this 'EV Cup Edition' of its City model, to take part in the START Eco Car Trials - the world's first electric vehicle race - and has inexplicably put TV presenter Kevin McCloud behind the wheel.

Race preparation involves a near-70kg weight reduction courtesy of a stripped out interior, leaving a single lightweight racing seat and steering wheel, and replacing all glass with Perspex.

The suspension has also been tweaked to lower the centre of gravity, and a software update completes the conversion.

"The THINK City can overtake very competently despite its relative tiny power and that makes you feel very comfortable at the wheel," says Architect and Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud.

"It is an excellent racing vehicle and on the short runs we were doing today it just doesn't seem to run out of power - thanks to its linear torque - which actually makes it better than its equivalent petrol city car for short races."

All of which is well and good - but a petrol city car is hardly the ideal platform for a racer. Also, and without wishing to cause offence to Kevin here, why is an architect commenting on the abilities of a racing car? If we were building a house we wouldn't ask Lewis Hamilton for advice...

[goron59]

Is it an endurance race? See how far you can go without needing a recharge?

[tim-b]

PH article said:

without wishing to cause offence to Kevin here, why is an architect commenting on the abilities of a racing car?

To be fair, isn't he a pretty serious petrolhead though?

[AJLintern]

Yes he set the best time on the Top Gear track at some point

[SAndals]

He's not an architect tho....

[Mr Gear]

tim-b said:

PH article said:

without wishing to cause offence to Kevin here, why is an architect commenting on the abilities of a racing car?

To be fair, isn't he a pretty serious petrolhead though?

He sure is. Also, this article claims to be the worlds first electric car race. That is so wrong I don't know where to start. This has been running since 1996 for example: http://www.nedra.com/about_us.html

[foreverdriving]

Mr Gear said:

tim-b said:

PH article said:

without wishing to cause offence to Kevin here, why is an architect commenting on the abilities of a racing car?

To be fair, isn't he a pretty serious petrolhead though?

He sure is. Also, this article claims to be the worlds first electric car race. That is so wrong I don't know where to start. This has been running since 1996 for example: http://www.nedra.com/about_us.html

And not forgetting

[AdamBomb]

Mr McCloud is actaully quite a petrol head... Think he did well on the topgear track??

This was actaully a time trial, 2 drivers trying to complete a short straightline run in the fastest time.

The other driver was Roger Saul of Mulberry fame - and a dedicated racing fan (I think Mulberry hosted quite a few classic car races at the ring etc).

I don't know why PH hasn't mentioned it but the Tesla was also there.. and completed the run in a much more spectacular fashion than the Th!nk.

I think Kevin was involved as it's a "sustainable" way of enjoying Motorsport - which is in line with everything he works for and promotes (and blatting cars across a viaduct is kinda fun).

[ctallchris]

It'll be very good for the car. all i can say is they should really have a number of classes in order to test different sized drivetrains. I am surpriesd the tesla drivertain hasn't made it's way into formula ford chassis yet

[TheRoadWarrior]

PH said:

The THINK City can overtake bollards and other road furniture very competently despite its relative tiny power and that makes you feel very comfortable at the wheel when compared to being in a coffin," says Architect, Grand Designs presenter and general nut-bag Kevin BTW-do-you-know-I-drive-a-TVR McCloud.

EFA

[tridave]

AdamBomb said:

I think Kevin was involved as it's a "sustainable" way of enjoying Motorsport - which is in line with everything he works for and promotes (and blatting cars across a viaduct is kinda fun).

"sustainable" - the plastic panels are molded from a laminate plastic sheet - so these panels are not recyclable in any way - so the sustainability of this car is in question

[pedromorgan]

I once had this idea about electric racing but with interchangable batteries. swapping them at pitstops.... if they can change 4 tires in 3 seconds then i am sure they can come up with a pattery arrangement that can be swapped in 10 or 15 seconds.

Peter

[Johnpidge]

24 Hour Gee Wizz racing 1 hour racing - 23 hours charging ha ha

Edited by Johnpidge on Thursday 1st July 15:54

[RedYellowGreen]

''First ever electric race'' I am sure there was a championship run in Italy for lecy Fiat pandas in the 80s/early 90s. I did a quick google but couldnt find anything but I distinctly remember seeing film of this years ago.

[bodysnatcher]

RedYellowGreen said:

''First ever electric race'' I am sure there was a championship run in Italy for lecy Fiat pandas in the 80s/early 90s. I did a quick google but couldnt find anything but I distinctly remember seeing film of this years ago.

At Monza 1993 F1 GP, support race was for electric cars, could have been mostly Pandas (lets be honest we were having a beer or 2 while it was running) - also could'nt find anything on a Google.

[guywat]

what I want to know is what was it doing parked in Castle Cary in Somerset last week

[Mr Gear]

The Crack Fox said:

Th!nk (to give it the correct original name) has been around for donkeys's years, launched in London once (see old TG report), no-one bought it then and no-one will buy it now. I work with an ex-Th!nk Engineer, really nice guy, but a classic example of some-one inventing something that no-one wants. Racing them ? Why ?? McCloud seems a nice guy but WTF ???

You can race anything and it can be fun if the racing is close enough. You can also race crap things with the aim to making them better.

I just noticed that you can get a roadworthy G Wiz for £2,000. I might buy one, turn up to a PH meet and honk the horn a few times then sell it again. It would be a day well spent.

[AdamBomb]

guywat said:

what I want to know is what was it doing parked in Castle Cary in Somerset last week

This event was in Shepton Mallet.. Not a million miles from Castle Cary.

[veryoldfart]

how long is the extension lead?

[AdeV]

Johnpidge said:

24 Hour Gee Wizz racing 1 hour racing - 23 hours charging ha ha

You reckon a G-Wizz could even complete a lap in 1hour? Or, indeed, 1 lap on a single charge?

Better make it a small circuit...

Mr Gear said:

You can race anything and it can be fun if the racing is close enough. You can also race crap things with the aim to making them better.

Got to agree with that. Racing is one of the best ways of improving a st car.

Mr Gear said:

I just noticed that you can get a roadworthy G Wiz for £2,000.

Roadworthy? Are they even roadworthy out of the factory? ISTR they are exempt from most of the Euro & UK safety regs, on account of being plastic battery-powered toys or something.

[900T-R]

'Quadricycle' is the word you're looking for.