EVs at Castle Coombe
Discussion
I have been on the Castle Coombe website today and I note that the circuit has now removed its restriction on EVs taking part in its track days. I am very much looking forward to taking my Porsche Taycan there next month.
Which leaves Anglesey circuit's decision to ban EVs rather isolated as I believe it is the only circuit in the UK to do so. i have read the CEO's reasoning and it does not seem to based on any evidence whatsoever. From my personal experience of having done over 50 track days, I have never seen any EV cause a red flag at any track day I have attended.
Which leaves Anglesey circuit's decision to ban EVs rather isolated as I believe it is the only circuit in the UK to do so. i have read the CEO's reasoning and it does not seem to based on any evidence whatsoever. From my personal experience of having done over 50 track days, I have never seen any EV cause a red flag at any track day I have attended.
It could be issues with insurance and recovery if EV were on track so it may be during renewal of liability etc for the track owner that may change.
Another point would be charging i guess as you could run out while at a track day so recovery on track would be required.
I wouldn't have thought a large proportion of average EV drivers are even going to a track day. And its more likely those able to afford sports car style EV ie taycan / tesla plaid etc are only the one's seriously considering a track day as you are.
How busy are the EV track days you have been to and what vehicles usually turn up ?
Another point would be charging i guess as you could run out while at a track day so recovery on track would be required.
I wouldn't have thought a large proportion of average EV drivers are even going to a track day. And its more likely those able to afford sports car style EV ie taycan / tesla plaid etc are only the one's seriously considering a track day as you are.
How busy are the EV track days you have been to and what vehicles usually turn up ?
Let’s put the EVs catch fire myth to bed first. According to the Gov.uk website 19,256 vehicle fires were reported up to June 23. Of those 56 were fires related to EVs. That’s 0.3% of all vehicle fires.
And as you point out, not many EVs attend track days so the risk of fire is minuscule compared to a petrol car.
EVs are about as likely to run out of energy as any petrol car. All the usual lights and warnings are there to guide you.
So in summary, the Anglesey decision is largely based on fear, based on ignorance. Every other circuit has done an informed risk assessment and decided to allow them.
In answer to your question, most track days I attend are fully booked. So the answer is whatever the track can support.
And as you point out, not many EVs attend track days so the risk of fire is minuscule compared to a petrol car.
EVs are about as likely to run out of energy as any petrol car. All the usual lights and warnings are there to guide you.
So in summary, the Anglesey decision is largely based on fear, based on ignorance. Every other circuit has done an informed risk assessment and decided to allow them.
In answer to your question, most track days I attend are fully booked. So the answer is whatever the track can support.
grahamsimmonds said:
Let’s put the EVs catch fire myth to bed first. According to the Gov.uk website 19,256 vehicle fires were reported up to June 23. Of those 56 were fires related to EVs. That’s 0.3% of all vehicle fires.
And as you point out, not many EVs attend track days so the risk of fire is minuscule compared to a petrol car.
EVs are about as likely to run out of energy as any petrol car. All the usual lights and warnings are there to guide you.
So in summary, the Anglesey decision is largely based on fear, based on ignorance. Every other circuit has done an informed risk assessment and decided to allow them.
In answer to your question, most track days I attend are fully booked. So the answer is whatever the track can support.
I think it’s more down to what if there was to be an incident and what facilities and training do they have to respond as opposed to them being more likely to have an incident in the first place. EVs might be less likely than traditional ICE to catch fire but when they do, they have challenges with extinguishment that not all circuits will currently be set up for. And as you point out, not many EVs attend track days so the risk of fire is minuscule compared to a petrol car.
EVs are about as likely to run out of energy as any petrol car. All the usual lights and warnings are there to guide you.
So in summary, the Anglesey decision is largely based on fear, based on ignorance. Every other circuit has done an informed risk assessment and decided to allow them.
In answer to your question, most track days I attend are fully booked. So the answer is whatever the track can support.
grahamsimmonds said:
Let’s put the EVs catch fire myth to bed first. According to the Gov.uk website 19,256 vehicle fires were reported up to June 23. Of those 56 were fires related to EVs. That’s 0.3% of all vehicle fires.
And as you point out, not many EVs attend track days so the risk of fire is minuscule compared to a petrol car.
EVs are about as likely to run out of energy as any petrol car. All the usual lights and warnings are there to guide you.
So in summary, the Anglesey decision is largely based on fear, based on ignorance. Every other circuit has done an informed risk assessment and decided to allow them.
In answer to your question, most track days I attend are fully booked. So the answer is whatever the track can support.
Agreed but you can carry a Jerry can or 2 in the boot to refill or pop to the nearest garage (approx 2.5m away) fill up and be back in 15mins, there is EV charging close to Castle Combe at the local hotel but how long to top up/rechargeAnd as you point out, not many EVs attend track days so the risk of fire is minuscule compared to a petrol car.
EVs are about as likely to run out of energy as any petrol car. All the usual lights and warnings are there to guide you.
So in summary, the Anglesey decision is largely based on fear, based on ignorance. Every other circuit has done an informed risk assessment and decided to allow them.
In answer to your question, most track days I attend are fully booked. So the answer is whatever the track can support.
Redline88 said:
I think it’s more down to what if there was to be an incident and what facilities and training do they have to respond as opposed to them being more likely to have an incident in the first place. EVs might be less likely than traditional ICE to catch fire but when they do, they have challenges with extinguishment that not all circuits will currently be set up for.
Here: https://www.tesla.com/sites/default/files/download...The crews bracing themselves for a rise in electric car fires https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-66866327
Would be extreme if it happened but specialist recovery equipment referenced and possibility of having to leave the vehicle to itself for 3 weeks, some places don’t have the facilities or the insurance to cover thease eventuality or have the cost associated for the relatively few EVs that go or want to go on track at present, this will change in time, as will the cost associated.
Would be extreme if it happened but specialist recovery equipment referenced and possibility of having to leave the vehicle to itself for 3 weeks, some places don’t have the facilities or the insurance to cover thease eventuality or have the cost associated for the relatively few EVs that go or want to go on track at present, this will change in time, as will the cost associated.
Saleen836 said:
Agreed but you can carry a Jerry can or 2 in the boot to refill or pop to the nearest garage (approx 2.5m away) fill up and be back in 15mins, there is EV charging close to Castle Combe at the local hotel but how long to top up/recharge
You can plug an EV into another EV with V2L. Available on quite a few cars now.Evanivitch said:
Saleen836 said:
Agreed but you can carry a Jerry can or 2 in the boot to refill or pop to the nearest garage (approx 2.5m away) fill up and be back in 15mins, there is EV charging close to Castle Combe at the local hotel but how long to top up/recharge
You can plug an EV into another EV with V2L. Available on quite a few cars now.Here's another one that's just as useful as vehicle to vehicle charging at a track day: https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/a32699289/hu...
SpudLink said:
Saleen836 said:
Agreed but you can carry a Jerry can or 2 in the boot to refill or pop to the nearest garage (approx 2.5m away) fill up and be back in 15mins, there is EV charging close to Castle Combe at the local hotel but how long to top up/recharge
Out of curiosity, which hotel?
grahamsimmonds said:
Let’s put the EVs catch fire myth to bed first. According to the Gov.uk website 19,256 vehicle fires were reported up to June 23. Of those 56 were fires related to EVs. That’s 0.3% of all vehicle fires.
And as you point out, not many EVs attend track days so the risk of fire is minuscule compared to a petrol car.
EVs are about as likely to run out of energy as any petrol car. All the usual lights and warnings are there to guide you.
So in summary, the Anglesey decision is largely based on fear, based on ignorance. Every other circuit has done an informed risk assessment and decided to allow them.
In answer to your question, most track days I attend are fully booked. So the answer is whatever the track can support.
TBF, I don’t think many believe that EV’s are more likely to set on fire. The problem that tracks have had is having the training and resources available to deal with an EV that has set on fire, which I’m sure you can understand is not as simple as dealing with an ICE car that has set on fire.And as you point out, not many EVs attend track days so the risk of fire is minuscule compared to a petrol car.
EVs are about as likely to run out of energy as any petrol car. All the usual lights and warnings are there to guide you.
So in summary, the Anglesey decision is largely based on fear, based on ignorance. Every other circuit has done an informed risk assessment and decided to allow them.
In answer to your question, most track days I attend are fully booked. So the answer is whatever the track can support.
S366 said:
grahamsimmonds said:
Let’s put the EVs catch fire myth to bed first. According to the Gov.uk website 19,256 vehicle fires were reported up to June 23. Of those 56 were fires related to EVs. That’s 0.3% of all vehicle fires.
And as you point out, not many EVs attend track days so the risk of fire is minuscule compared to a petrol car.
EVs are about as likely to run out of energy as any petrol car. All the usual lights and warnings are there to guide you.
So in summary, the Anglesey decision is largely based on fear, based on ignorance. Every other circuit has done an informed risk assessment and decided to allow them.
In answer to your question, most track days I attend are fully booked. So the answer is whatever the track can support.
TBF, I don’t think many believe that EV’s are more likely to set on fire. The problem that tracks have had is having the training and resources available to deal with an EV that has set on fire, which I’m sure you can understand is not as simple as dealing with an ICE car that has set on fire.And as you point out, not many EVs attend track days so the risk of fire is minuscule compared to a petrol car.
EVs are about as likely to run out of energy as any petrol car. All the usual lights and warnings are there to guide you.
So in summary, the Anglesey decision is largely based on fear, based on ignorance. Every other circuit has done an informed risk assessment and decided to allow them.
In answer to your question, most track days I attend are fully booked. So the answer is whatever the track can support.
As anyone that carries out formal risk assessments will tell you both need to be considered to come up with a true assessment of risk.
Saleen836 said:
SpudLink said:
Saleen836 said:
Agreed but you can carry a Jerry can or 2 in the boot to refill or pop to the nearest garage (approx 2.5m away) fill up and be back in 15mins, there is EV charging close to Castle Combe at the local hotel but how long to top up/recharge
Out of curiosity, which hotel?(Cheapest prices are about twice what I'd pay to stay near the circuit. But I guess I'm not their target market.)
On the website can't find any mention of EV charging. It would be interesting to know how they would view the arrival of cars from the circuit turning up at lunch time just to use their charging points.
Edited by SpudLink on Tuesday 2nd April 11:00
grahamsimmonds said:
Let’s put the EVs catch fire myth to bed first. According to the Gov.uk website 19,256 vehicle fires were reported up to June 23. Of those 56 were fires related to EVs. That’s 0.3% of all vehicle fires.
And as you point out, not many EVs attend track days so the risk of fire is minuscule compared to a petrol car.
EVs are about as likely to run out of energy as any petrol car. All the usual lights and warnings are there to guide you.
So in summary, the Anglesey decision is largely based on fear, based on ignorance. Every other circuit has done an informed risk assessment and decided to allow them.
In answer to your question, most track days I attend are fully booked. So the answer is whatever the track can support.
Perhaps you should consider moaning at them? Personally I’m quite glad there’s not another EV on track trying to prove something. And as you point out, not many EVs attend track days so the risk of fire is minuscule compared to a petrol car.
EVs are about as likely to run out of energy as any petrol car. All the usual lights and warnings are there to guide you.
So in summary, the Anglesey decision is largely based on fear, based on ignorance. Every other circuit has done an informed risk assessment and decided to allow them.
In answer to your question, most track days I attend are fully booked. So the answer is whatever the track can support.
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