RE: VW shatters Pikes Peak record
Discussion
munk said:
Reading this article has convinced me that this will not be the last that we hear about electric vehicles eclipsing traditional ICE vehicles in motorsport (and moreover in road going vehicles). I feel it's going to become more and more the norm over time - particularly in short but intense one-shot-wonder events such as hill climbs and Rally Cross in the short term. I would imagine in the longer term, as the tech improves and the range of the vehicles becomes greater; the applications will widen and ICE will be eclipsed and relegated to the "also ran" category in all but the longest range events across the board.
That said - I don't feel that Electric vehicles in their current form are the finished product / ultimate evolution. I feel in 10, 20 or 30 years time- they will be a significantly different beast than they are now in terms of how they are powered and how they charge. Not sure how I feel about it and it will be a shame to lose the sound, feels, smells and emotional connection that we get with ICE. But, make no mistake - it's going to happen and this is just the first.
I'm pretty convinced we'll still have a mix of hybrids and full BEVs around. The reality is, a (potentially Biofuel) ICE engine with Hybrid bits for sports cars will do virtually nothing to cause environmental damage if the majority of day to day cars are electric. The 2040 regulations don't prevent the sale of cars with an ICE in them (only preventing the sale of cars without a BEV or PHEV element) so Ferrari, Porsche, Lotus, Caterham etc etc are all going to continue selling you a car that makes noise.That said - I don't feel that Electric vehicles in their current form are the finished product / ultimate evolution. I feel in 10, 20 or 30 years time- they will be a significantly different beast than they are now in terms of how they are powered and how they charge. Not sure how I feel about it and it will be a shame to lose the sound, feels, smells and emotional connection that we get with ICE. But, make no mistake - it's going to happen and this is just the first.
What's interesting to me is going to be how manufacturers engineer in character. Some noises EVs make are actually pretty cool (think Porsche 919 Hybrid noise when they go on the brakes and it regens: 'neeeeeeeeoooooowowwwweeeeeeeeee'). If 'sport' modes or whatever can perhaps have some sort of straight cut gearing and reduce the active noise cancelling and you can power around the roads with a sort of muted straight cut gearbox whine with some high pitched inverter noise, it's not soooo bad. Having come back from LeMans last week though, I can't see motorsport without the deafening wail of a flat 6 at 9000rpm being very successful. 24hr racing in particular would be monumentally boring without thundering V8s and howling V12s.
RacerMike said:
suffolk009 said:
I suppose this electric car is supposed to help the world forget about Diesel-gate.
You mean that massive red herring that was blown completely out of proportion? Yes :Pfblm said:
RacerMike said:
suffolk009 said:
I suppose this electric car is supposed to help the world forget about Diesel-gate.
You mean that massive red herring that was blown completely out of proportion? Yes :P
fblm said:
I largely agree with your version however don't underestimate the level of hatred for VW in the US. The hysteria includes a popular documentary making no bones about drawing the 'connection' of 'Hitler's peoples car' with poisoning millions of people with toxic gas! Really!
Hi Francis.Only in the good old US of A could so many imbeciles be so comprehensively brainwashed by their lawyers.
Sounds like you had a blast last week
Porsche911R said:
Jon_S_Rally said:
I can't imagine it feels all that dull when you're doing an average speed of 90mph up it...
it prob is, full tarmac has ruined the race.Obviously we don't all have blood running through our veins like you David
But an average of 90mph would make for some pretty high speed corners even taking into account the speeds reached on the straights.Congratulations to VW.
This achievement doesn't make me want to buy an electric car more, but it is through motorsport that battery technology can be further advanced and tested, so I salute them for doing it.
I'm not going to lie, a small part of me did die when I saw the news. I wanted the record to stay with the fire-breathing T16...
This achievement doesn't make me want to buy an electric car more, but it is through motorsport that battery technology can be further advanced and tested, so I salute them for doing it.
I'm not going to lie, a small part of me did die when I saw the news. I wanted the record to stay with the fire-breathing T16...
Porsche911R said:
Jon_S_Rally said:
I can't imagine it feels all that dull when you're doing an average speed of 90mph up it...
it prob is, full tarmac has ruined the race.Oh wait, you're not and they wouldn't.
Slb89 said:
this is exactly the case, an 800bhp ICE will not be 800bhp at the top, could see as much as a 20-30% decrease in power at the very top, a 100 kWh battery is still a 100kWh battery at the top, provided it is kept nice and cool so increasing resistance due to temp does not play a part. Pikes peak to me was always a very obvious choice of application for electrical power, its just taken a long time to develop the tech enough to see what we have here in a very aerodynamically efficient body.
Agree with running an EV at Pikes Peak although you don't need the disadvantage of altitude to prove this. The NIO EP9 went round the ring in 6 mins 45s.If you can consign yourself to a relatively short run and thus minimise the battery weight then electric cars are fantastic.
What they can't do (and perhaps won't for a very long time) is be competitive with ICE power over any significant distance.
Cooling is a huge issue with high output electric power, it would be interested to know if the drivetrain on that VW was in some was pumped with very cold coolant prior to departure to give it an extra advantage (id be very surprised if it wasn't)
suffolk009 said:
I suppose this electric car is supposed to help the world forget about Diesel-gate.
Exactly this. They lied and deceived millions to buy their s
tty diesels and were happy to contribute to the increase in harmful emissions in our towns and cities. Aggrevating those that suffer from asthma and other breathing difficulties. Air quality is meant to be getting better, these bds are delaying this from happening. Their actions were selfish corporate greed of the worst kind I hope they get their arse sued more often. This is a PR excercise to regain there reputation.
Oh and a dull video too!
CDP said:
jason61c said:
it could have done it in 38 seconds.
Still just a boring electric car.
I can think of a number of adjectives when I imagine what it would be like to ride in this car. Boring is not one of them.Still just a boring electric car.
And only then will we wonder why we let it happen.
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