Drayson Racing Goes Electric

[Bentley03]

Here's the news which confirms the reason for Drayson's absence from ACO regs racing this year and the future direction to be taken by the team: Link

[fieldodreams79]

Good for his Lordship and am glad to have someone like this promoting such a series; just wish he could have sustained an effort in proper sportscar racing as well. I hope the series and his Lordship can peak the racing world's interest, but I have my doubts.

And to be a true "zero emissions" series, they need get their electricity from a zero emissions source (and I guess we can consider nuclear as "zero emissions"). Otherwise, they are just replacing emissions from the car with emissions from power plants, and taking money from oil companies and giving it to the power companies (feel free to take an "eco-mentalist" jab here ).

A bit more here.

The EVCUP series gets underway in August with four events in the UK before going to Spain, Portugal and the USA. MSVR will be the UK organising club for the events which will feature races for THINK city cars, Westfield iRACER sports cars and a prototype class for any electric car based on a timed laps format.

[jondownunder]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

And to be a true "zero emissions" series, they need get their electricity from a zero emissions source (and I guess we can consider nuclear as "zero emissions"). Otherwise, they are just replacing emissions from the car with emissions from power plants, and taking money from oil companies and giving it to the power companies (feel free to take an "eco-mentalist" jab here ).

I wish more people would realise this! Unfortunately government and big business wants to blind the masses to something which is fairly obvious when you start to question where the energy ultimately comes from.

So many of the so-called 'green' modes of transport/fuel are anything but. Too many vested interests, for companies it's all about the money they can make by portraying their technology as green. Take it all with a pinch of salt. If electricity still largely comes from emissions-producing power stations, then the only advantage I can see from electric vehicles is keeping the emissions out of city centres.

Plus, aren't there serious environmental impacts from the production and disposal of battery cells that electric vehicles use? Sorry if this is an over-simplistic and cynical view of it all, but I don't buy it. And I certainly won't be going to watch those abominations race.

[old man]

Perhaps he will work with Denny Klein?

http://mikephilbin.blogspot.com/2010...hnologies.html

[Joe Taylor]

Originally Posted by jondownunder

So many of the so-called 'green' modes of transport/fuel are anything but. Too many vested interests, for companies it's all about the money they can make by portraying their technology as green. Take it all with a pinch of salt. If electricity still largely comes from emissions-producing power stations, then the only advantage I can see from electric vehicles is keeping the emissions out of city centres.

There may be efficiency gains as well. A diesel engine can operate at 40% and a petrol at 30% at best. If you take a fossil fuel powered steam plant, you could get an efficiency of up to 60% and even assuming a load of losses transferring from the power station to the car, you would probably still be more efficient overall.

[JAG]

Just read Speed TV's interview with Drayson, I think someone ought to tell him green technology will only become viable in real world applications if the end user doesn't have to make compromises.

Competing against established technologies in P1 ensures hybrid development will be rapid in order to gain a competitive advantage. Audi and Peugeot delaying their implimentation tells you they are interested in performance and efficiency rather than ticking a box. In the EVCup race formats will be designed around cars limitations reducing the incentive to push boundaries.

At a time when UK motorists are struggling to afford ever increasing fuel prices technology that can be implemented today, not 5, 10, 15 years down the line is needed. That means smaller, more efficient combustion engines, hybrid technology and systems like stop-start.

Going down the all electric route is a long-term project and gives Drayson the opportunity to preach to the masses while major manufacturers are the ones dealing with far more pressing matters.

[Bernard Bram]

Originally Posted by Joe Taylor

There may be efficiency gains as well. A diesel engine can operate at 40% and a petrol at 30% at best. If you take a fossil fuel powered steam plant, you could get an efficiency of up to 60% and even assuming a load of losses transferring from the power station to the car, you would probably still be more efficient overall.

But these gains would probably be negated by the energy storage problem. You have to lug around really heavy battery packs to get the same energy capacity compared to a tank of fuel. Electric cars are a dead end unless something really radical evolves in battery technology.

[Tim the Grey]

Fuel Cells? Combine H and O2 in there, and electric come out!

NASA have been doing this for what, 40 years, now?

[Tim the Grey]

Originally Posted by jondownunder

Plus, aren't there serious environmental impacts from the production and disposal of battery cells that electric vehicles use? Sorry if this is an over-simplistic and cynical view of it all, but I don't buy it. And I certainly won't be going to watch those abominations race.

AFAIK there are SERIOUS issues with certain metal supplies for leccy car storage. Lithium, I believe, is pretty much single sourced somewhere like Peru. They have no intent to increase supply, as there is around 50 years worth at current volumes! Then you have the Chinese near monopoly of Rare Earths, for motors, etc, and well, you see why Fuel Cells get plenty of attention!

Someone feel free to correct, this is all out of my memory, which is getting old, now!

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Tim the Grey

AFAIK there are SERIOUS issues with certain metal supplies for leccy car storage. Lithium, I believe, is pretty much single sourced somewhere like Peru. They have no intent to increase supply, as there is around 50 years worth at current volumes! Then you have the Chinese near monopoly of Rare Earths, for motors, etc, and well, you see why Fuel Cells get plenty of attention!

Someone feel free to correct, this is all out of my memory, which is getting old, now!

It isn't that China has the only access to Rare Earth elements, it is just that everybody else stopped mining them because the price China was selling them for. Now it seems China is going to be restricting exports Rare Earth elements, so they will indeed be harder to come by, but mines can open up (albeit with higher prices) in other countries.

[The Badger]

Dont think a Mr.Cocker will be pleased about that !!!

I think its awful .

[R4z3rw33n]

Originally Posted by The Badger

Dont think a Mr.Cocker will be pleased about that !!!

I think its awful .

Interesting point. I didn't see any mention of Cocker in the release, either.

He's proven himself to be competitive in both GT and prototype machinery within a short period of time.
Hopefully Jonny can secure a drive in something this season.

Would be a great shame to see such talent go to waste.

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by R4z3rw33n

Interesting point. I didn't see any mention of Cocker in the release, either.

He's proven himself to be competitive in both GT and prototype machinery within a short period of time.
Hopefully Jonny can secure a drive in something this season.

Would be a great shame to see such talent go to waste.

Good LMP drives are pretty much gone, so unless AMR pick him up it's not going to happen. Hopefully there's a seat for Jonny in a good GTE-Pro car, maybe JMW or Jota.

[Tim the Grey]

Somebody will find him a home. He's way too good NOT to! I would guess AMR will have something for him, either LMP or GT, Factory or Partner team.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by The Badger

Dont think a Mr.Cocker will be pleased about that !!!

I think its awful .

I believe in what he is attempting (thinking outside the box), but can't disagree with you as I hate losing a beautiful car and possibly Cocker from LM style sportscars.

[fiend540]

Well, good for him if this is what he wants but I wouldn't waste my time and money going to see these abortions race. Bleh

[Deleted]

Disappointing, it was a way too short run for that team and car. Mr. Drayson was at the Lola Forum last fall, discussing about the future of sportscars and ILMC, so I was expecting something more interesting than... this.

[pdxracefan]

Wow, now that sounds like a hell of of a series.

Wait, it wouldn't have any sound at all.

[picchiofan]

So, this is like the pro version of drunken golf cart racing? I think Paul Tracy has found his ride for next season.

[JAG]

Given this is basically club level racing with a Westfield, yet rumours suggest Drayson is looking to purchase the ex-TWR facility and build their own car, is there more to come in 2012?

[Simmi]

Very disappointing. I'm sure literally seconds into the electric season he will miss the sportscar scene.

I don't think it's the last we've seen of him. But until then, the team may as well have disappeared off the face of the earth.

[Dead-Eye]

Originally Posted by Simmi

Very disappointing. I'm sure literally seconds into the electric season he will miss the sportscar scene.

Let's hope he remembers the Lola coupe in the garage at that point.

[vyselegend]

Originally Posted by Simmi

Very disappointing. I'm sure literally seconds into the electric season he will miss the sportscar scene.

I don't think it's the last we've seen of him. But until then, the team may as well have disappeared off the face of the earth.

Yes, I don't want to be rough with that EVCUP series, but it certainly sounds like a big step down for Drayson racing.
How can a team find excitment in such a confidential series after battling in the top class of the top level of sportcar, sometimes against big manufacturers?...

So, are Cocker and Pirro without a drive in serious motorsport now?

[Gingers4Justice]

Originally Posted by vyselegend

So, are Cocker and Pirro without a drive in serious motorsport now?

They are temporarily...

But they'll have plenty of potential suitors won't they?

I can see Aston Martin wanting Cocker's raw pace and Pirro's unrivalled experience.

OAK have 4 cars, surely not all 12 seats are taken already?

SigTech I would have though might have something going...

The list goes on. It's not definite, but surely it would be a massive surprise if neither of them found a home...?