Prost: F1 will never be an all-electric formula

[RasputinLives]

Wouldn't the all mighty WHOOSH of an electric powered car going past be equally as recallable though?

 

[Incubus]

Never say Never

----------------------------------------

But you just did, twice!

 

[ZakspeedYakspeed]

not sure about the "WHOOSH" ....

what sound does your car make ....

 

[RasputinLives]

Electric race cars whoosh. Listen

http://www.fiaformulae.com/guide/sound

And for the record my car doesn't sound like an F1 car. Does yours?

 

[Bill Boddy]

No, but no-one comes to watch/listen to it.

 

[ZakspeedYakspeed]

Electric race cars whoosh. Listen

http://www.fiaformulae.com/guide/sound

And for the record my car doesn't sound like an F1 car. Does yours?

Nope ... but the #4 from Osaka sounds a lot like that ...

I will be following the F-E too ... see how it all shakes out ...

 

[downforce]

 

[rufus_mcdufus]

Maybe we'd feel more at home with the electric sound if they put a few milk bottles on the top to jangle around?

 

[tonyw151]

Stupid question time. Why the need for a gearbox? I always believed electric motors produce max torque from 0revs so surely all that it needs is a final drive sorted?

 

[tooncheese]

tonyw151, I think its for efficiency, high torque at low revs requires a lot of amps. I don't nderstand exactly why, maybe someone else can explain it better.

 

[Fenderman]

Multiple gear ratio sets are desirable for the same reason as with any power unit. The power output and performance of an electric motor will be limited by the maximum rev's it can run at and the amount of electrical energy that it can draw from the power supply. A gearbox enables use of the rev' range and power band through each step change. Optimal horsepower and torque is therefore available for acceleration up to the eventual top speed. If only one gear is used either acceleration, top speed or both is unacceptably compromised. In addition, just like a combustion engine, an electric motor doesn't have to work so hard if the rev's can be kept high since the inertia of the unit's flywheel mitigates against power loss as the vehicle gains speed.

In other words a car with only one ratio may either be geared to make a high top speed with poor acceleration or a low top speed with massive acceleration. The ideal ratio might fall somewhere in the middle. Therefore a gearbox extends the speeds attainable whilst maximising acceleration. It also allows flexibility to have the right gears for different types of corner and track characteristics.

 

[Bill Boddy]

I think that Prost is right, F1 will continue with both series attracting many of the same fans.

 

[tmark938]

I totally agree - F1 and the Formula E will always be very different competitions and never merge.

 

[Dash Racing]

I also agree with Prost. F1 is not likely to go all-electric in his lifetime. However, I suspect Formula E may become the more popular between the two toward the end of my lifetime.