ok so first, The MB SLS E-cell

As these all-electrics are becoming much more prevalent now, I think it time for some road course racing.
Start with 100 mile events, maybe as warm-ups for F1 events.
Mind you they'd be really quiet but the differences in approaches would make it fascinating.
Not to mention it might get the damn prii out of the left lane.

 

prii, eh? I've been wondering what the plural was for Pius...er...Prius.

I'm not sure a reasonable sized battery pack could support a 100 mile event. Figure the Tesla can run MAYBE 200 miles on a charge but that's in normal highway driving. MB claims a sub-100 mile range for the SLS e-cell. The frequent acceleration inherent in a road racing course would probably drain the same battery pack in less than half that many miles.

Still, I'd love to see some kind of motorsport for pure electric vehicles, with lots of industry involvement. It could help accelerate the development of the technology.

 

Bingo!!!

The more people looking for answers and testing ideas the faster we'll get something we might actually want to drive.

 

Frankly I wouldn't walk across the street to watch an electric car race. No sound (I don't count a soft wwwrrring noise on exceleration as sound),no smell of high octane fuel and Castrol filling your nostrils! Blah!

 

If they held some drag e-races down here at Gulfport Dragway you'd still get the smell and sound of burning rubber and, if the wind is right, the smell of petroleum wafting in from the Gulf.

 

I was reading the August issue of Road & Track last evening and ran across an interesting column by Sam Mitani that relates to this topic. Check it out here.

So, how did Sam's friend, Ikuo Hanawa, do at this year's Pikes Peak International Hill Climb?

Topping the mountain in 13:17.6, not only did Ikuo-san set a new record for electrics, he set a time that would have been good enough for second place in the Time Attack 2WD division. (The EV Sports Concept is two wheel drive.)

Results for this year's PPIHC can be found here.

 

Any word on price? The new Lexus hybrid also boasts some great performance numbers i believe in the $60's

 

Hmmm... Maybe someone should get the Chinese interested in this, since all the battery development is done in China now. It should help them to improve their battery technology.

 

^^ Good video.

After riding along on a test drive of a Tesla Roadster this past weekend with Patty, I was VERY impressed! The acceleration is amazing (0-60 in 3.2 sec), and smooth as silk with no lag or gears to shift. I also like the way the car slows when you take your foot off the accelerator. Brake use is minimal, and I would love to drive one on the track. They're smaller and lighter than the S2000 (~2700+ lbs). When driving the car slowly, all you hear is the tire noise. However, during acceleration and high speed you hear a whine and the battery cooling system operating. Overall it was a very fun and surreal experience.

 

Maury you know that old adage, if you have ask you probably can't afford it...?

a base gasoline SLS is $183K, maybe electric will be cheaper, who knows?