Electric cars will be 50% of all New Cars by 2020

Those who know me would not be surprised to see me type that title (I’d go as far as to say 90%!), but it is actually a quote from Lord Dryson, the former UK science minister and Le Mans 24h racing driver who now runs an electric car racing team (part of the Formula E circuit I wrote about a few weeks ago).

Here’s some interesting things he said in a recent Daily Telegraph article that I thoroughly agree with:

«Motorsport has a very important role in accelerating innovation in these areas and making these new clean technologies cool and exciting, rather than being seen as dull and boring.»

«The events will attract a lot of new interest and will redefine what people believe that an electric car can do.» 

«We’ll be wirelessly charging electric race cars first in the pit and then on the track,» I’d add that we’ll be switching batteries and rapid charging too – all competing to get the best result.

«In a few short years I believe electric cars will be outperforming internal combustion engine cars.» (Some already do… Tesla Roadster and Model S, as well as the Rimac for instance).

He believes climate change will not be the reason we switch to electric cars. «It’s going to be pollution in cities, because city pollution, whether in Beijing or London, is a problem and growth in respiratory disease and asthma in children is increasingly being linked to long-term exposure to small particle pollution.» 

«We’ve got to reduce the impact that private transport is having and the electric car, using clean, renewable technology, is the answer to that.»

Formula 1 eléctrico

 

Llevo unos meses leyendo sobre Formula E.

Es basicamente la Formula 1 pero con coches eléctricos.

¡Y qué!? Púes…

• primero es bastante menos ruidoso lo cual significa que puedes ir a ver una carrera sin peligrar tu audición, e incluso podrás mantener una conversación con la gente a tu alrededor!
• segundo, los que no quieren ver el evento no tienen que sufrir el ruido de la F1 normal (he estado en Valencia durante una carrera F1 y a 3km por la playa teníamos que levantar la voz para superar el ruido de los motores de combustión)
• tercero, estas carreras eléctricas impulsarán la innovación (mejor etapas de potencia electrónica, enfriamiento de la batería  software de control de tracción, recuperación de energía en las frenadas etc.)
• y cuarto, expondrá los vehículos eléctricos para el publico general demostrando su potencia

Siendo carreras relativamente silenciosas las van hacer en ciudades (que son en mi opinión las mejores carreras). Ya tienen Roma, Hong Kong, Rio y Londres, y oigo que L.A. y Beijing están de camino. Incluso Marrakesh y Cape Town (por fin Africa en estas carreras) podrían entrar en las 10 ciudades para la primera temporada.

Al principio no van hacer recargas ni cambios de baterías. Van a realizar cambios de coche! No me impresiona a mí pero vamos a dejarles arrancar antes de darles caña. Quizás en el futuro podrán contemplar algo como dos baterías por coche con un cambio de batería, recarga de esta batería descargada y su sustitución de nuevo más tarde en la carrera. De esta manera impulsarían la innovación en los cambios rápidos de baterías, y su carga rápida también.

Quizás algún día tendría la buena suerte de poder contarlo directamente a Formula E. El fundador, Alejandro Agag, es español (de Valencia). Hombre, es uno de los más ricos del planeta y ahora vive en el Reino Unido, pero quizás mi buen amigo Ricardo Fraguas podría hacer algo para ayudar. Ya que conduzco todos los días un Tesla Roadster 😉

Electric Formula 1

 

I’ ve been reading about Formula E for a few months now.

It’s essentially an electric version of Formula 1.

Big deal!? Yeah, well…

• first its quite a lot less noisy which means you can go to watch the race without risking hearing impairment, and you can even converse with the people around you!
• second for those who don’t want to watch they don’t need to suffer the noise of a traditional race (I’ve been in Valencia during a race and 3km down the beach we still had to raise our voices over the noise)
• third, this will push the technology to new levels (power electronics, battery cooling, traction control software, energy recovery in braking etc.)
• and fourth, it will increase public awareness of electric vehicles and their potential.

Being relatively quiet races they are targeting city circuits (the best races in my opinion). They already have Rome, Hong Kong, Rio and London, and I hear that L.A. and Beijing are on their way. Even places like Marrakesh and Cape Town (finally Africa get involved!) could enter the list of 10 destinations.

For the first season at least they are not doing recharging or battery switching. They are doing car switching! I’m not impressed by this but let’s cut them some slack for the first season at least. Maybe later they could consider something like two batteries per car, where they would switch and charge the first after a while and then switch again later in the race. This would accelerate battery switching and rapid charging technology really well.

Maybe one day I’ll get the chance to discuss this with Formula E holdings … the founder, Alejandro Agag, is Spanish, from Valencia. Ok he’s one of world’s most wealthy individuals and lives in the UK now, but who knows! Maybe my good buddy Ricard Fraguas can make something happen. After all, I do drive a Tesla Roadster every day 😉