Formula E is flacid

Just wait till they integrate Siri or Alexa into the cars. Hey Siri... FanBoost! “Sorry, there is no FanBoost in your contacts.” “Dammit, set a timer for 20 minutes.”

 

Not necessarily:

When automobiles were invented and started racing some folks predicted this would be the end of horse racing.
When powerboats became standard people said sailboat racing are so yesteryear.

Well, horse racing and sailboat regattas are still very much en vogue.

I suspect the same will happen to combustion engines: Yes, E "racing" will be pre dominant but there will be some stubborn die-hard blokes like me who will watch combustion engines going in circles. Just as the two Goodwood festivals attract more people than ever.

 

Horse racing and sailboat regattas were no threat to the environment, so there was no reason to legislate them out.

However the ICE is a different proposition; it's considered polluting and in the eyes of many it needs to be replaced.

I am sure there will be some races with ICE in the future, just like they get steam engines out of the sheds, once in a while to satisfy the nostalgics.

Strange to consider that automotive evolution has gone full circle now that it is returning to electric power .

 

Very nice. A well-kept supply at the ready for the next Formula E race, lol.

 

Hehehe. I’m back to shooting pool every day practising for a final assault on the US Open this year or next (whichever I feel I have enough game for), so they won’t last long. Vegas in February so I’ll grab a couple boxes in duty free!


Forza Ferrari..... the only racing team and car marque that matters. Italia forever It’s easier to apologise than it is to ask permission

 

As they say, just follow the money.

The road ahead for F1 is murky indeed.

 

IIRC the first ever road race in the US was held in Chicago in the 19th century: Electric cars tried to make it to today's Evanston and back. Few did. A rock near the Science & Industry museum carries a commemorative plaque as there used to the be the s/f line.

 

E-sports are the future of racing, not formula e

 

I agree with that. Formula E can only be compared to F3 at best at the moment.
It's not a shining showcase for electric formula, but I gather it's still in its infancy compared to other series that lived for decades.

 

I know some of this is Euro-centric, where it is (admittedly) very different. But I can pretty much guarantee e-racing is not in the immediate future. ICE is not going away - total global sales of electric vehicles are around 1% compared to ICE.

I'm not saying it may not eventually happen, but not soon - no way. ICE will be here for a long time to come.

E-racing sucks. It's a lot like watching bicycle races, which outside of the TdF bore the living hell out of me.

 

And motor racing is a threat to the environment? A field of cows does more damage to the environment for ****s sake.

 

The few race cars don't really count. If you want to be eco conscious then it is more about the 100k spectators who drive to the track. Then again that's true for any sport or generally any event.

Where motor racing gets a bad rep is that it glorifies ICE, which is un PC.

Of course I'm not buying into any of this, just trying to explain the "logic" of the opposition.

 

Those that think like that really ought to be standing next to the motorway at rush hour with signs saying people should work from home. A possibility for most jobs anyways.

That, or check themselves into the nearest mental health facility.

 

You spin the subject again.

I didn't say that motor racing is a threat to the environment.

The fact is that ICE is polluting mostly in concentrated areas, and has to be phased out in favor of zero emission energy (i.e. electricity).

If the automotive industry switches to electric power in the next decades, I cannot see what's the point of spending more to develop the ICE .

It's more logical to concentrâtes R&D and motor racing activities to an energy that is actually relevant to the industry.

BTW, I am vegan, so you don't need to convince me of the harm done by cattle herding. But cows dont' pollute in cities ...

 

Well we know electricity isn't zero emission - you have to generate the electricity. Numerous discussions around this, but for sake of argument, it is less polluting from end-to-end than oil refining.

But racing is commerce - so if the public isn't interested, force feeding a technology because it's prudent / cool / environmentally sound is stupid. If people like it, they will come. Unfortunately, this is spec racing and the entire immersive experience is gone.

The thing I will remember most from F1 is the wail of the engines and the different solutions to the "problem" that each constructor would bring. That's gone now, and with e-racing, it's another step towards fully neutered, boring racing.

 

I would argue that with the improved coverage on TV, and media of all sorts, in future the enthusiasts won't feel the need to attend sporting events, but will be able to watch them in better condition from their couch at home.

Or one could also imagine 100k spectators driving to the track in electric cars. LOL

 

Electricity is zero emission at the point of use.
Electricity can be generated with zero emission if using renewable energy.
When electricity generation is polluting, it should be far from concentrated areas.

That established, FE is certainly not the best that electric power can offer.
It has been launched as a specs series, but things may change in future.
Manufacturers won't learn anything from a specs series, so they will quit if more freedom of R&D is not allowed, for sure.

 

Well, some of the generation could be zero emission, but geographically bound as we've discussed. In US, that would be very hard, our consumption rates are high - nuclear fusion could do that, but it's a long way off. I'm not convinced it will take hold here in the US in the short / mid term. Time will tell...

 

Why am I not surprised?

 

I am compasionate to animals, and I don't feed on corpses.

What's wrong with that ?

 

Part of my distaste for Formula E. Did you see the ridiculous "donuts on an Iceberg" video to somehow promote Formula E and "Clean Renewable Energy?" While ignoring all the fossil fuels burned by helicopters and boats to make the video. I could almost tolerate the hypocrisy if the Formula E vehicles actually had impressive performance. Yes, I know...emerging technology and such. It is just disappointing to see so many manufacturers jumping in on a substandard product.

 

There is a thing called renewable energy. You can google it.

 

Imagine a FE car running a skin of PV cells.

 

I thought he said virgin.... I stand corrected ! Hehehehe