With motorsport going electric, Gill wonders if he will ever see his 4-year old pilot a combustion-engined rally/race car
E“E” SEEMS TO BE THE WAY OF CHOICE FOR manufacturers in the auto industry nowadays and with stringent emission norms, most auto giants are investing heavily in the future, but is it really the future? Electric, hybrid and even hydrogen powertrains are several options if you choose to look towards the future and biggies like BMW, Porsche, Audi, and our very own Mahindra are opting for motorsport as their R&D departments. People don’t want to rely on fossil fuels any more, and many organisations in different countries are seeking alternative powertrain solutions for electric conversions on existing cars. Many large companies are now looking at green transportation technologies with the intention of reducing emissions and their impact on our world. Cars like the Tesla are emerging into the automotive marketplace. Cars that are fast and sporty enhance the image of the electric car and vehicular testing. Manufacturers like Tesla are already offering autopilot functions to operate the car which is a great leap in to the future but are the road laws and cities in our very own country ready for them? The truth is that emission reduction on a level that is required to stabilise the climate can only be achieved with huge changes throughout the global population. I believe this is the only way any impact can be made on our environment. Also due thought has to be given to directly replacing fossil fuel consuming devices not only in and around the auto industry but other polluting industries too.
Having said that, it’s quite interesting to see different forms of combustion engines, both petrol and diesel competing against the hybrid and electric, on similar platforms around the world at top levels of motorsport. With Porsche claiming victory at Le Mans against Toyota, it was quite an epic weekend, but is the world ready for green motorsport? No screaming V8 engines, no fire-spitting exhaust, no turbos, no blow-off valves? Hmm… really? I for one can’t imagine a rally stage with cars going sideways over crest with nothing but a gearbox whine that lasts about a second or so. Rally cars without the usual hissing b-o-v sounds and fire-spitting exhaust… it's going to take a while for spectators to accept the green challenge, but then can motorsport be sustainable? Let's imagine that we can keep all the attractions that make car and motorcycle competitions a unique experience but without polluting the environment and attracting investment and research in low-carbon technology; the same adrenaline, controlled risk and proper speed... without fossil fuels.
Recently, at a cross-country raid in the world championship, team ACCIONA took charge in their new ECO powered 4x4. The Argentinian couple with driver Ariel Jaton and partner Gastón Scazzuso made history by competing with a vehicle powered only by solar energy with 0 emissions of carbon dioxide. The car became the first zero-emissions vehicle to compete in the Paris-Dakar Rally, powered 100% by clean energy ie. electric batteries. The car made a further leap forward in completing 10 stages out of 13 that make up the toughest rally on the planet, of the 2016 race and becoming the fifth most media-followed vehicle in the race. The electric vehicle showed everyone how it’s possible to compete at the highest level in the world of motorsport.
?It’s interesting to see different forms of combustion engines competing against the hybrids and electrics?
Rallying has been repeatedly used to test and demonstrate technological advances. One classic example of this being the fourwheel drive system used in the Audi Quattro; turbocharging and run-flat tyres are other examples of technological achievements which were initially tested/demonstrated in rallying and recently a team from the UK has invested heavily in the E-Rally concept which should be up and running quite soon.
My son is 4 years old and he is definitely inclined towards rally cars and bikes already but will I ever see him pilot a combustion-engined rally/race car? Will we have E-karts soon and is going electric the future of all motorsport? I guess only time will tell, but I personally think it will take away the charm and the excitement from the sport only because it will fail to showcase the driver's talent through the vocal orchestra emitted by the howling race spec engines through fast corners or airborne through a forest stage.