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Electric race cars that look like Formula 1, but are eerily quiet

qz.com

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Re: Electric race cars that look like Formula 1, but are eerily quiet

#11

Post by invernomut0 »

These cars just look like some kind of Formula cars but there are some of important differences: - first for now all cars are more or less the same (there's no research competition behind motors or aerodynamics like in WEC or F1) - the race rules are not so meaningful to me: changing cars in the middle of the race doesn't add to the fun, why not doing 2 shorter races? I see it as a minor low budget futurist racing series to exploit the "electric motors" trend in automotive.

Real investments go to WEC for technology or to F1 for PR and brand strength.

Things might change when teams will have the chance to customize their cars more (mainly motor, batteries)

Edit: they race in very nice locations anyway, that's the only cool thing about the series :p

Re: Electric race cars that look like Formula 1, but are eerily quiet

#12

Post by josefresco »

willvarfar wrote: post #6

In the old horse days in Europe (and presumably everywhere else too) lots of very nice houses were built next to roads. Nowadays as I drive past I pity them and the ugly sound-deflecting fencing and berms they have to invest in to make them habitable. I look forward to quieter cars rejuvenating these old houses. UPDATE: so my hopes are dashed :(

I would imagine the noise thrown off by tires (tire contact with road) is enough to still present problems for these neighborhoods.

Re: Electric race cars that look like Formula 1, but are eerily quiet

#13

Post by Symbiote »

Raphmedia wrote: post #9
S_A_P wrote: post #2

I would call it refreshingly quiet. I am not a fan of loud ICE engines in any vehicle. I do worry about the quietness of these vehicles and sight impaired pedestrians and distracted pedestrians. I wonder if there will be an adjustment period where car-pedestrian impacts increase until cars are autonomous enough to stop for those who step in front of a car, and/ or pedestrians realized they cannot rely on their hearin…

> or pedestrians realized they cannot rely on their hearing to monitor traffic at crosswalks. It's time enough. Unless you are blind, you should look both way before crossing. You shouldn't jaywalk anyway.

You have that the wrong way around.

The car driver should be looking before proceeding, and should be driving slow enough to stop before any pedestrian.

Yes, that may mean driving through a residential area at 15 km/h. (Or even 10km/h: [1])

[1] https://collegegreensharedspace.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/...

Re: Electric race cars that look like Formula 1, but are eerily quiet

#14

Post by jdfellow »

Tangential, but I keep thinking that the moment EVs have finally "made" it will be when they can compete in endurance races like 24 Hours of Le Mans against IC vehicles.

The fact these Formula E races are considered quite enough to be run in populated areas is pretty sweet though. I've never attended a Motorsport event before, partly because I'd have to make a big effort to go out of town to watch any, instead of just staying local.

Re: Electric race cars that look like Formula 1, but are eerily quiet

#15

Post by ericcumbee »

Symbiote wrote: post #5
S_A_P wrote: post #2

I would call it refreshingly quiet. I am not a fan of loud ICE engines in any vehicle. I do worry about the quietness of these vehicles and sight impaired pedestrians and distracted pedestrians. I wonder if there will be an adjustment period where car-pedestrian impacts increase until cars are autonomous enough to stop for those who step in front of a car, and/ or pedestrians realized they cannot rely on their hearin…

These are Formula E racing cars, racing on closed circuits. There are no pedestrians!

There are Marshalls though

Re: Electric race cars that look like Formula 1, but are eerily quiet

#16

Post by Aardwolf »

josefresco wrote: post #12
willvarfar wrote: post #6

In the old horse days in Europe (and presumably everywhere else too) lots of very nice houses were built next to roads. Nowadays as I drive past I pity them and the ugly sound-deflecting fencing and berms they have to invest in to make them habitable. I look forward to quieter cars rejuvenating these old houses. UPDATE: so my hopes are dashed :(

I would imagine the noise thrown off by tires (tire contact with road) is enough to still present problems for these neighborhoods.

I think the horses (hooves, rattling coaches with no rubber tires) may have made more noise than that.

Re: Electric race cars that look like Formula 1, but are eerily quiet

#17

Post by S_A_P »

Matt3o12_ wrote: post #7
Symbiote wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

These are Formula E racing cars, racing on closed circuits. There are no pedestrians!

I think OP was worried about ECs in general since they are also a lot quiter on roads compared to ICEs.

This- The implication is that this technology would make it into road cars. I also realize this isnt a new problem. The article made a point of the volume level of these cars, which will be everyone's problem when/if electric cars are mainstream.

Re: Electric race cars that look like Formula 1, but are eerily quiet

#19

Post by glaberficken »

willvarfar wrote: post #6

In the old horse days in Europe (and presumably everywhere else too) lots of very nice houses were built next to roads. Nowadays as I drive past I pity them and the ugly sound-deflecting fencing and berms they have to invest in to make them habitable. I look forward to quieter cars rejuvenating these old houses. UPDATE: so my hopes are dashed :(

This is a common misconception about roadway noise pollution.

Electric Vehicles will still generate a fair amount of road noise pollution. There will be important improvements for city quality of life, mostly in reductions in the sub 35kmh acceleration/deceleration moments. But for highway speeds the reductions will not be that big.

Check this interesting wikipedia article for reference.

Linking to the part that lists the basic variables that affect Roadway Noise:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roadway_noise#Description_of_b...

Re: Electric race cars that look like Formula 1, but are eerily quiet

#20

Post by pnewman3 »

invernomut0 wrote: post #11

These cars just look like some kind of Formula cars but there are some of important differences: - first for now all cars are more or less the same (there's no research competition behind motors or aerodynamics like in WEC or F1) - the race rules are not so meaningful to me: changing cars in the middle of the race doesn't add to the fun, why not doing 2 shorter races? I see it as a minor low budget futurist racing se…

This was true in the first season, but in season two the motor regulations opened up. Teams are now allowed to choose their own motor and gearbox, and there are (I think) about six variations in use. Packaging differences between the motors has led to some variation in rear suspension as well.

Aero, battery, and tires remain standard for all the teams.

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