EV's banned from racing @ Florida track (4 Viewers)

[Mike]

Orlando bans EVs

The Road and Track article is about Orlando, but I'd like to open this thread up to NHRA more broadly.

What do you think NHRA's stance should be regarding EV race cars?

Concern noted by the track include:

(From their press release)
THESE RISK INCLUDE:

• THE BATTERY MAY RELEASE TOXIC AND FLAMABLE GAS AFTER A COLLISION.

• FIRST RESPONDERS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CONFIRM THAT THE CAR IS "OFF".

• DOORS MAY NOT UNLOCK FROM THE OUTSIDE AFTER A COLLISION.

• IF THE DRIVER IS UNCONSCIOUS AFTER THE INCIDENT (INCLUDING A MEDICAL INCIDENT), THERE IS A CHANCE THAT THE CHASSIS IS LIVE AND REMOVING THE DRIVER WOULD PUT RESPONDER AT RISK.

• THE CAR MAY NOT ROLL WITH THE POWER DISCONNECTED AND THE TOWING THE CAR. WITH OUR CURRENT EQUIPMENT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE.

• ELECTRIC VEHICLES REQUIRE SPECIFIC FIRE SUPPPRESSION SYSTEMS SUCH AS WATER BATHS.

THIS WILL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY AND WILL ONLY APPLY TO FULL ELECTRIC VEHICLES AT ALL EVENTS, INCLUDING ALL TEST & TUNES AT ORLANDO SPEED WORLD DRAGWAY. HYBRID VEHICLES WILL CONTINUE TO BE ALLOWED.

 

[ironpony]

I would have to agree with all these statements and I know from following F1 that the chassis can be live is a serious issue. There have been delays as safety crews can not touch the car and the driver has to be extremely careful exiting to not ground themselves, literally having to jump clear of the car.

IMO based on what I have learned it is probably good idea to not let them race, battery damage and fire in an accident could be very bad, explosions, damage to track surface and the amount of fire suppression needed to extinguish it. Cost for the track to prepare for such an incident for only a few possible entries.