EV's banned from racing @ Florida track (12 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.

 

[Dennis]

HYBRID VEHICLES WILL CONTINUE TO BE ALLOWED.

Honest question - what's the difference between the battery in a full EV and a hybrid? The size of the battery? Is it volts/watts/amps (not an electrician so I don't know which one makes it dangerous)

 

[CS]

Honest question - what's the difference between the battery in a full EV and a hybrid? The size of the battery? Is it volts/watts/amps (not an electrician so I don't know which one makes it dangerous)

A full EV has no ability to do anything once the battery is unavailable to power the vehicle where a hybrid has the ICE to continue to power the systems and drive the vehicle. It's a smart move the ban them. Just a few blocks away from me last week and EV caught fire in a garage attached to the house luckily our fire department was able to hook onto the car and drag it out of the garage. The house suffered smoke damage but the garage is half gone, it could have been worse if it would have happened in the middle of the night instead of 3:00 PM.

 

[Dennis]

I understand that, but I'm talking more about the issues to the first responders - fire suppression, electrocution, etc. Are the hybrid batteries not powerful enough to cause the same types of issues?

 

[GumbyWVU]

I agree with the post immediately above - wouldn't some, but not all, of those reasons also pertain to hybrids, to an extent? Not being anti-hybrid, but I've heard concerns about their batteries as well from different mechanics.

Also - what class do those EVs and hybrids run in? Stock? Can't say I've ever seen either one in sportsman racing, that I knew of.

Hybrids to me don't make much sense in drag racing; I mean given the nature of the sport wouldn't the ICE be the one working all the time? Wouldn't they be extra weight?

All that being said, a buddy of mine has a brand new Tesla. The tech is utterly amazing, esp the self driving mode.

 

[turbo ken]

I understand that, but I'm talking more about the issues to the first responders - fire suppression, electrocution, etc. Are the hybrid batteries not powerful enough to cause the same types of issues?

A lithium-ion battery contains a fuel, and a oxiydizer that can produce thermal runaway. Mechanical damage, and or water intrusion is a very bad deal. Hybrid cars have a 100-300 pound battery while a ev battery can be at least 1000 pounds.

 

[stitcherbob]

I was developing an electric drag car but the in between round maintenance was too difficult…. Having to get access underneath without a lift at the racetrack

 

[none]

A Tesla Model S Plaid will run 9.20s off the showroom floor at 150 ish MPH.

Alan