EV World is reporting on a recent "green motoring" conference in the UK with a special emphasis on bringing alternative fuels into racing. Most of the event was focused on ethanol and biodiesel, apparently. However. . . . .
Curiously, when a Tesla employee from the UK asked about the future role of pure electric cars like the Tesla Roadster, which has 130 mph top speed and 200 miles range, Richards acknowledged that motor racing is as much about its sound and fury as its death-defying speed. He joked (somewhat lamely from EV World's perspective, at least) that pure EVs would have to have loud speakers on them to provide the necessary adrenaline-arousing noise. The questioner pointed out that racing a quiet but blisteringly fast electric car is a completely different experience than driving a gasoline-powered racer, adding that maybe it would be good to have quiet race cars in the light of hearing injuries people are suffering in our noisy modern world. Richards acknowledged that would be a benefit, but suggested (condescendingly) that maybe the place for electric cars would be in go-cart racing where noise is a serious issue to the surrounding landowners.
For those who want to read the entire article, here it is: http://www.evworld.com/article.cfm?storyid=1269
Curiously, when a Tesla employee from the UK asked about the future role of pure electric cars like the Tesla Roadster, which has 130 mph top speed and 200 miles range, Richards acknowledged that motor racing is as much about its sound and fury as its death-defying speed. He joked (somewhat lamely from EV World's perspective, at least) that pure EVs would have to have loud speakers on them to provide the necessary adrenaline-arousing noise. The questioner pointed out that racing a quiet but blisteringly fast electric car is a completely different experience than driving a gasoline-powered racer, adding that maybe it would be good to have quiet race cars in the light of hearing injuries people are suffering in our noisy modern world. Richards acknowledged that would be a benefit, but suggested (condescendingly) that maybe the place for electric cars would be in go-cart racing where noise is a serious issue to the surrounding landowners.
For those who want to read the entire article, here it is: http://www.evworld.com/article.cfm?storyid=1269