Hofer Powertrain, dedicated to advanced electromobility and energy storage solutions, presented its BlueFire battery, tested in a racing vehicle with great results.

The research had its starting point when they detected the business opportunity that was opening up with electric vehicle sports competitions, as they foresaw a high demand for very powerful and efficient batteries for motorsport.

With the aforementioned vision, they decided to develop an accumulator platform based on extremely safe cells capable of withstanding charging currents of up to 3.75 megawatts. That is, 3,750 kW of power.

Read also:F1 Technology in Everyday Cars

Invention Attributes

In the case of the BlueFire battery, Hofer Powertrain used its most advanced BMS, while for the recharging point they also decided to start from an already available station equipped with a DC fast-charging CCS socket, but modified so that it could supply 3.75 MWh, about 10 times more than what they usually recharge.

As for the vehicle, they decided to mount their new LTO (lithium titanium oxide) technology battery on a racing kart, which underwent an intense test simulating long-distance races.

The result of the first experience was surprising, because the battery, with a useful capacity of around 40 kWh and which the electric go-kart drained every 10 and a half minutes (at race pace, three laps on the circuit where Hofer Powertrain conducted the test), could be recharged at each pit stop in less than 90 seconds, the time needed to go from zero to 80% of its capacity.

This would already allow its application to the world of motor racing; and even to endurance tests, with up to 24 hours of duration, as the kart used in the test would complete 1,000 laps of the track, with about 350 consecutive charge and discharge cycles of its BlueFire battery.

The Teutonic company sees potential in everyday use, where batteries and chargers of this type located next to fast tracks would allow recharging as fast as refueling a vehicle with a combustion engine. However, they remain focused on their first objective, linked to competition.

Apparently, after the test with the kart, they have carried out other tests at different scales that allow them to be very optimistic about a next LMD prototype like those used in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but equipped with 100% electric mechanics and that could recharge its batteries even faster, since the short-term plan of the engineers is to achieve charges from 5 to 85% in just over a minute.

The post Hofer Powetrain Launches Technology to Recharge Batteries to 80% in Less than 90 Seconds appeared first on Green Racing News.

Whether you’re a motorsport mechanic or a budding track driver, reducing mechanical friction is key to enjoying peak performance from your car. While increasing the aerodynamic capability of your vehicle is imperative in working towards higher speeds, keeping moving components running smoothly should also be a priority.

Why are Vehicle Aerodynamics Important?

Aerodynamic drag is one of five natural forces that need to be overcome before a vehicle can start moving forwards. The other four include gravity, inertia, rolling resistance, and mechanical friction.

When it comes to achieving higher speeds on the road or on the track, drag force is one of the major setbacks faced by drivers. Additionally, higher aerodynamic drag leads to higher fuel consumption, which is an increasing environmental concern whenpassenger cars account for at least 52% of total emissions from the transport sectorin the UK.

Mechanical friction should be considered alongside aerodynamics to help you make the most out of driving your car.

How Can I Reduce the Friction my Car Creates?

– Minimise Mechanical Friction

Mechanical fiction in vehicles is a necessary evil. While it’s responsible for allowing the car to move forwards in the first place, it also slows it down as it moves. Additionally, the contact between your brake discs and pads causes the friction that slows down your car, enabling you to stop.

When you drive, friction happens in several places. Along with brakes and contact between the road and your tyres, different parts of your engine and transmission system generate friction too.

You should always make sure to use high qualitylubricantsto reduce the friction between moving parts under your bonnet. Lubrication also improves performance of your vehicle by reducing the heat generated between two moving parts or surfaces, smoothing the process to increase efficiency.

– Buy High-performance Tyres

Ensuring that you fit quality tyres on your car is essential if you’re serious about going faster.

When you’re choosing tyres for your car, you’ll need to think about a number of factors that could influence the rolling resistance when you drive. These include:

• The design, bead, and belt of the tyre
• Sidewall type and tread depth
• Inflation pressure
• Vehicle load and weight distribution
• Weather and traffic conditions

Rolling resistance is the force that’s defined as the total energy used by a tyre over a predetermined distance. Keeping your tyres at the correct inflation levels means you’ll enjoy reduced static friction between your tyres and the road, keeping them healthier for longer and helping you to move more efficiently too.

– Choose streamlined features

Streamlining the body of a car is vital in reducing aerodynamic drag, allowing you to drive faster. The most impressiveexamples of streamlined designs can be seen in F1 cars, but there are still plenty of smaller changes that make a big impact on aerodynamics.

Spoilers, for example, are one of the most important and frequently used aerodynamic devices in the motor industry. Its purpose is to channel the airflow around the car in such a way that helps to reduce drag. Even though many commercial vehicles boast spoilers for pleasing visual effects, it’s likely that you’ll only feel the difference at motorway speeds or more.

– Use advanced suspension

Lastly, using an advanced suspension system helps to minimise friction between the tyres and the road, while maintaining control and stability. Effective suspension maintains wheel alignment, keeps your steering geometry correct, and ensures that shock forces are as reduced as possible.

Keeping your wheels aligned means your tyres will wear evenly too. Whether you’re driving on an uneven surface or a silky smooth track, don’t underestimate the importance of suspension.

Written by Nathan Rogers

The post Racing Faster: How to Reduce Friction and Boost your Top Speed appeared first on Green Racing News.

In general, they are usually smaller than a normal car steering wheel, with a diameter ranging between 30 and 36 centimeters, allowing better control and precision when maneuvering at high speeds, and even have a more ergonomic shape to improve grip and comfort during the race.

They are made of light and resistant materials, such as carbon fiber, aluminum or magnesium, in order to reduce the overall weight of the car and improve its performance. Also, they often have additional reinforcements to increase rigidity and resistance to extreme loads during competition.

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More Features

Most racing steering wheels come with buttons and switches mounted on them to allow the driver to control various car functions, most notably gear changes, hand brakes, tire settings, braking adjustment, DRS (in Formula 1) Attack Mode (Formula E), among others.

Some also have built-in screens (such as Formula 1 or Formula E) to display important information during the race, such as speed, engine rpm, water temperature, safety car exit, flags or power unit map, for example.

Finally, a clear difference between the Formula 1 and Formula E steering wheel is that in the 100% electric single-seater category, they are all the same, while in the top category of world motorsport the design can be adapted to suit the teams.

Written by | Ronald Ortega

The post How a Racing Steering Wheel Works appeared first on Green Racing News.

F1 has always been pioneering when it comes to tech. These cars are designed to be the best in the entire world, so it is no surprise that many features have made their way into everyday cars over the years. This article will look at some tech that is commonly found in your average car these days that started out in F1.

Carbon Fiber

Many desirable brands like BMW, Porsche and Aston Martin use carbon fiber chassis as it is a lightweight yet strong material. This was first used by McLaren who introduced the first carbon fibre chassis in 1981 with the MP4/1. The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren then became the first road car to use the same material for a chassis years later.

Paddle Shifters

Paddle shifterscan be a common feature these days as a way to change gears without having to take your hand off the steering wheel. Paddle shifters are available in automatic cars and can be used in “manual mode”, which involves using switches that are right behind the steering wheel to shift up or down.

In the 1981 F1 season, Ferrari became the first team to use paddle shifters and found that shifts were able to be completed a lot faster and with less wear and tear. 8 years later, Ferrari introduced paddle shifters to road cars with their F335.

KERS

Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS)is commonly used in modern vehicles as a way to make them more fuel efficient. Essentially, this is a technology that is capable of recovering kinetic energy from the heat created during the braking process. This was first used in F1 with the ability to give the vehicle a power boost by an electrical motor feeding the energy to the battery.

Today, KERS is used commonly in high-end electric cars.

Active Suspension

Active suspension is a common feature in cars today and involves adjusting the suspension with a switch to adapt to the road conditions. This can allow for a smoother experience and greater traction, which can help when it comes to cornering andreducing car tyre wear.

There are a number of F1 teams that had used active suspension before it became mainstream, but it was the 1992 Williams FW14B that demonstrated the potential for this tech on their way to a championship.

Steering Wheel Buttons

Steering wheel buttons are handy features that allow motorists to keep their eyes on the road. Obviously, this is even more important when travelling at blistering speeds, so it is no surprise that steering wheel buttons first appeared in F1 dating right back to the 70s.

These are a few of the main technologies that you will find in regular road cars today that started out in F1.

F1 has always been pioneering when it comes to engineering, tech and design, so it is no surprise that so many technologies have become common on everyday cars over the years.

Written by Nathan Rogers

The post F1 Technology in Everyday Cars appeared first on Green Racing News.

So what’s the verdict? Let’s take a closer look at the comparison of electric motorsports racing to traditional Motorsports events.

A Detailed Explanation

Electric motorsports events are dramatically different from regular gasoline-powered ones. While traditional races are powered by combustion engines, electric motorsports events rely on the power of electricity to provide torque and speed.

With electric races, drivers have a wider range of performance options that come with instant torque, stronger acceleration and a much more efficient powertrain than what they can get out of a gasoline-powered engine.

This means that in electric motorsports events, teams can focus on optimizing the car’s overall weight without having to worry about output power. Plus, thanks to rapid advances in battery technology and home charging infrastructure, electric racing cars now possess the capability to go further and faster than before while producing zero emissions.

Benefits of Electric Motorsports Racing Over Gasoline Powered Events

Electric motorsports racing offers a number of advantages over their gasoline-powered counterparts. For starters, electric motors produce zero emissions, making it an ecologically friendly sport.

Furthermore, virtually no maintenance is required for electric cars, which can save drivers and race teams considerable time and money when it comes to prepping the car between races. The cars themselves can be lighter and thus more maneuverable, most notably in the corners, allowing drivers to push the limits more than with gas-powered cars.

Finally, having consistent levels of power throughout a race can make racing more competitive since each driver knows what they have to work with since performance won’t differ based on fluctuating temperatures or track conditions like it could with gasoline. All these features make electric-powered racing an exciting sport that is continuing to innovate and evolve.

Related content:Why E-Racing Will Be the Future of Motorsports

Drawbacks

Electric motorsports racing is on the rise and gaining in popularity, but it has not yet reached the level of gasoline powered racing in terms of technology and performance. The batteries available today have a limited capacity compared to fuel tanks, making long-distance events a challenging prospect.

Another drawback is the noise levels associated with electric motor races – or rather, their lack thereof. Electric cars run quietly and this takes away some of the passion and excitement that many fans have come to enjoy at a motorsports event.

Additionally, electric vehicles tend to be much heavier than gasoline-powered ones due to their battery as well as other components. This can make it difficult for them to reach higher speeds compared to gasoline powered counterparts.

Despite these drawbacks, however, electric motorsport racing shows great potential for growth and could prove to be an exciting experience for all involved in the near future.

Can electric motors racing replace gasoline powered events?

In recent years, electric motorsports have grown in popularity due to the environmental advantages of zero emissions and their enhanced performance capabilities. As manufacturers continue pushing towards zero-emission vehicles, it begs the question, could electric motors racing totally replace gasoline powered motorsport events?

The short answer is yes; many major sporting events now include races with electric cars. For example, Formula E has held race series since 2014 in 14 cities across five continents with great interest in investment and fans – even more so, its availability onbetting sites.

Furthermore, all-electric races are growing in complexity and intensity as many high profile car manufacturers embrace this form of motorsports by developing custom-built racers and introducing fully autonomous vehicle systems that match equally the speed and agility of their traditional counterparts.

Although there is still some way to go before we see electric motors racing totally replace gasoline powered motorsport events, it appears that the future of this technology is bright.

The post Comparison of Electric Motorsports Racing to Traditional Gasoline Powered Events appeared first on Green Racing News.

It was introduced originally in Formula 1 in 2018, being adopted by other motorsport championships around the world, such as Formula 2, Formula 3 and Formula E, with the main objective of improving safety standards, serving as a device to prevent injuries in the critical areas of the human body mentioned recently.

Before this tool, drivers only had a helmet and a HANS to protect themselves in case of an accident. However, it was not always enough to protect them against serious injuries, such as skull fractures or cervical injuries.

Now, the halo provides an additional barrier that helps protect the head and neck from external objects in the event of an impact. Several accidents served as study data to come up with its shape and implementation, such as the one involving Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen, where the Ferrari driver at the time may have lost his hands.

Related content: What is HANS: Use and Importance during Speed Racing

Initial Criticism and Performance

Despite the blessing it currently represents in single-seater racing, the halo has also been criticized by some due to its appearance, as well as affecting the driver’s forward visibility. However, the biggest criticism originated from its aesthetic form, which somewhat overshadows the beauty of the car itself.

However, engineers have worked to ensure that the halo does not affect visibility and that it is light enough not to affect the car’s performance. On the other hand, in terms of safety, it has passed with flying colors, saving several lives in Formula 1.

Charles Leclerc suffered an accident while racing for Alfa Romeo where the halo saved him from a very strong impact of a tire on his head. Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen were involved in a collision where he also came into the limelight after avoiding a heavy blow to the Briton’s head.

However, the most notable case of his role was the accident of the Chinese Guanyu Zhou, when his car was completely inverted, covering several meters of asphalt in this way but avoiding direct contact between the ground and the driver’s head. Finally, another success story was the terrible accident of Romain Grosjean, where his Haas car was split in half.

In conclusion, aesthetically it may not be very pleasant, but undoubtedly its entry into motorsport has made the difference between life and death for several Formula 1 drivers, without counting those in other categories.

Written by | Ronald Ortega

The post Halo: A Device that Changed Racing to Save Lives appeared first on Green Racing News.

It consists of two parts: a collar that is placed around the driver’s neck and harnesses that connect the collar to the head. The HANS is made of lightweight materials such as carbon or polycarbonate, tailored to be comfortable and safe for the rider.

When an impact occurs, the harnesses restrict the movement of the head and neck, preventing serious injuries to the rider’s integrity. Its impact has been notorious since its introduction, so much so that it is mandatory in many car races (Formula 1 and Formula E, for example), being recommended for all competitions in general, regardless of the skill level or category of the drivers.

Related content:How Brakes Work in Sports Racing

Safety First

HANS was created in the mid-1980s. It was developed by Robert Hubbard, a professor of biomechanics, after losing a friend and colleague in a racing accident. As a result, he began researching solutions to prevent neck and head injuries in the event of an impact, and came up with this device.

However, it was not until 1991 when it was first introduced in competition, extending its use gradually throughout the 1990s and 2000s, to figure today as an essential element of driver safety.

Its importance, as mentioned above, is enormous after appearing as one of the most important elements of pilot safety, saving lives in case of an accident.

Among its advantages, the following stand out: Prevention of serious injuries, since it is effective in preventing serious neck and head injuries in case of a frontal or side impact, mandatory in many races, improving safety significantly and recommendation for all motor racing drivers.

Written by | Ronald Ortega

The post What is HANS: Use and Importance During Racing appeared first on Green Racing News.

They are usually disc brakes (Brembo), since they offer greater braking capacity and heat resistance compared to drum brakes. They also use high-performance brake pads and brake fluid specially designed to withstand high temperatures.

In addition, they usually have cooling systems, such as air or fluid ducts to help dissipate the heat generated during the intense use during the race, keeping the brakes in good condition and avoiding premature wear or melting of the pads, as they must constantly be able to stop a car (single-seater or conventional) from 300 kilometers per hour at 60 or 70 km/h in a few seconds.

In racing, drivers can also adjust brake settings to suit track conditions and their driving style, such as pressure, brake distribution between the front and rear wheels, and overall roll.

Related content:Dow to Take Jaguar to the Highest Level in Formula E with its “MobilityScience” Technology

Components

A sports racing braking system is made up of several essential components that ensure optimum performance, as well as safety and confidence in stopping the car. These are: Discs, pads, pump, fluid, cooling, control.

Brake discs: Main part of the system for racing, since they are capable of withstanding high speeds and hard braking, made of steel or carbon-ceramic to improve heat resistance.

Pads: They are in charge of coming into direct contact with the discs to generate the necessary friction to stop the car.

Brake pump: It produces the pressure required to activate the brake pads, being more powerful than those used in street vehicles. Fluid: It is the fluid used to transmit the pressure from the pump to the pads, specially designed to withstand high temperatures, as well as resistance to degradation.

Cooling systems: Help dissipate heat generated during intense racing use, which can be air or fluid lines to help keep the brakes in good condition.

Control systems: Allow drivers to adjust settings to suit track conditions and their driving style.

Written by | Ronald Ortega

The post How Brakes Work in Sports Racing appeared first on Green Racing News.

Super Cruise uses a combination of sensors, cameras and high-precision mapping to determine the vehicle’s position on the road. Lidar sensors, radar and stereo cameras capture images of the vehicle’s surroundings, while GPS and navigation sensors allow the system to know the precise position of the vehicle on the map.

This data is combined to create a detailed model of the driving environment, including road lines, traffic signs and surrounding vehicles. Once it has determined the car’s position, the autonomous driving control is activated to control speed and road position. Also, it handles following distance and lane change.

Related content:General Motors Patents Electric Vehicle Technology for Dual Charging Ports

However, the driver still has the responsibility to monitor the autonomous driving system. In fact, they are expected to be alert and ready to take control in case of need.

To do this, Super Cruise employs a driver attention sensor to ensure that the person is paying attention to the road. If it detects that he or she is not concentrating, the system will issue a series of warnings for the driver to take control of the car.

Additionally, this General Motors tool integrates an advanced lane following function, which uses lane detection to keep the vehicle in the right place. It can also change lanes autonomously as long as the change signal is activated, and of course, it is safe to do so.

In addition, Super Cruise has an obstacle detection system that helps avoid potential collisions. In conclusion, this GM technology allows safer and more comfortable road travel, although not all driving responsibility should be left on it.

Written by | Ronald Ortega

The post How Super Cruise Works: Autonomous Driving System from General Motors appeared first on Green Racing News.

These serve as a rolling test laboratory, as multiple brands develop technologies to compete and then take them to street production models. Formula E is an example of this, where Mercedes and Nissan are two of several manufacturers to do so.

On the other hand, Audi will enter Formula 1 in 2026 when engines become more sustainable. There, they will be able to put to the test all the potential of engine development and other elements that can later be used in their branded models.

All this makes people and fans wonder how an electric motor works in sports racing. Below, we briefly explain that process.

Related Content:Hydrogen Injection System Engine Tested to Exceed 1,000 hp

Electrification in Motorsports

Electric motors are a popular choice for racing vehicles due to their high efficiency and consistent performance. Unlike internal combustion engines, which rely on fuel combustion to produce power, they directly convert electricity into motion, which means they have no moving parts such as pistons or crankshafts, making them more reliable and durable.

In a racing electric motor, electricity is provided by a high-capacity battery. When the power unit is activated, the flow of electricity through the stator windings creates a magnetic field. This, in turn, causes the rotor to rotate, which produces motion.

These motors are also often equipped with energy recovery systems, such as regenerative braking systems, (in Formula 1 it is used) that convert the kinetic energy of the car into electricity and store it in the battery, increasing efficiency and allowing the battery to be recharged while in motion.

Finally, in terms of performance, they offer maximum torque right from the start, which means they have fast and powerful acceleration, ideal for racing. In addition, they do not lose power as speed increases as internal combustion engines do, making them an attractive option for sports racing, where speed and acceleration are key to it.

Written by | Ronald Ortega

The post How an Electric Motor Works on Sports Car Races appeared first on Green Racing News.