If the Toyota electric Radical freaked you out you might want to look the other way. If on the other hand you are interested in technological development and how engineers solve challenges they are presented with, you might look past the frankly, goofy looks and read further.
This is a design concept by FondTech, a name F1 fans will be familiar with, founded by auto guru Jean-Claude Migeot and the late Gabriele Rumi of Fondmetal wheels, FondTech has clients from F1 to DTM to LeMans.
FondTech's was founded in 1993 by Migeot who pioneered the likes of the now the de rigueur raised front nose and blown diffuser. Today FondTech, along with its subsidiary Aerolab, employs around 90 staff (mostly engineers and technicians) spread across its three wind tunnels and has become a trusted partner in many fields of aerodynamic development. Its direct influence and innovation can be seen in Formula 1, prototype sportscars and DTM.
The brief here was to design a formula car that would match the performance of current Formula 3s. Luca Gasparini Head of engineering for the project:
"As an engineer it is extremely liberating to work without the usual set of boundaries and principles that often stifle progress in other realms of motorsport. With the E-11 it is the level of a technology outside of our control that has proven most prohibitive so we have had to work hard to overcome a lot of potential pitfalls.Jean Claude-Migeot:
E-11 also includes a number of innovative features, like four wheel-drive, which we believe are essential to extracting the most potential from electric racing cars. Due to the limitations of existing batteries, and in helping restore motorsport's value as the proving ground of tomorrow's road car technology, it was imperative that our imagination was not restricted. I am hopeful the FIA will appreciate this pioneering spirit when framing their own regulations in the coming months.
SO what do you say, repulsed or intrigued?
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Count me highly intrigued.
ReplyDeleteAs far as I see it, electric seems to be the tech on the upswing. If energy storage can make some progress, there is nothing stopping high performance electric race cars from becoming common place.
Yes I love ICE cars. Yes I will one day be a grumpy nostalgic, but gas powered cars will one day be remembered as a relic of a distant past and cars like the E-11 will be remembered as a pioneer in the future of motor sports.
I think if you're going to have EVs (and let's face it, we're going to have them, and in growing numbers) the only way to make them better and more fun to drive is to race them ... so I think this is a great move.
ReplyDeleteAt this point, the only real question I have is whether these things can go a race distance (at racing speeds) on a single charge.
I love this and can't wait to see more of it. It will be fun to watch electric racing cars quickly evolve from frankly bizarre forms like this into more graceful and effective designs. I am so looking forward to the day where I can buy an affordable electric to drive daily, that is fun to drive deep into a corner. This is the only way that will happen.
ReplyDeleteI don't like how the driver is so high off the ground.
ReplyDeleteWould be good to see the batteries is the back. Similar to the position of a existing fuel tanks