You may be surprised to discover that electric vehicles aren’t a new phenomenon - electric powered cars were around in the early 1800s, but were only capable of travelling 50 miles before they needed charging again. Nowadays, we can achieve much more than this and have been developed to keep up with the demands of the automotive industry. However, what do these developments mean for competition? When we think of motorsports, we think of speed, precision, aerodynamics and lots of noise. Now that there is a deadline for the production of electric cars to your regular consumer, what does it mean for those used in racing and competition?
A history of motorsports
With EV cars becoming more prominent in dealerships and on UK roads and with the threat of all ICE production ceasing by 2035, many people wonder what will happen to motorsports - is there room for electric vehicles in races? The short answer is “yes”, but to really understand the benefits of electric vehicles in the world of motorsport and its multiple disciplines, let’s take a look at the history of sport.
Motorsport began as far back as when petroleum was first introduced to fuel ICE vehicles in the 1880’s. The very first ‘race’ was a reliability test in France - the course was 50 miles long and the winning vehicle reached a speed of 10.2mph. Whilst this may seem very slow, cars weren’t built for speed or power - they were built for everyday use on the local roads. The very first official race was held in France, from Paris to Bordeaux that spanned 1,178km. Official organised racing began in the USA in 1895 on Thanksgiving Day. France was the pioneer of racing, through French territories and to other countries, but a stop was put to it by authorities when it became too dangerous and there were too many accidents.
The first closed-circuit race was arranged in 1898, which consisted of one lap. This was the type of racing that became what it is we know today - by 1900, racers were able to reach speeds of 50mph. Ultimately, road races decreased in number as they became too dangerous for racers, fans and livestock. Motorsports continued to gain traction and has grown to be what it is today - a highly regarded sport in a league of its own. But what does this mean for electric vehicles?
Inclusion of EV in motorsports
As many autosport fans know, it isn’t one single sport - motorsports is defined as a collection of sports that involve driving a vehicle for a competition. If we break it down to its barest form, fans love the speed of the cars and the sounds of racing that are synonymous with the sport and this is what people have loved to watch. Of course, the aim for the majority of governments around the world is to be fully electric - in the UK, this is expected by 2035.
With the push from government bodies and environmental activists to become more eco-friendly in the world of automotive, motorsport organisations have begun to do the same. This has brought about some uncertainty in the community, as EVs seem to go against most of what the sport is about - loud exhausts and engines, quick refuelling and the tension of getting things done as quickly as possible so that the driver can get back on the track and not lose any time. Now this will be replaced with long charging times, quiet engines and seemingly a lot of waiting around.
EV racing has actually been around since before the 2020 Covid outbreak - Formula E. Formula E is known as the only race that features fully electric vehicles for anyone who participates and was named an official championship by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). Ford and Toyota are two manufacturers that have designed their own cars for autosport, which are now used by many motoring teams worldwide. The aim is to reduce pollution, carbon emissions and fuel consumption, whilst still providing fans with what they want - a fun, exciting and thrilling competition that gets the blood pumping.
Why turn to electric cars for autosports when fuel was doing the job?
Many consumers have been sceptical about electric vehicles since they started making their way into everyday life. With range anxiety, the inconvenience of charging during your commute and possible speed restrictions, EVs have left a lot of questions as to how they would seamlessly fit into someone’s busy and hectic lifestyle. Some may say that using motorsports for EV cars is a fantastic way to show them off to the general public - they can still go fast and be charged in a timely manner, so why wouldn’t they be able to on normal roads?
The inclusion of electric cars in competition could be considered a clever marketing ploy to encourage people that they don’t need to fear the transition to electric - there’s actually nothing wrong with converting, because electric cars can still keep up with the challenges of modern-day vehicle ownership. Naturally, we would assume that the motorsport industry would need to follow these rules to become a cleaner planet. There’s no doubt that they have with the likes of Formula E proving to be a popular edition to the industry.
One thing to bear in mind with motorsports, is that manufacturers will always be looking for new ways to improve and develop their electric vehicles - ensuring performance and speed all the way through. This will encourage manufacturers to develop faster electric cars, because if the motorsport industry can do it, why can’t they? The popularity of electric cars will continue to grow the more they are featured in sport because people will see the benefits of owning one, as well as what they can be capable of - there’s no need to fear the change, as we can still embrace what we always have, whilst providing a better life for the planet.
Buy your electric car with Swansway Motor Group today
Electric vehicles may seem daunting at first, especially as they are still a fairly new phenomenon to the dealerships - but there is no need to fear them. As more and more EVs hit the automotive market, we will start to see price drops everywhere so before long, everyone can share in the ambition to create a greener planet. Motorsports are attempting to prove that electric cars can be just as promising as ICE vehicles and a battery in place of fuel won’t change that. If you’re looking for a new or used electric vehicle, we have a range of brands to choose from, all with their own features and benefits. If you’re unsure what you're looking for or would like more information about one of the vehicles you see on our website, don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our team and we’d be happy to help you.
