{"id":9264,"date":"2014-09-15T20:26:40","date_gmt":"2014-09-16T03:26:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/?p=9264"},"modified":"2014-09-15T20:26:40","modified_gmt":"2014-09-16T03:26:40","slug":"formula-e-complete-obligatory-crash-glycerin-chaser","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/formula-e-complete-obligatory-crash-glycerin-chaser\/","title":{"rendered":"Formula E, Complete with Obligatory Crash and a Glycerin Chaser"},"content":{"rendered":"

Aside from Lucas di Grassi\u00a0 and Audi \u00a0Sport ABT winning the<\/span> first Formula E race in Beijing, China<\/a> over the weekend, it would have been almost unremarkable except for the last-lap, last corner collision between Nicolas Prost and Nick Heidfeld.\u00a0 The spectacular crash was TV news worthy, and despite the initial friction during and after the crash, Prost and Heidfeld both sent <\/span>mea culpa<\/i> apologies to each other via social media.\u00a0 Formula e races, so far, seem fairly civilized affairs.<\/span><\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=XV5Fri0gTX0<\/p>\n

35 of the other 40 starters, all essentially alike aside from their team paint jobs, crossed the finish line unscathed and having burned nothing but rubber during their 45 minutes around the 3.44 kilometer (2.13 miles) track.\u00a0 Even the charger used to \u201cfuel up\u201d the racers burns pollution-free glycerin provided by Aquafuel, a British-based specialist in renewable fuels, according to Formula E Holdings.<\/p>\n

Aquafuel explains that, \u201cGlycerin is a by-product of biodiesel production.\u00a0\u00a0For every 9 gallons of biodiesel, 1 gallon of crude glycerin is produced.\u00a0\u00a0Glycerin\u2019s density and high oxygen content offer the potential of exceptionally clean combustion, with much lower emissions than burning diesel fuel.\u00a0\u00a0Aquafuel\u2019s technology has turned that potential into practical reality.\u201d\u00a0 Glycerin can also be derived from animal fat in a rendering plant, rendering the plant into an essentially self-fueling enterprise.\u00a0 Its promoters claim the fuel can be made from algae grown in salt or brackish water, and requires no otherwise potable water or necessary agricultural land \u2013 a huge benefit in the fight to feed everyone while still powering the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=M0DDfgQTHVo#t=0<\/p>\n

A single generator charges all 40 cars \u201cfrom flat to full in 50 minutes and with automated precise power controls, can be relied upon to ensure no car is given additional power.\u201d\u00a0 This macro-battery management system ensures that all cars are indeed equal off the line.\u00a0 Competitors need to manage their energy use, though.\u00a0 One finisher lost out on a higher standing because of using two percent more energy than allowed for the full circuit.<\/p>\n

The cars are serious competition vehicles, able to accelerate from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour (62 mph) in just three seconds.\u00a0 Because batteries run down quickly under the extremes imposed by racing, each team\u2019s two drivers also have two cars, and switch from the depleted vehicle of the first half of their run into a freshly-charged duplicate for the second half of the race. \u00a0This mid-race car swap <\/a>is one of the quirkier elements of this new style of racing, but was chosen over swapping batteries – considered the riskier option by rule makers.<\/p>\n

Because Williams joined the competition only 15 months before the series scheduled opening (the original supplier backed out), their 300 kilogram (660 pound) battery pack was a rush order.\u00a0 It\u2019s roughly the same weight and holds approximately the same energy as a Leaf battery pack at 28 kilowatt hours vs. the Leaf’s 24 kWh. \u00a0Since the Leaf pack can be replaced for $5,500, the Williams Formula E cells might be a little pricier.<\/p>\n