Sunday, January 05, 2014

Lazy Sunday #306: The Future Is Electric

We ended 2013 with a Lazy Sunday blog about a new sport. So it seems fitting that we begin 2014 the same way.

I’ve long been a fan of speed and fast cars. And anyone who has attended a major Formula 1, Indy or NASCAR race can tell you, the thrill is indescribable. The power of all those engines throttling up and accelerating at break-neck speed is such that the earth literally moves.

But we all know the era of the internal combustion engine is coming to a close. They’re dirty, noisy and dependent on technologies that do more damage to the planet than we can not only logically but morally continue.

The future of racing requires new heroes and ways of generating excitement. And that is arriving in 2014 as Formula-E racing.

Formula E is a new FIA Championship for fully-electric Formula racing cars. It will feature an initial group of ten teams, including such well known racing names as Andretti, Venturi, Audi and Renault) racing on street circuits all across the world.

The debut race will be held in Beijing in September, followed by nine more through the streets of Rio De Janeiro, London, Los Angeles, Monte Carlo and more.

And those imagining a more sedate and commuter friendly version of F-1 are in for a surprise. The average Formula 1 car accelerates from 0-60 in 2.7 seconds. Some Formula E models achieve that speed a full second faster.

These cars also come out of turns quicker, brake in shorter distances, with less loss of speed and perhaps most important strategically –- never have to pit for fuel.

Yes, the roar of the engines is gone. But it has been replaced by the pollution free, high-pitched whine of a passing fighter jet.

You can find out more about Formula E here.

And you can sample what’s in store in the videos below.

2014’s future is electric.

Enjoy your Sunday.

And here’s a little primer on how these cars work.

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