As a copy editor and former English major, I couldn't help stumbling over the first word in this article. The Webster's 11th Collegiate Dictionary, the publishing standard, doesn't accept "nevermind" as one word, though urbandictionary.com accepts it.
As for formulae that prescribe details of auto racing, Formula One is the best known but not the only one. So the "predecessor" of this upcoming Formula E is all the other formulae, which include F1, F2, and F3, and some more specialized ones like Formula Ford and Formula Nippon.
Now the comment: I'm glad to know about this! Electric motors behave differently from internal-combustion engines; they can put out a lot of torque for their size and can accelerate through a wider range of RPMs, meaning the transmission can be simpler (or even gone). And they're certainly quieter, as the article says. These things could make for a different kind of excitement in electric racing.
Nevermind Formula 1 racing: get ready for Formula E. E for electric, of course.
In 2014, the new motorsport series will launch, featuring electric race cars. Despite the name, however, Formula E racing shares little in common with its predecessor. Hour-long races will consist of three segments and, thanks to the electric cars’ low noise output, the races will take place in city centers around the world. Rio de Janeiro has already signed on to be a host city for the event.
Because of battery life constraints, drivers will change cars during two pit-stops during the race. The series is set to include 10 teams of two cars when it launches in 2014, with a planned expansion to 14 teams in 2015.
British business Lord Paul Drayson’s Lola-Drayson B12/69EV, pictured above, is one example of an electric vehicle that can do 0-60mph in three seconds. SmartPlanet’s Mark Halper has written about the model.
The Formula E series is backed by Spanish real-estate billionaire Enrique Banuelos, and it has been endorsed by the International Automobile Federation (FIA), which governs Formula 1.
“This spectacular series will offer both entertainment and a new opportunity to share the FIA values and objectives of clean energy, mobility and sustainability with a wider and younger audience as well,” said Jean Todt, president of the FIA.
Photo: University of Warwick
