Electric RallyCar Development

[steve.mandzij]

Having the opportunity to follow about 15 testdays with the Skoda Kreisel RE-X1 on all surfaces until now I can only report from my side that all the fuss about the missing / unusual sound is just a matter of being used to the common.

It was strange at the beginning, but after a suprisingly short time you get used to it. Now I already like the futuristic sound.
You cannot judge from the videos alone, the live impression is different. But it looks like a rally car, it drives like a car and its absolutely stunning to see how it envolves.

I have absolutely no fear about the future of our sport if it brings something in this direction in some years.

Exactly, it's not worse, it's different. Perhaps in some years somebody will find a way to make a fully sustainable, no caveat fuel to keep ICE engines alive in some way, shape or form, but should rally go electric it'll just be a matter of getting used to the new sound.

I'm in the minority, surely, that enjoyed Formula E's futuristic wooshing sound both times I saw them in person. I wouldn't dislike an electric rally car to have an amplified electric noise, for instance; and cars like Hayden Paddon's Kona EV already have a lot of electric whine noise, which sounds cool.

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[hari]

https://dirtfish.com/rally/austrian-...oda-rally-car/

[RS]

Fabia R5 vs Electric Fabia:

https://youtu.be/icx6PWyHOlo

Car looks damn quick in a straight line at least.

If this car and othera can compete on a 'normal' rally in a normal way, I suppose it won't be long until the FIA introduce a 'Rally2e' class or something along those lines.

[mknight]

I think I heard about 50 stage km range and charging times were like 20 mins (not sure how big % range), so probably one charging spot per section.
Good idea to "tune it" to about same speed as R5, obviously it will be hard to make it exactly the same.

For a class to work I'd say you need more manufacturers, Østberg mentioned Citroen working on a similar car at the start of the year.
If you do that there need to be "unexploitable" rules.

Power control shouldn't be so hard, something based on limiting the power going from batteries (similar to restrictor limiting airflow).
"Traction control", might be more difficult. Since there is no mechanical connection between front and rear there is electronic "center diff" already included. How can that be controlled and changes limited? Homologated code?

[SubaruNorway]

How power is controlled and checked, also a safety video on here
https://youtu.be/vc7QzVzNtsg

CC for subtitles

[Mirek]

Baumschlager said in an interview for ewrc that the car had 1368 kg, i.e. 170 kg more than R5. It has 345 Hp in rally mode and 700 Hp in RX mode. If I understood right they count with 5-7 minutes of charging between each stage in Austrian championship.

[mknight]

How power is controlled and checked, also a safety video on here
https://youtu.be/vc7QzVzNtsg

CC for subtitles

Nah, no subtitles needed.
Stohl has great "hardcore" Austrian accent btw.

[scn]

I think yesterday it was the first rally for the electric Skoda of Baumschlager. The car is definitely slower than R5s despite the huge torque. He finished 2':47'' behind the leader, which is not what Baumschlager does when he is competing with an R5.
However, it would be interesting to know how they managed to recharge it in a rally that had as much as eight SS in one day. Is it true that they had one fast recharger after each stage?

[hari]

I think yesterday it was the first rally for the electric Skoda of Baumschlager. The car is definitely slower than R5s despite the huge torque. He finished 2':47'' behind the leader, which is not what Baumschlager does when he is competing with an R5. However, it would be interesting to know how they managed to recharge it in a rally that had as much as eight SS in one day. Is it true that they had one fast recharger after each stage?

The car can be charged in the servicepark and when refueling for other cars is allowed on the liasion (like Mitsubishis with the small tank etc.).
Here is the itinerary of Rally Weiz: http://www.rallye-weiz.at/2021/DOK/zeitplan.pdf

There was absolutely no problem with the distances at Rallye Weiz with a lot of buffer.

The premiere of the Skoda Kreisel RE-X1 was a big success. Remember it was the first rally of such a kind of car and the stages of Rallye Weiz with a lot of downhill sections did not suit the car with the heavier weight. The progress in the next months / years will be very interesting to follow.

[RS]

It must be very hard to find an accurate equivalence with the power vs. the R5 as the advantage of extra power vs. disadvantage of the extra weight will vary from rally to rally.

Is this the first 'real rally' for an electric rally car or does Paddon compete amongst the main field with his too?