E-racing car puts batteries to the test
10 DECEMBER 2019
The global Electric Touring Car Racing (ETCR) series will hit the track in 2020 and Power Racing i Dalarna AB (PWR) e-car PWR001 hopes to be among the fastest. The team is collaborating with Scania engineers to produce the most powerful and long-lasting batteries for the upcoming challenge.
Scania has worked closely with PWR for some time and is broadening the partnership by looking into batteries for racing cars. Michael Vallinder, Simulation and Analysis Senior Engineer at Scania, works with PWR’s development team to enhance performance and battery characteristics for optimal driving efficiency. “We hope to gain more knowledge about battery capacity, as the e-car probably pushes limits more than we do in our trucks,” he explains.
Testing batteries in a different environment
For PWR, the e-car is a way to stay at the forefront of racing. The project started three years ago. Says Per Busk who represents the team: “We share common ground with Scania, as both of us wish to accelerate developments. We’d like things to be done differently and better than before.”
The racing environment is very different from how Scania R&D normally works in testing batteries, and this could be an advantage. “It will add to our knowledge of how to make the best use of the batteries, and what the constraints are in ensuring overall safety,” says Vallinder.
A necessary change
To switch from fossil fuels to electricity is relatively simple for PWR, but the team also expects some resistance from its fans. “We need to convince our die-hard petrol heads that racing without all the noise and smells is just as exciting,” says Busk, whose team has added an artificial jet-like whizzing sound instead of the normal vroom.
At this stage, prototype batteries are being used while comprehensively analysing all the requirements for competitive racing. “It’s tough not knowing the particular demands yet, but we’re gaining a better understanding and making some estimates that we hope will be useful,” says Vallinder. Once the competitions have started, Scania will analyse data from the cars and make improvements.
The timing is perfect
2019 has been devoted to figuring out the best possible conditions for successfully racing the car, charging batteries and optimising infrastructure. “We learn so much as we go along,” says Busk.
One of the drivers, Daniel Haglöf is now entering the TCR World Championship to keep his skills up to date. He is keen on trying something new in 2020: “The ETCR is brand new and exciting and with perfect timing for us, as we’ve been working with electric racing cars for quite some time.” He compares the feeling of driving the e-car to racing a go-kart with enormous capability. “It’s awesome,” Haglöf says.
FACTS:
PWR001 is a 100 percent electrically powered racing car with rear-wheel drive.
1.97 metres wide and 4.20 metres in length.
Specifications:
Maximum output: 612 hp/450 kW
Maximum torque: 1080 Nm
Number of battery cells: 350
Time to fully charged: 1 hour
Acceleration: 0-100km/h in less than 3 seconds
Maximum speed: just below 300 km/h
Weight battery pack: 366 kg
Total weight car: 1,510 kg
Weight distribution: 44 /56 (percent front/percent back)
