Hey guys,

I recently joined this forum, see my first post in Green section
https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/g...tampa-bay.html

I am not a racer, just electric car enthusiast, however I know there are some really cool electric race cars that can beat gassers, etc. So I was wondering, is there anyone in Tampa Bay area who is involved in electric race cars? I would love to get involved in local events related to electrics, if there are any. Please let me know if you know anything related...

To preemt some common remarks, I am not a tree hugger, I just don't like gasoline and everything related to it. I think EVs have a future even if they are shorthanded today, and racing seems to bring attention better than any green advertisement

Here is an example of most known DIY EV race car, maybe you have seen it before Welcome to Plasma Boy Racing, home of White Zombie, the world's quickest street legal electric door slammer in the 1/4 mile drag.

Thanks

 

Thats Pretty awesome. It just seems very costly.

 

your sig is crazy.

OP thats sweet shit right there

 

I am not sure how much people spend on race cars, but I could build something similar to White Zombie for 25K-30K, including Lithium battery. How much do racers spend on gas over couple of years? This is included in battery cost, so you have to factor it in when comparing costs. Charging the battery only costs $1-$2 in electricity.

If I could find a sponsor for the project I could make a nice EV racer.

 

50 miles per charge?

NOTHX

 

otta my forum tree hugger

 

Not bashing but saying if you wanna make a difference, that there's a better way.


Having been to several conferences for alternative fuel and drivetrain choices, being a member of SAE and being a green fuel fan....there are much better alternatives that can be implemented NOW.

I'd be pushing for algae based biodiesel and cellulose ethanol, as they don't pollute the world to create batteries...you should see the 'carbon footprint' and ecological damage caused by just the battery creating process of the prius.

electric cars are cool but just not functional for a large portion of the American population...the technology isn't there YET.

P.S. I get E85 for about $2/gallon and create biodiesel at about $1 a gallon. 1 Gallon of biodiesel can get my friends TDI about 50 miles...that's about the same $1-2 you spend to charge your electric car...his also has the ability to go much faster than a stock mazda protege without adverse effects to his fuel economy (gotta love direct injection).

Heck my 7800 lb turbo diesel F250 will go over 40 miles on $2 (2 gallons) worth of biodiesel. I can then fill my 38 gallon stock tank and 90 gallon aux tank if I feel like spending $138 in fuel to go about 2400 miles without refueling

The beautiful part of algae based oil is its lack of dependence on farm land and how carbon neutral it is...also ethanols great reduction in NOx gases.

 

Those are great solutions, I agree, but those technologies aren't available to average guy like me. Where can I get a small plant to produce algae biodiesel or cellulose ethanole at my house? Because if I have to rely on gas company to produce those for me, then I will be waiting for decades.

Plus, electric was something I could do with my own hands, as a hobby, so I chose it.

I appreciate that you are not bashing, but I would not go as far as stating which solution is BETTER, all alternative solutions that don't use food crops or cut into food crops capable land are equally good, since they all reduce oil dependance.

No argument that EVs are shorthanded today and not for everyone, but they have their place and will be growing over time. EVs are great for short commute vehicles, which is majority of travel, and ICEs are great for long hauls, which is absolutely ciritical for economy, so both are just as important to address.

As for batteries, they are 100% recycled. Once the metal is out of the ground it can be used forever. Mining can be done in environmentally friendly way, if mining companies are regulated to do so.

As for my range of 50 miles, it was my choice of battery size based on my budget and my travel needs. Its not difficult to double the range if needed. Also, 50 miles is what I call a "no compromise" range, heavy acceleration, use of Air Conditioning, speeding, etc. If needed, with a few hypermiling technics I can get 60-70 miles from my battery.

Anyway, I am not pushing anything to anyone here, everyone is free to do what they want with their money. I was just hoping to find local people with EV interest and resources to promote it further.

Thanks for keeping this a friendly discussion, no need to act childish here.

 

I didn't mean to imply it was better but would be a more easily implicated technology solution to the US's current situation and driving style.

I just use veggie oil currently to make biodiesel...

You do have a valid point though...you do need space (garage or shed) a few hundred bucks to get a biodiesel system going. Ethanol requires a license for distilling.

 

Where the dick do you get E85? Have more stations popped up in Tampa? I dont think theres a single one in the Sarasota area.