Hybrid car banned for being too fast

Chippy01

Now here's a turn up for the books....:D:D

http://www.green-car-guide.com/world’s-greenest-rally-car-banned-for-being-too-fast.html

MugMugs

For those on the move.

It’s a 100 miles per gallon automatic hybrid eco-car, yet it’s been banned from rallying for being too fast!

The world’s greenest rally car has been kicked out of its championship because it’s too fast. The petrol-electric Honda Insight hybrid, which competes in the Formula 1000 rally championship, has been asked to withdraw following concerns from rival competitors that it has an unfair advantage, after dominating the 2011 series with two wins and a second place from the first three rounds.

The car, which uses a tuned petrol-electric hybrid system to give it more power and better fuel efficiency, has been developed by the Oaktec team from Lancaster over a six-year period using the low emission Honda car as a base. The developments of the green technology have been so successful that the eco car, which can return over 100 mpg when driven slowly, has blown away a field of conventional rally cars to gain a 19 point championship lead after just three rallies.

The championship organisers phoned the Oaktec team to request that they stand down from the series and compete the car in a higher class to appease rival competitors. The team has agreed to the demand and will now look to race in other classes.

Oaktec boss Paul Andrews commented: “It was a bit of a shock when I got the call as after six years of hard work we finally had our chance for a bit of glory. But I fully understand the perspective of the organisers and their wish not to spoil the sport for the other drivers. Formula 1000 is a great championship and they were really supportive by allowing us to compete with these new hybrid technologies in their rallies and we always agreed that if we had a clear advantage we would step aside. It’s a shame it had to happen mid-season but it’s the risk you face in going against the grain and trying something radical. If it fails, no one notices; if it’s successful, you have an unfair advantage. I think our project has made people realise that there is a real future for genuinely green technologies in motorsport and other leisure activities.”

To prove the eco-credentials of the tuned Honda hybrid system, Oaktec entered the rally car in a fuel economy competition and returned 82 mpg, beating the next best car, a small diesel, by over 17 mpg. It has regularly returned over 100 mpg in testing and has ultra-low CO2 emissions, yet uses the same combination of efficient engine, batteries and electric motor to win rallies.

In addition the car is unique in motorsport because it uses a CVT automatic transmission developed by Bosch, who also sponsor the car.

Green-Car-Guide.com has supported the Oaktec team over the last six years; founder and editor Paul Clarke says: “The Honda Insight hybrid was such a strange sight on rallies when it first appeared, and teams with more conventional rally machinery didn’t take it seriously – understandably. Therefore it is all the more interesting to see that the car has now been developed into something that is so successful it has been banned. Today all new cars have to be more efficient, and it’s only a matter of time before motorsport will also have to go green; the Oaktec team has been demonstrating ‘eco-rallying’ for six years - it has been ahead of its time. Perhaps others in the rallying world will now give some thought to cars that are as efficient as possible, but also great to drive – in other words, what Green-Car-Guide.com is focused on.”

You can see the Oaktec Honda Insight hybrid in action, along with other banned Group B rally cars, at Green-Car-Guide Live! at the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, 15-17 July 2011, in Cheshire. For more information visit www.Green-Car-Guide.com or www.cpop.co.uk.

alias no.9

Well it's a rally class for cars with 1000cc and under, is it any surprise that a car with an electric motor along with its 995cc petrol engine would have an advantage?

Chippy01

alias no.9 wrote: »

Well it's a rally class for cars with 1000cc and under, is it any surprise that a car with an electric motor along with its 995cc petrol engine would have an advantage?

That is true, and that hybrid fits the bill with an engine that's under 1,000cc.
I didn't see anything in any reports online that say that you also have to produce less than XX torque, or less than XX hp to compete?

alias no.9

Chippy01 wrote: »

That is true, and that hybrid fits the bill with an engine that's under 1,000cc.
I didn't see anything in any reports online that say that you also have to produce less than XX torque, or less than XX hp to compete?

What if it had a jet turbine in addition to a 995cc engine, i.e. an additional source of motive power, would that fit the bill?

eagerv

alias no.9 wrote: »

What if it had a jet turbine in addition to a 995cc engine, i.e. an additional source of motive power, would that fit the bill?

Yes, providing that the 1000 cc engine ran the turbine! If you get my drift..

Testament1

A Honda being banned from racing because its too fast? Where's Midnight EG, he'll love this?!!

alias no.9

eagerv wrote: »

Yes, providing that the 1000 cc engine ran the turbine! If you get my drift..

I get your drift but in that case the hybrid should start with a flat battery, treat it like a turbo which recovers waste energy as it goes.

Paparazzo

And as usual, with "green" cars, the designers based the looks on something they shat out.

eagerv

alias no.9 wrote: »

I get your drift but in that case the hybrid should start with a flat battery, treat it like a turbo which recovers waste energy as it goes.

As long as the battery only gets energy from the engine I can see no problem. If it was a plug in hybrid it would be a different matter.