L.A. to host all-electric Formula E race car series

[e-beach]

Guess I will ge going to this one!

latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-autos-formula-e-20130423,0,3054949.storylatimes.com

L.A. to host all-electric race car series

The city is one of 10 worldwide to feature open-wheel electric cars in the Formula E series. The downtown race could happen as early as next year.

By David Undercoffler, Los Angeles Times

April 23, 2013

Los Angeles will be one of 10 cities globally to host an all-electric race series — dubbed Formula E — as soon as 2014, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced.

The series will be the first in the world to feature fully electric open-wheel race cars similar to those that recently raced at the Long Beach Grand Prix.

"These cars are not your grandma's Priuses," Villaraigosa said Monday. "Imagine cutting-edge technology on display that will push the boundaries of what electric cars can do."

The races are organized and promoted by Formula E Holdings. The company was formed by a private group of investors that won a bid to promote the series from FiA, the governing body that oversees a range of motorsports including Formula One. FiA will also oversee these races.

By hosting such a race in a city already receptive to hybrid cars, Formula E hopes to demonstrate that electric cars are a viable and fun alternative to gas-powered machines.

"It's a problem of perception," said Alejandro Agag, chief executive of Formula E.

Electric race cars, driven by famous drivers, can change that perception, he said.

Currently, Miami and L.A. are the only U.S. cities that will host Formula E races. Of the 10 cities, six others have been announced: Rome, London, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Beijing and Putrajaya, Malaysia.

Formula E organizers said they expect the race to come to L.A. in late 2014 or early 2015. The cars would race on downtown streets, though the course has not yet been announced.

All of the city's costs associated with the race will be covered, Villaraigosa said.

"It's not going to cost us a dime," Villaraigosa said. "No public money. [Formula E is] paying for everything."

Although he won't be in office by the time the race comes to L.A., Villaraigosa made it clear that the race will be a reality regardless of who succeeded him.

"We've arranged to make sure we get the permitting and all the things done," Villaraigosa said. "Either one of the two people running for mayor are going to be 100% for this."

david.undercoffler@latimes.com

Copyright © 2013, Los Angeles Times

 

[liveforphysics]

This is AWESOME!!! Wow! Way to go LA!

 

[JayTea]

Great News

 

[lbz5mc12]

Oh wow it looks like it's close enough to me that I finally might be able to go to an E-vent.

 

[The fingers]

Much quieter than the Long Beach Grand Prix, which can be heard for 5 miles plus. :x
I might consider attending myself. 8)

 

[lbz5mc12]

I just watched this vid on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8vEEqcuZDs

All I kept thinking of the whole time was "Gran Tourismo".

 

[Toorbough ULL-Zeveigh]

L.A., that's the London Area, right?

 

[e-beach]

L.A., that's the London Area, right?

Right! :lol:

It will be fun no matter what side of the road they drive on.

 

[e-beach]

Noise??? I prefer the quite myself.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-electric-car-race-20130429,0,6419165.story?track=rss

By Jim Peltz

April 29, 2013, 2:54 p.m.

One reason fans attend auto races is because the cars are loud -- in some cases, exceptionally loud. Spectators simply love the roar of the engines.

So what if a race was held with significantly quieter cars? Would fans still find it appealing?

Los Angeles plans to find out. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced last week that L.A. is one of 10 global cities where a new racing organization, Formula E, hopes to hold street races with all-electric cars, starting next year.

The cars would be true race cars, roughly similar in size and shape to those in the IndyCar series. Formula E also is sanctioned by the FIA, the governing body of the international Formula One racing series.

Among those on hand for Villaraigosa's press conference was Formula E Chief Executive Alejandro Agag, and he agreed that the question of noise was not a trivial one.

"I love the noise" of conventional race cars, he said. "But this [series] is different. We wouldn't be able to get into the cities if we had the same level of noise as IndyCar and Formula One.

"Mayors love that we have no noise but fans like the noise, so we have to find the right balance," Agag said. "There will be noise."

One reason Formula E cars need to make some sound beyond a whoosh is for safety, so anyone near the cars can hear them coming, Agag said.

Thus, the cars and their engines will be designed to have some "artificially generated" sound and changes to the cars' wings and other parts can generate additional noise as the cars speed around the course, he said.

The city and Formula E are weighing two possible sites for the race, both in downtown Los Angeles, Agag said. He declined to elaborate but said one route must be chosen by September to submit to the FIA.

Villaraigosa said all of the city's costs related to the race would be covered by Formula E and "it's not going to cost us a dime." Formula E, in turn, is searching for a title sponsor for the race to help cover expenses.

 

[Yankee1919]

Hello,

I am a member of Elmoto and a preacher of the electric revolution. If any one is considering attending the event I can be an unofficial tour guide.

Adios
Tony
Los Angeles

 

[e-beach]

Long Beach.... That is a 45 minute (ice) drive for me.

I guess the knuckle-heads that run L.A. took too long to figure out a course...

On the other hand it is free to attend:

The Long Beach race, a one-day event free and open to the public, will be held April 5, two weekends before the Grand Prix.

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/...rmula-e-electric-car-race-20140522-story.html

 

[DAND214]

Long Beach.... That is a 45 minute (ice) drive for me.

I guess the knuckle-heads that run L.A. took too long to figure out a course...

On the other hand it is free to attend:

The Long Beach race, a one-day event free and open to the public, will be held April 5, two weekends before the Grand Prix.

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/...rmula-e-electric-car-race-20140522-story.html

This is hard to understand. You are posting in MAY and the race is in April? Is it over or is this dor next year?

Dan

 

[e-beach]

This is hard to understand. You are posting in MAY and the race is in April? Is it over or is this dor next year?
Dan

April 2015

 

[Dauntless]

As Samuel Clemens would say, reports of a 2014 race are premature. It takes a bit more than the former mayor opening his mouth to bring these things about. As he was always learning.

When I was growing up I got to work Timing & Scoring for the LBGP, my Dad was the Scoring Marshall. They gave us passes to see EVERYTHING in our free moments. The garages were my favorite part. How I'd love to have one of those now.

Hmmmm, maybe there's a way. (For YOU, too.) http://www.calclub.com I'd be quite surprised if these guys aren't STILL handling T&S next year. And flagging, and. . . .

Over 200 volunteers from SCCA regions and from across the pond will work (The past race) side by side with our Cal Club Racing officials to make the Long Beach Grand Prix possible, you guys ROCK!!!

Dang, if 5-6 of us came up with toys like the one Mr. Physics pulled out of his Easter Basket, we could get the class homologated regionally with the SoCal region.