Street racing threat or track alternative Electric Cars and NEDRA

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Illegal street racing threat or fun track alternative: The future of Electric Cars with the NEDRA

Source: Research Department
Release Date: April 25, 2010
Update / Revision: N/A

EVO OVERVIEW:

Evo Street Racers (Evo) believes that all forms of motorsports are a potential venue that can attract both illegal street racers and automotive enthusiasts onto the track. With recent changes in automobile CAFÉ standards (Fuel Economy), increased visibility of Global Warming (Emissions), and other related public policies automobile parts suppliers and original equipment manufacturers have place increased efforts in developing electric hybrid and fully electric vehicles. As compared to conventional internal gas/diesel combustion engines electric powered vehicles have been touted as the answer to decreased automobile emissions, elimination of noise pollutants, and a reduction on foreign oil reliance. In short order these same vehicles captured the attention of automobile enthusiasts across the globe as they realized the benefits of an electric engine in automobile racing. In consequence of the actions of these enthusiasts the National Electric Drag Racing Association (NEDRA) was founded in 1997 as one of the, if not the largest, drag racing sanctioning body for electric cars in the United States.

Recently the Public Relations Director of NEDRA Mr. Chip Gribben was kind enough to discuss the topic of illegal street racing with Evo’s Editorial Director Ms. Eve Robles.

Below you will find the transcript of the questions asked and the reply received (verbatim in an e-mail exchange) from the NEDRA.

For more information about NEDRA please visit there website at: http://www.nedra.com/

OFFICIAL NEDRA PRESS RELEASE:

The National Electric Drag Racing Association (NEDRA), a chapter of the Electric Auto Association, exists to increase public awareness of electric vehicle (EV) performance and NEDRA to encourage through competition, advances in electric vehicle technology. NEDRA achieves this by organizing and sanctioning safe, silent and exciting electric vehicle drag racing events.

NEDRA is a coalition of drag racing fans, electric drag racing vehicle owners and drivers, individuals interested in promoting the sport of EV drag racing, EV parts suppliers, EV manufacturers and other environmentally concerned companies and individuals. Working together as a group, we put excitement into electric vehicle drag racing.

TRANSCRIPT:

Ms. Robles: What is the NEDRA’s perspective of the illegal activity (Illegal Street Racing)?

Mr. Gribben: Thanks for your interest in NEDRA. NEDRA doesn't have an official policy on illegal street racing. Actually, we're trying to get more EVs on the roads! Yes, some of our members do get squirrelly with their cars at stop lights, including me. But it's not something that we all our doing on a regular basis. When reporters come out to see our cars we don't deny taking off fast to impress them, but we aren't out there at 1:00 am on some deserted side street doing illegal drag racing. We are more interested into documenting our successes at the drag strip so the results can be recorded on time slips or YouTube videos for the world to see. That's where we make our biggest impact - at the race track. People basically don't believe EVs are fast so we need the documentation opportunities drag strips provide. Our mantra is "the proof is in the timeslip" and "world class electric drag racing."

Illegal racing activity has never been discussed within our ranks. Our board is still trying to finish setting up racing classes, getting our membership roster up to date and membership welcome notices out. Just so many internal housekeeping things that volunteer organizations try to keep up with. So we have no official perspective. No one has ever thought about it. We hope that everyone stays safe and we encourage that when the members join. Plus our name says it all "National Electric Drag Racing Association." All our efforts are involved with EVs on the drag strip and working with the NHRA on rules and such.

Ms. Robles: What impact has illegal street racing had on your sanctioning body and the electric automobile industry?

Mr. Gribben: There has been no impact on the EV businesses selling parts. The truth is, very few people set out to buy EV parts to race. Most buy parts to covert their cars to run on electric. Now, pretty much all Zilla controllers are race capable, as are the larger motors and large battery packs. EVs are inherently faster off the line because of their massive torque. But no, there has never been decreased business due to this activity. The biggest factor is gas prices. When gas prices go up, interest in EVs go up and more parts are sold. When gas gets real cheap, business slows. Gas prices are the major factor in that regard not illegal activity.

Ms. Robles: What specific efforts has your organization taken to reduce illegal street racing?

Mr. Gribben: No specific efforts have been made. Why? Mostly because there are only 5,000 EVs on the road today, maybeup to 7,000 with the Teslas and other OEM EVs coming out. I would say 95 percent of the EVs are conversions that are used for commuting and many of those are boggeddown with heavy golf cart batteries, because that is more affordable to convert. Maybe the other 5 percent are racing with lightweight (expensive) batteries and more advanced components (expensive). That leaves just a few. People spending that kind of money aren't your typical pocket rocket teenager. We are talking less then a hundred vehicles or so, if that, across the US and Canada that are capable of racing. Now Tesla has sold 1,000 cars and each one of those can beat Corvettes and even Fararris off the line. The Tesla people could cause some trouble but not many owners are willing to risk messing up their $100,000 Tesla I've never heard of a Tesla driver being a menace on the road. Most are geenie weenies and environmental types that believe in self sustainable transportation and like the Tesla because it's sexy, has clean lines, and doesn't look like an experimental bubble that EVs have been stereotyped as.

The fact is we just aren't out there like the Fast and the Furious tearing up city streets. We are a very small portion of the automotive enthusiast industry so it has never been an issue and it has never come up.

The biggest issue affecting us is the cars are quiet. There has been more concern about the quiet factor then anything else. The blind folks want noise makers on our cars and we don't like that idea. That is one of the biggest issues we are dealing with now.

Ms. Robles: Evo Street Racers (Evo) studies have clearly shown that illegal street racing occurs largely in a younger populace which is the same age group that will/can act as the next generation of racers (and the long term health of any form of racing whether its piloting a standard combustion engine or electric propelled vehicle). What is the target demographic of NEDRA?

Mr. Gribben: Most the people converting and building EVs today are mostly middle- aged people and retirees. We do encourage younger people to build EVs but the cost makes it prohibitively expensive unless an adult is helping with the build and expenses. As a result, we don't fit the stereotype of the younger populace racing riceburners on the neighborhood streets. Although I converted my EV in my late 20's it was pretty slow with heavy golf cart batteries bogging it down. Fortunately, it's faster now with lighter batteries and improved components.

Most teenagers can't afford a $109,000 Tesla which is the "only" mass- produced EV you can buy today that will get you a speeding ticket. There are 900 Teslas on the road. I don't know of any owned by a member of the "younger populace" unless they have very rich parents.

People building racing EVs are generally older. Mostly because the parts are pretty expensive and you need a full-time job or established income to build them. It's really difficult to convert a street legal EV under $10,000. I spent $10,000 on mine 16 years ago!

To build a racing street EV costs more. From at least $15,000 on up to $100,000 depending on how fast you want to go. I know guys spending $35 to $60 grand building their racing EVs. Some lithium battery packs cost $8,000 to $30,000 alone for a highway capable car that also drag races.

Because of the costs, we just don't have alot of young teenagers out there racing EVs on the streets. Those kids can easily afford mods to gas engines like a $50 tuned muffler or K&N air filter, but they can't afford a $5,500 Zilla Z2-HV motor controller to propel a $2,000 electric motor or dual motors.

It's also a culture thing. EVs have been criticized in the media and from special interests fronting for the oil companies. The public has been misinformed and the interest to own an EV in the "youth populace" isn't as high. Tesla is changing that and NEDRA's purpose is to turn that around. We want more quick EVs on the streets.

So we just haven't seen a trend where EVs are involved in illegal street racing, so like I said it hasn't come up in our discussions. I personally would love to see an EV in the next version of the Fast and the Furious. It would help EVs overcome the "glorified golfcart" stereotype.

I imagine a few years down the road we may need to address the issue once EVs become more affordable and maintstream. Al Gore's son was caught speeding in a Prius.

Now, in our NEDRA Member responsibility code we mention "safety and responsibility on and OFF the track." So we do encourage safety off the track and that means responsible driving. That probably will qualify for what you mean:

"NEDRA's purpose is to provide World Class Electric Drag Racing and at the same NEDRA time have fun racing. NEDRA expects its members to maintain a high level of decorum, responsibility and safety both on and off the track. Poor sportsmanship, misrepresentation and discourteous behavior towards other members, the organization and/or the NEDRA Board will not be tolerated and may result in membership suspension."