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[andrew]

FIA confirms electric-only pitlanes from 2014

Not really sure if this is a good, bad or ridiculous.

[bud]

Interesting is what I'll say for the now, not sure what to think myself either.

[Fred_C_Dobbs]

It's official. The lunatics control the asylum.

[bud]

Surely the teams would be allowed to get the engines up to temp in the garage before heading out?

[Jose Lorca]

It's official. The lunatics control the asylum.

they are on the grass too

[andrew]

It's official. The lunatics control the asylum.

they are on the grass too

They are also in the hall.

[What's Burning?]

Not sure I understand this fully, when the ignition and fuel is shut, the KERS motor itself will be used to drive the drivetrain... we're not talking about an additional electric motor/s at the wheels correct?

[Denthúl]

Surely the teams would be allowed to get the engines up to temp in the garage before heading out?

More than likely. I don't think they'd lose too much temperature travelling to the end of the pit lane, even if the garage was right at the start. The idea seems a good one, to me. It's (at least, in theory) pretty easy to propel the car along at the pit lane speed limit using only electric power, so why not? The main issue I can see, though, is that a faulty starter unit would end your race as you'd cruise over the line at the end of the pit lane and...nothing.

[Stealthgate007]

It also said what I believe is only being allowed to change the gear ratio on an 8 speed transmition once per season..

I think.... this is not going to happen in 2014.. I'll come back to this post in 3yrs..

[Denthúl]

I was a bit confused, initially, but it does seem that you can only change the ratios once (perhaps this is why they are moving to an eight-speed box and the eighth gear will only be used on faster circuits, I don't know). My first thoughts were that you had to declare a selection at the start of the season and could only use from within that range, but it does read like you just set them once.

[bud]

The main issue I can see, though, is that a faulty starter unit would end your race as you'd cruise over the line at the end of the pit lane and...nothing.

But the F1 cars don't have onboard starter motors, starting the engines is all done in the garage by a starter motor inserted into the rear plus a lot of computers making sure everything is the right temp before even inserting the starter motor.
The petrol motor should still be on idle while the electric engine is powering the car I would think.

[Denthúl]

The main issue I can see, though, is that a faulty starter unit would end your race as you'd cruise over the line at the end of the pit lane and...nothing.

But the F1 cars don't have onboard starter motors, starting the engines is all done in the garage by a starter motor inserted into the rear plus a lot of computers making sure everything is the right temp before even inserting the starter motor.
The petrol motor should still be on idle while the electric engine is powering the car I would think.

The new regulations state that drivers must be able to start the car themselves from the cockpit.

[f1usa]

If your KERS malfunctions and you pit under engine power, what is the penalty.

[andrew]

If your KERS malfunctions and you pit under engine power, what is the penalty.

You get out and push.

Not sure I understand this fully, when the ignition and fuel is shut, the KERS motor itself will be used to drive the drivetrain... we're not talking about an additional electric motor/s at the wheels correct?

I think that's it. The car will be powered soley by its KERS unit. So there will be addition batteries needed that will be constantly charged incase of unexpected trips into the pitlane. This will mean more weight to the cars which will likely mean higher fuel consumption so more fuel needed. So environmently friendly it requires more fuel.

If the FIA want to make F1 green then simply limit the amount of fuel per car for the entire season. Once its gone its gone that car cannot race and the team gets whacked with a points and/or financial penalty.

[phonedog]

Wow indeed that sounds interesting.....