Setting the pace for safety in EV racing

The second annual EVRSafe (Electric Vehicle Racing Safety) conference provided the public with the latest in battery technology, safety best practices, powertrain updates and more. Led by William States Lee College of Engineering and the Stand 21 “Racing Goes Safer” Driver Safety Foundation, the event was held on October 22 at Charlotte Motor Speedway and attracted attendees from as far away as Colorado.

The EVRSafe conference featured three special presentations by leaders in the field:

• Blake Fuller, CEO and Founder of multiple racing companies, discussed his experiences as a Tesla racing record holder and stunt driver. With his expertise in EV powertrains and high-performance lithium-ion batteries, Fuller provided specialized information to those in attendance;
• John Pagel, Race Director, “24 Hours of Lemons” Race Series, shared insight to the grass-roots EV motorsports movement as teams compete in his series to be the first to finish 1st overall in an EV. Pagel discussed his process for preparing track safety teams for these unique, home-built EV race cars;
• Anthony Bombik, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at UNC Charlotte, outlined his ongoing research into lithium-ion batteries and what can be done to protect against thermal runaway.

The conference provided attendees an exclusive forum to question, network and learn, a face-to-face opportunity not available elsewhere. For example, Team Arcblast, a 24 Hours of Lemons race team, attended the conference and explained how they earned the current EV Lemons distance record of over 700 miles by hot-swapping batteries mid-race. Team Arcblast is the first EV race team to successfully conduct the hot swap and they were able to share how they perfected this practice. 

The group openly discussed topics unique to EV racing, including the stigmatization associated with these vehicles even participating in motorsports. Attendee Tom Deery shared his perspective based on his connections to the Speciality Equipment Market Association and the Performance Racing Industry group, and Bob Morgan, a motorsports insurance specialist, also spoke about the implications of unique risk management associated with EV racing. The open forum revealed what organizations like race tracks, sanctioning bodies, and event organizers are seeking: ways to help race enthusiasts be more comfortable with EV racing events.

The conference also included a hands-on highlight with three electric race vehicles on display:

• the electric prototype race car developed by NASCAR and ABB, a leader in the electrification industry, standing as the only vehicle of its kind and a model for future production;
• the 1,400 horsepower Mustang MachE developed by Ford Performance and Team RTR;
• the 2024 Formula SAE EV designed and built by UNC Charlotte students on the 49ers Racing team.