The Absurdity of Zero GHG Formula-E Racing or Advanced Biofuel Racing is the Real Deal

by Robert Kozak (Advanced Biofuels USA) This past weekend the first race of the much hyped Formula-E electric car series was run in Beijing, China. http://www.racer.com/f1/formula-e/item/108558-formula-e-di-grassi-wins-as-prost-triggers-last-lap-crash
The 45 minute race, which required two electric cars (with top speeds about 80 mph less than E85 powered IndyCars) per driver because of the low energy storage capacity of current “hi-tech” batteries, was heavily promoted as the most environmental friendly series ever run. The race organizers were rewarded with international media coverage that by and large did not question their boast that this was “Zero Green House Gas Racing.”
Actually it wasn’t. In fact there are other well established racing series with faster cars and longer races that produce less GHGs. But first, the absurdities of the Formula-E race that ran on the grounds of the 2008 Olympics and was advertised as a symbol of China’s commitment to protecting the environment.
As we all know, the electricity stored in the batteries of the Formula-E race cars has to be produced somewhere. If the electricity had come from the grid in Beijing, a minimum of 69% and probably more would have been produced with non-renewable fossil fuel. (US DOE/EIA data: 66% coal, 3% natural gas. 22% of China’s installed electrical production is hydroelectric. Actual hydro production is somewhat lower due to local river conditions.)
With the reality of Chinese electrical grid being high in GHG production confronting the Formula-E organizers, robust, reliable, low-GHG electricity had to come from somewhere else.
And so, they installed such a system adjacent to the course, complete with a crowd-friendly display tent.
Drum roll please. It was a biodiesel fueled electrical generator!
Connected to 40 vehicle charging systems, that despite their best engineering efforts were producing heat and wasting electricity as the units tried to quickly cram as much electricity into the batteries as possible, the diesel hummed along most likely fueled by soy beans grown in the US or Brazil. (China cannot grow enough soy beans for domestic food consumption so large quantities are imported.)

So one might ask, wouldn’t less GHGs be produced if the race cars themselves were powered by renewable diesel fuel engines? One might also ask, do such racing cars actually exist?
Yes to both answers. Next weekend in Austin Texas, two Mazda diesel prototypes will race in the IMSA Tudor Championship. They have been racing all year using renewable fuel. That’s right 24 hours, not 45 minutes.

To summarize the absurdity of Formula-E.
One: Formula-E, a series being handsomely paid for by manufacturers of electricity and electrical systems as a show case for zero-GHG electricity, Can Only Exist Because Of Biofuels!
Two: Biofuels are the real low, or with cellulosic ethanol, zero GHG racing.

Three: Two very fast, very low GHG racing series, with races up to 24 hours and speeds up to 240 mph, have been using low GHG renewable fuels for years.

Don’t believe the hype of Formula-E. Go see the real deal in Austin next weekend. And if you can’t make it, check the calendar. Tudor Cup will be in Atlanta next month and racing starts at Daytona in January. READ MORE (Racer) and MORE (Al Jazeera) and MORE (Top Gear)