Formula E promises to change things up a bit in the world of single-seater race cars. While many lament the lack of sounds and vibration, we welcome you to listen to what a race EV sounds like.
Guilty as charged!
I wasn’t born loving electric vehicles (EV). In fact, quite the opposite, like most people, I came from a world of pistons and so-called noble, and refined engines, mostly Italian cars. I’m a die-hard Alfa Romeo fanatic, with a very tender spot for older Maseratis. I just didn’t see the point of no gears, no whining and no vibrations. How wrong I was. It wasn’t until I sat at the wheel of a Tesla Roadster that the light bulb went off. It was finally my right foot and two hands, and nothing to rob my attention away from driving the car.
In the end, I didn’t miss the “lack of vibration”, no the gear shifting, quite the opposite. The lack of engine vibration made me more aware of the state of the road, which is a serious plus when racing. I did feel a sense of frustration going back to my supped up Alfa Romeo Spider, with its race engine, annoyed at having to shift when the Roadster seemingly kept on delivering torque, always revving.
And that sound!
Naysayers also lament the lack of sound, although I would bet they have never heard the whoosh of an EV racing by. One of the things I liked hearing the most at Pikes Peak were people walking back down amazed at the sound these EVs made. “Did you hear that whoosh?”
To make the point clearer, how about listening and seeing an ex-F1 champion, Jarno Trulli test drive a Formula E race car.
