**1. Introduction**

The history of the electric car started at the beginning of the automobile era, that is, in the nineteenth century. At that time, electric vehicles competed with combustion and steam engine ones not only on the streets but also on racetracks. The world land speed record of 105.88 km/h was established by the Belgian Camille Jenats in 1899 with an electric vehicle and was unbeaten for another 3 years [1, 2]. The Paris-Bordeaux-Paris race was attended by the French electric

Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. © 2018 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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constructor Charles Jeantud. His car offered great performance, but its 950-kg batteries had to be replaced 15 times during the race [3]. The problem with storing electricity was the reason why electric vehicles have disappeared from the streets and from motorsport for a long time.

• Autodromo Vysoke Myto in Vysoke Myto, Czech Republic—length 1142 m, 8 m clockwise

• Tor Radom, in Radom, Poland—length 820 m, 8–12 m in clockwise direction (possibly also

• Bydgoszcz in the city of Bydgoszcz, Poland—length 1017 m, 8–10 m wide counterclockwise

• 7 Laghi Kart—International Circuit in Castelletto di Branduzzo, Italy—length 1017 m, 8–10 m in clockwise direction (**Figure 1**—Picture of 7 Laghi Kart—International Circuit) In each of the age categories, data from a dozen race laps were analyzed, and for each six races were selected, three fastest and three slowest lap times for three different racetracks. An Off Camber Data tool for Unipro devices was used for the analysis. **Figure 2** shows the Off

Driver age (years) 8–10 10–13 13–16 15+ 15+ Min. mass of vehicle with driver (kg) 110 130 147 165 173 Chassis type, wheelbase (mm) 950 1050 1050 1050 1050 Power max. (kW/rpm) 6/7500 11/8500 17/8500 22/8500 25/8500 Torque (Nm/rpm) 9/6000 13/8000 19/8500 21/9000 22/10500 Mass of drive train (kg) 21.6 23.0 23.0 23.1 28.8 Mass of fuel (kg) ~4.0 ~5.0 ~6.0 ~7.0 ~7.0 Race distance (km) 14 16 18 20 20

**MicroMax MiniMax JuniorMax SeniorMax DD2**

Vehicle Dynamics and Green Electronic Differential for eKart

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.72892

107

directional width.

direction

in the opposite direction).

Camber Data analysis panel.

**Table 1.** Main parameters of the Rotax series in Poland.

**Figure 1.** Picture of 7 Laghi Kart—International Circuit © Google Maps.

Rising awareness of ecology and the search for new fields of experiments in motorsport have led to the development of hybrid technology, which was the first sign of a return to electricity. In the F1 racing series, fuel efficiency regulations have been intensified and the share of hybrid energy recovery systems has increased [5]. In 2006, regulations were announced, and in 2009, a kinetic energy recovery system was introduced in the F1 racing series. The system called kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) allowed the release of energy up to 400 kJ on one lap [6, 8] and no more than 60 kW. In long-distance races, the importance of the hybrid system has been confirmed during the most prestigious race. In the LeMans race on June 16–17, 2012, two Audi hybrid cars were classified in the first two places. This was the first long-distance race for hybrid vehicles; apart from the Audi LMP1 e-tron, Toyota also entered its TS030 hybrid vehicle [7].

Another step toward ecological motorsport was the creation of the electric Formula E series [4]. In Formula E, the race takes about 50 min, and the problem of storing a sufficient amount of energy has been resolved by the obligatory pit stop and car replacement. Formula E takes advantage of easy energy control and makes the sport more entertaining. In racing mode, maximum power is limited to 170 kW. However, the three drivers who win a fan online vote can receive an additional 100 kJ, increasing maximum power to 200 kW for couple of seconds [9].

Formula E has received credit from racing drivers. Former F1 driver and current Formula E driver, Nelson Piquet Jr., said that "if you care about the fame and flashes the F1 is the best racing series, but equally exciting for racing drivers is competing in Formula E. Formula E was created to boost electric motorsport, but still very few series are purely electric."

To get to F1, each driver has to start from karting between the ages of 5 and 8, but present-day go-karts are only powered by combustion engines. In order to introduce the possibility of racing small green electric racing vehicles for young drivers, the so-called eKarts, combustion engines have to be replaced with electric motors. It was assumed that for eKarts to gain a foothold, they should provide similar parameters to those of combustion engine go-karts. Therefore, to determine the required power of the electric motors and the capacity of the batteries in eKarts for different age categories, the technical parameters of the different age categories of combustion engine racing go-karts have been analyzed.

The Rotax Max Challenge series has been chosen for analysis due to the fact that it is one of the most popular karting series in the world and also in Poland. **Table 1** shows the main features of selected Rotax categories [19].

An analysis of the power used by go-karts was made on the basis of data from racing and official trainings on the following certified karting tracks:


In each of the age categories, data from a dozen race laps were analyzed, and for each six races were selected, three fastest and three slowest lap times for three different racetracks. An Off Camber Data tool for Unipro devices was used for the analysis. **Figure 2** shows the Off Camber Data analysis panel.


**Table 1.** Main parameters of the Rotax series in Poland.

constructor Charles Jeantud. His car offered great performance, but its 950-kg batteries had to be replaced 15 times during the race [3]. The problem with storing electricity was the reason why electric vehicles have disappeared from the streets and from motorsport for a long time. Rising awareness of ecology and the search for new fields of experiments in motorsport have led to the development of hybrid technology, which was the first sign of a return to electricity. In the F1 racing series, fuel efficiency regulations have been intensified and the share of hybrid energy recovery systems has increased [5]. In 2006, regulations were announced, and in 2009, a kinetic energy recovery system was introduced in the F1 racing series. The system called kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) allowed the release of energy up to 400 kJ on one lap [6, 8] and no more than 60 kW. In long-distance races, the importance of the hybrid system has been confirmed during the most prestigious race. In the LeMans race on June 16–17, 2012, two Audi hybrid cars were classified in the first two places. This was the first long-distance race for hybrid vehicles; apart from the Audi LMP1 e-tron, Toyota also entered its TS030 hybrid vehicle [7].

Another step toward ecological motorsport was the creation of the electric Formula E series [4]. In Formula E, the race takes about 50 min, and the problem of storing a sufficient amount of energy has been resolved by the obligatory pit stop and car replacement. Formula E takes advantage of easy energy control and makes the sport more entertaining. In racing mode, maximum power is limited to 170 kW. However, the three drivers who win a fan online vote can receive an additional 100 kJ, increasing maximum power to 200 kW for couple of seconds [9]. Formula E has received credit from racing drivers. Former F1 driver and current Formula E driver, Nelson Piquet Jr., said that "if you care about the fame and flashes the F1 is the best racing series, but equally exciting for racing drivers is competing in Formula E. Formula E

was created to boost electric motorsport, but still very few series are purely electric."

categories of combustion engine racing go-karts have been analyzed.

official trainings on the following certified karting tracks:

tures of selected Rotax categories [19].

106 Green Electronics

8–10 m wide, clockwise direction.

To get to F1, each driver has to start from karting between the ages of 5 and 8, but present-day go-karts are only powered by combustion engines. In order to introduce the possibility of racing small green electric racing vehicles for young drivers, the so-called eKarts, combustion engines have to be replaced with electric motors. It was assumed that for eKarts to gain a foothold, they should provide similar parameters to those of combustion engine go-karts. Therefore, to determine the required power of the electric motors and the capacity of the batteries in eKarts for different age categories, the technical parameters of the different age

The Rotax Max Challenge series has been chosen for analysis due to the fact that it is one of the most popular karting series in the world and also in Poland. **Table 1** shows the main fea-

An analysis of the power used by go-karts was made on the basis of data from racing and

• Speedworld in Bruck, Austria—length 1060, 1120, 1140 m (depending on configuration),

• Pann Ring in Ostffyasszonyfa, Hungary—length 1071m, 8m wide counterclockwise direction.

• Goethe Stadium in Kecskemet, Hungary—length 935 m, 7 m wide, anticlockwise.

**Figure 1.** Picture of 7 Laghi Kart—International Circuit © Google Maps.

**Figure 2.** Analytical panel Off Camber Data application.
