We have dealt with electric karts on several occasions, tested them, and published detailed reports in our magazine, regularly expressing both doubts and strengths of what has so far been an experimental path that introduced some convincing products to the market, especially in the rental sector, and by way of some well-supported and developed projects, even interesting Racing alternatives.

Aware of how delicate the topic is and how much “engagement” it has always generated in the debate that once happened at the bar and today takes place on social media, we have always tried to involve those who work with these technologies, and the conclusion we always reached is that electric does not currently represent the "future" of karting but rather an expansion of the Racing offer, fairly niche, that might, time will tell, catch on with the new (very new) generations. As expressed by Artis Daugins, CEO of Blue Shock Race, a company engaged for years in the development of electric karts in collaboration with Birel Art, in the end, we are talking about “an iPhone on wheels" that has potential for that generation born much later when some simply will never accept electric. No need for fear or apocalyptic scenarios: electric is here to complement the Racing offer in karting and not to overturn or erase 60 years of history.

That said, at least the image that the FIA circulated on the occasion of this announcement raises some doubts, since that kart seems structured in a way that is not common to any of the karts that serve as a guideline in the sector and that have been tested, developed, and currently compete in different parts of the world in real competitions: the Rotax E20 and the BSR E-Kart. If you have seen even one – in photo, live, or video – or better yet tried them, as we did on the track with both, none of these have the battery positioned where it is seen in the image that circulated in recent days and which the Fia Karting website published. In that rendering, what looks like a bulky battery is positioned exactly where the fuel tank is mounted in karts, between the driver’s legs. The experts we contacted confirmed that there are at least two problems linked to such an installation: the first concerns the behavior of the chassis, with a battery in a very flexible and “moving” point as Artis Daugins of BSR confirmed to us: “At the beginning of our project, we carried out tests with the battery in that position but both because that part is very mobile and the anchorage is not stable, we immediately discarded the idea. Think about it, the plastic tanks – very light – are fixed to the chassis pillars there, something much more complex to do with a heavy battery. If you really wanted to do it, the chassis would have to be redesigned compared to commercial ones or you would have to install ‘shock absorbers’ that would be subjected to enormous stress. At best, the battery you could mount there would be small and replacements, which inevitably are frequent, would still be a problem. I am not aware of any company that has developed and continues to develop electric karts having chosen this solution, and there must be a reason.”

 

Secondly, batteries mounted laterally are now the standard in electric karts and with the progressive weight reduction of batteries, managing them with every existing chassis without redesign is very simple – as we witnessed ourselves, replacing a KZ engine with a power unit and relative battery in a few minutes. “Also think about the possible safety risks – Daugins continues – whatever happens, an accident, a fire or any other event on track, can be managed without major problems when batteries are mounted laterally: having them between the legs would certainly reduce the safety of these vehicles. Imagine having to intervene on a battery practically stuck in the middle of the chassis alongside the driver.”

So, while it is possible to acknowledge the FIA’s attention to electric vehicles and that this is somewhat in spirit with the times we live in, on the other hand, together with those who for some time have successfully put electric karts on track – whether liked or not – the question remains what project we will see on track following this announcement and at what stage its development is.