5 ms·

Excellent interview with Formula E founder: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrTbdKe0XTo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrTbdKe0XTo Best quote, when asked if h

Excellent interview with Formula E founder: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrTbdKe0XTo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrTbdKe0XTo Best quote, when asked if he thought we could end our dependence on oil: "The stone age didn't end because we ran out of stones." Really important to understand that this is just the first iteration of their plan. Goal is to get to single car for a full hour race within a few years. Agag says they now have many major cities approaching them about participating in the second year of Formula E, including San Francisco. Also, the cars are louder than most people realize, at 80 decibels.

semerda 12y ago
It's all relative. 80 decibels in the day isn't that loud. It's the sound of a vacuum cleaner. At night on the other hand 80db is loud. Considering that the F1 are 140DB the sound differences are massive.
- MarkyC4 12y ago
  Just to add to this, 140dB isn't about twice as loud as 80dB as the units might lead you to believe, since the scale is logarithmic: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decibel http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decibel These FE cars are MUCH quieter than their F1 cousins.
  - rcxdude 12y ago
    Well, in terms of sound energy, but our hearing is also logarithmic, so 140dB will sound about twice as loud.
    - zik 12y ago
      > an increase of 10db SPL is perceived to be approximately twice as loud From http://trace.wisc.edu/docs/2004-About-dB/ http://trace.wisc.edu/docs/2004-About-dB/ So it's really 2^6 = 64x as loud, perceptually.
- dmaz 12y ago
  To update that number, the new turbocharged engines required in Formula 1 since 2014 are much quieter (to some fans' dismay), maxing out around 100 dB. http://www.marca.com/2014/01/30/motor/formula1/1391085772.html http://www.marca.com/2014/01/30/motor/formula1/1391085772.ht... (Spanish)
  - semerda 12y ago
    Still I'd rather be listening to a 80db combustion motor spinning up and turbo whining, occasional back fires, flames from exhaust etc.. than a 80db electric buzz box ;-) I'm sure most race-car fans would agree.
    - nl 12y ago
      Have you heard one? They sound pretty good - more like the scream of a gas turbine than a "buzz box". I grew up near a F1 track during the "big bang" turbo era (1,350+HP from a 1.5 litre engine that would only last 3 alps in qualifying trim)[1]. I'm pretty sure we'll never hear engines like those in circuit races again, and I'm not sure that's a bad thing. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formula_One_engines#1966.E2.80.931986 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formula_One_engines#1966.E2.80....
    - alkimie2 12y ago
      Not me. I used to go to the Sinapore F1. Even with ear plugs it was painful next to the track. It wore me out and really reduced my enjoyment. I for one welcome our new electric masters. I hope Singapore is one of the first to host. I'd definitely attend.
driverdan 12y ago
80dB is below the legal limit for street vehicles in many states. That's pretty quiet. I've owned a few cars with exhaust louder than that.
- jeremyrwelch 12y ago
  Fair point, the sound levels are similar to a street legal car. But the important point is they are NOT silent. There's still a rush to hearing them zip by while in the stands.

semerda 12y ago

It's all relative. 80 decibels in the day isn't that loud. It's the sound of a vacuum cleaner. At night on the other hand 80db is loud. Considering that the F1 are 140DB the sound differences are massive.

MarkyC4 12y ago
Just to add to this, 140dB isn't about twice as loud as 80dB as the units might lead you to believe, since the scale is logarithmic: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decibel http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decibel These FE cars are MUCH quieter than their F1 cousins.
- rcxdude 12y ago
  Well, in terms of sound energy, but our hearing is also logarithmic, so 140dB will sound about twice as loud.
  - zik 12y ago
    > an increase of 10db SPL is perceived to be approximately twice as loud From http://trace.wisc.edu/docs/2004-About-dB/ http://trace.wisc.edu/docs/2004-About-dB/ So it's really 2^6 = 64x as loud, perceptually.
dmaz 12y ago
To update that number, the new turbocharged engines required in Formula 1 since 2014 are much quieter (to some fans' dismay), maxing out around 100 dB. http://www.marca.com/2014/01/30/motor/formula1/1391085772.html http://www.marca.com/2014/01/30/motor/formula1/1391085772.ht... (Spanish)
- semerda 12y ago
  Still I'd rather be listening to a 80db combustion motor spinning up and turbo whining, occasional back fires, flames from exhaust etc.. than a 80db electric buzz box ;-) I'm sure most race-car fans would agree.
  - nl 12y ago
    Have you heard one? They sound pretty good - more like the scream of a gas turbine than a "buzz box". I grew up near a F1 track during the "big bang" turbo era (1,350+HP from a 1.5 litre engine that would only last 3 alps in qualifying trim)[1]. I'm pretty sure we'll never hear engines like those in circuit races again, and I'm not sure that's a bad thing. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formula_One_engines#1966.E2.80.931986 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formula_One_engines#1966.E2.80....
  - alkimie2 12y ago
    Not me. I used to go to the Sinapore F1. Even with ear plugs it was painful next to the track. It wore me out and really reduced my enjoyment. I for one welcome our new electric masters. I hope Singapore is one of the first to host. I'd definitely attend.

driverdan 12y ago

80dB is below the legal limit for street vehicles in many states. That's pretty quiet. I've owned a few cars with exhaust louder than that.

jeremyrwelch 12y ago
Fair point, the sound levels are similar to a street legal car. But the important point is they are NOT silent. There's still a rush to hearing them zip by while in the stands.