Race to save the world

To the uninitiated, the world of motorsport might evoke images of million-dollar fuel-guzzling cars whizzing by a brightly lit track. Racing Green challenges this notion with an engrossing narrative on how motorsport (particularly Formula 1 or F1) has led to technological developments with significant impact on the real world. Author Kit Chapman touts F1 as the world’s fastest research and development laboratory, where the sole aim of making a car go faster by a fraction of a second leads to innovations on the engine, body and tyres. Tools that have been perfected for racing, like aerodynamics, find applications in seemingly unrelated concepts like planning of cities, skyscrapers and even the design of supermarket freezers.

The initial chapters focus on the evolution of electric propulsion in the world of competitive racing. The first land speed records were held by electric cars before the internal combustion engine (ICE) arrived on the stage. The book briefly sheds light on the inner workings of ICE and the constant efforts made to improve operating efficiency, like the invention of turbochargers (turbines that enables energy recovery from the exhaust) and KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System; a form of regenerative braking which uses a flywheel coated with magnetic particles to convert braking energy into propulsion). These technologies have also influenced energy efficiency developments in commercial vehicles.

Chapman paints a promising future for Formula E, the F1 equivalent for electric cars initiated in 2014-15, by saying that its growth could have a direct impact on the evolution of commercial electric cars. For example, Formula E was the first to use silicon carbide, a lightweight material that crucially improves vehicle performance, for its motor controller electronics, paving the way for more such innovations. Another impressive feat is that the braking technology in Formula E recovers 40 per cent of the energy used within a race. Chapman also uses Formula E to provide a fitting tribute to John Goodenough, the Nobel Prize laureate known for development of lithium-ion batteries, without which electric mobility could not be imagined today.

Chapman goes on to talk about Extreme E, a frontier initiative where teams compete in off-road racing in fragile terrains—from the glaciers of Greenland to copper mines in Chile—using electric SUVs. The aim of Extreme E is to showcase sustainability at the far reaches of the globe. Seemingly, it is also the only sport with its own “climate change scientific committee” and has gender parity. Extreme E also serves as a setting for experiments with batteries and powertrains, to improve performance in extreme temperatures and harsh environments. Lessons from Extreme E can be beneficial during the development of next-generation batteries for commercial vehicles.

Chapman’s dive into motorsport science is liberally peppered with real incidents and the history of the innovations that have sprung from the race track. These stories are not restricted to motorsport, but dwell into subjects such as history and health. For example, while describing the voracious use of tyres in F1, Chapman raises questions on the limits of sustainability of natural rubber production. He also delves into the colonial history of rubber cultivation and the susceptibility of the tree to diseases like blight. To also talks about natural rubber alternatives to the currently used “hevea” variety, like guayule and dandelion, which can be cultivated in non-tropical areas and are being researched by tyre manufacturers.

Another riveting story is about how motorsport companies responded to the “ventilator challenge” initiated by the UK government to help address the shortfall of breathing machines at a time when the country was seeing an influx of severe COVID-19 cases. Mercedes AMG, which produces engine parts for F1 cars, switched to build CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure machines, essentially a mechanical valve to help inflate the lungs). The company successfully built over 10,000 machines, significantly reducing the need for ventilators.

A science journalist by profession, Chapman presents nut-and-bolt explanation, where technical concepts are written in a manner that any one could understand. Although, it is pertinent to mention that some prior knowledge of F1 would definitely help understand the context of the narratives (the Netflix series Drive to Survive is an engaging entry point into the motorsport). Moreover, with Chapman’s forte being chemistry, even those who disliked the subject in school may find a new sense of wonder about how the science influences alternative fuels, battery technology and additive manufacturing. A good example is the primer on graphene, a carbon allotrope, and its 2D molecular structure with numerous possibilities as a strong structural material, conductor and even as a coolant.

F1 has ambitiously pledged to go carbon-neutral by 2030 and has already embraced innovations such as turbo-hybrid engines (enabled with energy recovery from braking and exhaust) and using 10 per cent ethanol-blended fuel or E10 fuel. It is intriguing to see how its current research on biofuels, e-fuels (synthetic fuel) and hydrogen fuel cells will aid in the motorsport achieving carbon neutrality. The global endeavour for a green future will likely require a cornucopia of solutions. Chapman optimistically lays hope on motorsport to act as the proving ground to experiment with ideas for automotives, which could be adopted at commercial scales.

This was first published in the January 1-15, 2024 print edition of Down To Earth

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