2 weeks Ago By Jordan Mulach
One of Australia's most popular racing facilities has banned road-registered electric vehicles (EVs) from competitive events over fire concerns. or signup to continue reading Willowbank Raceway near Ipswich – about 55km west of Brisbane's CBD – put out a statement to announce the ban, which it said followed consultation with Motorsport Australia and the National Electric Drag Racing Association (NEDRA). "We have been reviewing the regulations from Motorsport Australia, NEDRA, as well as the emergency response procedures for specific vehicles, and after information provided from these departments, we have determined that the risks associated with racing and testing electric vehicles are too high," the statement reads.
According to Willowbank Raceway, these risks include: The costs related to making the necessary upgrades for EVs are likely a factor behind the ban. The ban has already taken effect and applies to all events which take place at Willowbank Raceway. Though hybrid vehicles are also fitted with and partially powered by high-voltage batteries, the ban doesn't extend to them.
Motorsport Australia, the governing body for racing locally, released its EV regulations in July 2022, which mandated the use of specific personal protective equipment (PPE) to better protect those involved in racing events which include battery-powered cars. This included the rollout of high-voltage rescue hooks, a water bath or high-volume water supply to reduce the risk of thermal runaway. Content originally sourced from: Advertisement Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date.
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