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2012 Technical rules update
3rd December 2011
TTXGP press office
As most of you will know, TTXGP is very fortunate to have a totally independent world class panel of automotive and electrical engineering experts to help us be the guardians of electric motorsport. Every year the IET Technical Panel update our Technical Rulebook as well as help scutineer all the races.
The Panel are drawn from The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) membership and more information can be found on them HERE. As a result of lessons learnt last year there have been a number of changes to the technical rule book – most of which are to improve safety on the track for all involved and help elevate the series.
Below are the highlights presented by the IET Tecnical Panel chair, Simon Maddison and a link to the NEW TECHNICAL RULES. If you want to Join the grid, the first step is to register you interest by completing the team registration form. This form is in no way binding, but will lead to greater level of support and information useful for teams wanting to get involved.
IET Technical Advisory Panel to TTXGP Note to Competitors –
Following experience from the 2011 season, there have been some amendments to the rules for 2012.
This note accompanies the revised rules, and highlights the key changes. Note that careful reading of the rules is essential, and this note is not a substitute but simply a guideline.
Some renumbering of the rules has resulted from the insertion of the new rule 19 and the move of (new number) rule 25.
Rule 2 – TTX75 Award.
The TTX75 class has now been changed to a special award.
Furthermore, following issues with interpretation, the manufacturer’s maximum cell voltage will be accepted to calculate the energy carried on the bike. Please note the information that you need to provide in this respect and in terms of number and configuration of cells, and the pack dimensions.
Again there has been some discussion about the use of a device to monitor the amount of energy consumed on a machine in support of scrutineering this requirement. This will not be applied this season. However the Panel will continue to review this in the light of experience gained during the season.
Rule 4 – Charging the Accumulator
Following incidents over the past two seasons, it is required that a competent team member is always present when accumulator charging is taking place.
Rule 19 – Battery Management System
Again, following incidents this past season, we have added an additional rule on the requirements for a Battery Management System. This is a safety requirement and is intended to protect both people and machine. Please read this rule carefully.
Rule 23 – Electrical Safety
The maximum voltage limit has been raised from 500V to 700V. Note that this means 700V DC or a peak of 700V for AC.
Rule 24 – Emergency Stop & General Circuit Breaker
The rules for the Emergency Stops have been changed slightly. As previously a ‘kill switch’ is required for the rider, to be operable without moving hands from the handlebars. However this no longer has to provide complete isolation of the batteries when operated although this would be preferred. The Emergency Stop on the rear of the machine MUST comply with the full requirement to isolate all the batteries when operated, acting as a General Circuit Breaker.
The requirement for a lanyard has been removed.
Rule 25 – Discharge of Capacitors
This rule is unchanged from the old rule ‘Capacitors’, but has been renamed and moved to more logically follow Rule 24 – Emergency Stop.
Rule 26 - Power Indicator
Some clarification is added for this rule. The power indicator must operate when the bike is live. It should ONLY be switched off when the operated Emergency Stop acts as a General Circuit Breaker, i.e. the batteries are completely isolated, and then go out immediately. It should not go out when the Kill Switch is operated if this does not act as a General Circuit Breaker.
Rule 31 – Accumulator Fastening
The references to metal fastenings have been clarified.
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