We'd RACE This 500hp EV! Would You?
A 500hp capable 'turn key' race car is something of interest to anyone interested in racing, but the fact we're talking about an electric vehicle (EV) here is a new and exciting concept for us all.
Joel Fallaise of @scalarperformance runs us through the details of their SCR1 GR86-based race car, which has undoubtedly seen attention to the elements well beyond what many ICE packages on the market for years have had! The heart of the SCR1 is a T-shaped battery bank that allows the car to run lower than a traditional 'skateboard' setup with the Stealth EV motor using a BorgWarner custom core producing up to 500hp via a Cascadia inverter.
A stock GR86 produces 228 hp and 184 lb-ft, so even at a reduced offering for spec racing that sees 330hp and 350 lb-ft, this is a comparative rocket ship without yearly engine and/or transmission rebuilds or regular oil and filter changing distractions. A 45-minute race time with a 20-minute charge via level 3 (DC fast charging) also sounds very appealing, with endurance racing a goal for future iterations.
On the cost front, Scalar Performance has retained as many factory options as possible for chassis and driveline tuning, including the stock differential centre allowing the use of off-the-shelf aftermarket LSDs, axles, coilovers, suspension tuning components and more, driving the cost savings further and avoiding the need for custom work.
Minimal servicing includes1000 hour motor bearing replacements, yearly oil changes and 4-5 years of battery usage, and you'll save on brake pads, too, with tuneable battery regeneration helping slow the car while charging the battery.
A custom VCU is used to meet requirements for spec racing quickly, and a cross-over from real life to sim racing via telemetry is also a significant focus.
You can hold your fire jokes for another day here, too, as the suppression and isolation systems are ahead of what you will find in your Tesla. With that being a significant concern for race tracks and marshalls, it is great to see it addressed proactively and is just another sign that a TON of thought has gone into this platform with clear longevity goals rather than trend-following knee-jerks.
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TIME STAMPS:
0:00 - Joel Fallaise - Scalar Performance
0:00 - 2022 GT86
0:42 - 65kWh Battery
0:58 - 500hp Stealth EV Motor
1:10 - Cascadia Inverter
1:13 - GR86 Differ Carrier
1:35 - GR86 Soul Remains Intact
2:05 - LSD/Diff Options Are Not Custom/Hard To Get
2:30 - Why A T Shape Battery Pack?
3:09 - NASA ST2 Series
4:02 - Why Spec Series Goals?
4:46 - Production Plans
5:21 - EV Race Car Running Costs
6:17 - Regen Vs Brake Pads
6:32 - Regen & Car Balance
6:50 - 45 Mins Race, 20 Mins Charge
7:04 - Endurance Racing Goals
7:28 - 3D Scanning & CAD Work
8:08 - Fusion 360 & SOLIDWORKS
8:17 - Roll Cage Considerations
8:57 - VCU Compliance Considerations
10:22 - Telemetry Uses
11:22 - Minimal Driver Aides
12:48 - Torque Tuning & Driver Training
13:24 - Suspension Options
14:26 - Brake Package Options
14:45 - Brake Balance Vs Regen
15:26 - EV Safety Precautions
16:56 -Thanks Joel! (Hope the test day went well!)
17:35 - The More You Know, The Faster You Go
From Scalar Performance:
The Scalar Performance SCR1 is the first all-electric amateur touring race car. With a bespoke powertrain designed for the rigors of racing, it is the first club racing electric vehicle approved by the National Auto Sport Association (NASA) for touring car road racing.
The SCR1 has been engineered to provide its driver with the same feeling of a mid-engine gas powered race car, while adding new technologies and the exhilarating torque of an electric powered car for an overall improved racing experience. Applying a user-centered design (UCD) process, the SCR1 was built to provide drivers with the best all-electric amateur sport club race car.
Modernizing club sport amateur racing by providing race car owners with new technologies was the driving force behind the engineering of the Scalar Performance SCR1. Technologies such as continuous real time telemetry, high resolution GPS, powertrain metrics and driver behavior data used by professional racing teams are available on the SCR1.
The maintenance of the SCR1 is very minimal, allowing drivers to spend their race weekends racing. Another driver-centered way of improving racing experience for race car owner.
Safety remains the priority in the continuous development of this race car. Our mantra is protect the driver, protect the track, protect the car. A large number of safety systems have been put in place inside the SCR1 that meets and exceeds all FIA safety requirements for electric vehicles, making it a very safe race car to drive and own.
The SCR1 Founder Edition will be limited to 10 vehicles which are scheduled to hit the race track in 2023.
SCR1 FAST FACTS Ownership Benefits
- First all-electric amateur touring race car
- Bespoke electric power train designed for racing
- Approved for competition in the NASA Super Touring Series
- Minimal scheduled maintenance (no engine, no transmission)
- Industry leading safety features
- Equipped with racing technologies such as advanced telemetry and driver data acquisition
Founders Limited Edition
- Unique opportunity to become a pioneer and define the future of EV racing
- Direct support from vehicle engineering team
- Secure over-the-air updates included
- No additional cost for hardware and/or software upgrades from Founder Limited Edition to Gen2
race car
- SCR1 Founder Limited Edition Plaque – “1 of 10 - Made for Your Name”
- Paint to sample roll cage
Performance
- Top Speed: 165mph / 267 kph
- Estimated 0-60 mph: 3.9s
- Power: 245kW continuous (328hp equivalent)
- Torque: 345 lb-ft
Scalar Performance,
- Race Time: 45min +
- Recharge Time : less than 20min (Level 3 - 150kW)
- Industry leading battery management, which means you get every minute of racing possible out of the 65kWh battery pack
- Curb Weight: 3,040 lbs
- Weight Distribution: similar to mid-engine race car
- Suspension: bespoke suspension developed by Öhlins
- Brakes: six piston front calipers and four piston rear calipers
Powertrain
- 800-volt Stealth EV motor by Hypercraft
- 65kWh custom battery pack specially designed for motorsport
- Level 2 and Level 3 DC fast charging capabilities
- Single Motor Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) configuration
- Ettractive 5.19:1 Gear Reduction with straight cut gears for added durability and sound
- Torsen (Torque Sensing) limited-slip differential
Safety Features
- Meets and exceeds FIA safety requirements (Appendix J, Section 18. Requirements for Electrically Powered Vehicles)
- Industry leading thermal management and runaway prevention, making it one of the safest battery electric vehicles (BEV) ever built
- Lifeline fire suppression system with Novec 1230 integrated through the battery pack, another industry first
- Eight-point VR3 Engineering roll cage, designed for increased strength and rapid ingress/egress
- Safecraft Racing FIA six-point safety harness, custom SFI safety racing net (windows) and tow strap
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