It seems like eKarting is here to stay. That’s a good thing. But I’m not sure I’m a fan of the format I see developing – a hard spec’d single manufacturer married to an org. I’m my idealized world, orgs are supposed to be brand agnostic. Now it seems everyone pays their $$ to buy an org and spec their product.
I don’t have a problem with SPEC E-karting, but lets not pretend that’s the replacement for most of gas karting.
Gas karting is a competition between engine builders (and sometimes engine brands), chassis tuners, and drivers. That triple element is appealing to a lot of people.
Speclectrics is a concept I have no problem with, but it’s more akin to RotaxMax Series. Not bad, just different philosophy.
Seems like everyone (even on the gas side) wants their own monopoly now. What a pity… Competition is what drives innovation. If Electrics are to supplant gas, the formula should be a motor kW rating, and battery amp hour max rating (or an inverse ratio of the two allowed) and a minimum running weight. I’m curious if the heavier weight favors a 32mm chassis vs. 30, esp. for adult drivers. Would be interesting to test.
Would a 30 kW setup with big battery beat a 50 kW setup with smaller battery? Would axle hub motors beat chassis mount? Would regen braking and capacitor push-to-pass be a neat feature? All questions a spec series will never answer…
Good luck to BSR and WKA…and kudos for forging a path forward. Just don’t try to sell it as the only path forward…
I’m curious as to who would try open-source eKarting? or Spec engine but open ESC and battery? It may be hard to develop a formula for parity…but I’m convinced it could be done.
Since I have been a big advocate for Electric on here. Thought I would give my thoughts… BSR / F.A.T. / Rotax / K1 Circuit already have alot of tracks there going to be at in 2025 with there Spec Series. Dont think there having any problem with that… Alot of tracks just see it as another series. Not as a threat to gas. Some do thou. Thats ok. As prices come down as technology gets better and cheaper. I think it will be a big thing eventually. I think 2025 is a start and there seeing where there spot is in the sport. Dont think there trying to replace gas. Just a thought as a alterative to other classes. There are alot of K1s and Electric Rental places. That people run electric and would like to step up to Race Karts and are familiar with electric karts. NOT all electric rental places are just bumper car places. Alot do Endurance Series like K1 Speed Canton Ohio. And have alot of Pro Drivers who do gas also and just do electric in the winter with turned up karts. And may want to do electric race karts outside too. And maybe someday there will be open classes for electric classes. Just not there yet. I dont think they are pushing there product instead of gas just a different choice. I have talked to alot of them and it doesnt seem like there trying to replace anything… Just want people to try there product… Great to have choices…
This is an outdated philosophy tbf. In this changing economy, multiple manufacturers doesn’t work anymore. That is why the popularity of Rotax and IAME Series is rising.
Capitalist theory says that more offer means lower cost. But we’ve seen clients pouring so much money into the sport that the costs rose to unsustainable heights, instead of bringing the cost down.
Electric Karting is going to go down the spec route and I think it is for the better, at least for the Power Unit.
You hit the nail on the head. For club racing, I do not want to have a money battle to race at the front. The most fun comes from racing wheel to wheel, not the faster kart speeding away with a huge lead.
I am biased to BSR, yes, who manufactures entire racing classes, but there are many gas classes running a single manufacturer.
@tankyx – and you think that absurd money arrive-and-drive under a tent is somehow better than the capitalist multi-offering system?
TaG is currently multiple manufacturers, and Rotax is cylnder-of-the-month club with inflated update pricing.
IAME simply buys their own market and forces single make by low intro pricing, then gouging as they go…
Doesn’t seem more sustainable to me…
Hard specc’ing a power rating and MAYBE a spec ESC seems far more sustainable. There are colleges and privateers who have been doing electric conversions for the past 15 years – I’ve been keeping tabs on them.
Seems far better to me to encourage innovation and variety. There are a fair number of karters who enjoy the engineering and tinkering aspects of the hobby, and that provides impetus to STEM college majors or private projects for the variety of drivers who will NEVER be professionals.
I’d argue that’s a FAR more sustainable model, and better for the sport. Sure, leave room for single-make classes. But don’t make that the focus, IMO. Otherwise when they bail because they decide it’s no longer worth their time (or money) your sport dies.
I really do enjoy electric. It’s a great solution for lots of needs, particularily indoor rentals. The faster karts at K1 Circuit were also very nice and very viable as a race kart (better tires needed).
While I really enjoy electric I can honestly say that I tend to prefer driving gas as it’s a more complete driving experience…, the “feels” of rpm and the sound of the engine.
I wonder if gas karts will survive at all, longer term. I kind of doubt it, and while e-karts are fabulous, I stand by my “gas karts are better” opinion.
In South America I don’t see them take off. The price would have to be same as the current gas engines to work, and even then some tracks dont the installations for the charge of multiples batteries. Which would result in the need of diesel engine-generators. Maybe if batteries in the future could last a full day I can see it
I dont think some people are getting the battery thing you dont have to have a big charging system to charge batteries. BSR is charging them off a cybertruck. And all you need for some of them is a 220 volt outlet. No bigger than a RV plug. Rental people have large chargers because of limited time to turn over karts for rent. Were not talking giant batteries here just ones to go in a kart. From what I have found out from talking to electric kart people… You know as battery’s get smaller and chargers get better. I think it will be a good choice for a kart. Alot of the company’s are getting there pretty rapidly. And to me 2025 is just the start of the electric kart revolution… Just think you can adjust power levels for different electric classes. One kart to do it all Junior to Shifter Class in one kart. Now thats a cost effective alterative to gas. And there will always be room for gas. Look at it as just a different choice for karting… Some like BSR are even making a power unit that you can switch from gas to electric whenever you want… Best of both worlds again… 2025 such a exciting time for karting and different alternatives for karting…
I did a test drive of an electric race kart 2 weeks ago. The owner said it had around 60hp (I can’t verify it though). It was fun to drive but I have the exact same thoughts as you. With the engine you feel like you are pushing the kart to its limits when you hear the engine reach maximum RPM, the electric motor doesn’t give that sense. You can be going 140kph and it feels like you can go even faster.
I don’t see electric karts replacing gas race karts, there are too many restrictions for now and I doubt the average 2 stroke driver wants to drive electric. Maybe in rental karting, but even then most outdoor tracks will still run gas karts because that’s what most hobbyists prefer. At least I hope so, I had quite a lot of fun with the electric kart but I would never replace my gas kart with it. Then again, if F1 goes full electric, maybe the higher tiers of FIA karting will also be affected and the OK class will be replaced with electric motors.
I think people should go out and do a arrive and drive on the electric race karts. And see how torquey and fast they are… And how much fun they are… And maybe some will change there mind about them. I think they are a great alternative to other propulsion types in the kart racing market… And maybe they will get a good comparison on both… Its been a great discussion I think it gets people thinking !!!
Right now, the BSR team is working with Brazilian partners to develop the South American market and launch championships. In the coming months, expect the latest updates on when and where the first events will take place, as well as a preview of the 2025 demo calendar and the 2026 championship calendar for the BSR electric karting class.
Additionally, everything is explained here about how charging is possible even on tracks without electricity, and how simple it is with the latest technologies
