Nobody else was doing it. Have you ever tried building a performance electric kart? Could you or can you BUY a Sodi STX? Call me a shill, but BSR produces a product I can buy and race for fun. Who here is making their own 2/4 stroke engines?
That ERDF video is one of my favorite kart racing videos of all time. To finally have an opportunity to purchase a race quality, sorted kart like that video was amazing. There was absolutely nothing available in this market. When I found the BSR product was available, I jumped on immediately. K1 is just the 2nd race kart available for consumer purchase.
I am a BSR partner now, yes, but thats not anywhere close to how all this started. BSR solved a problem for me and I was just a customer. I get that there are a lot of die-hard karters that are ICE only, but there is a huge market of racers that will race as long as its NOT an ICE.
Looks like you are more intelligent than others, do not have so much time to try to argue, I just would like to see all your statements and some data, that confirm it, till that this is just an opinion, and 8 Billion people have they opinions.
Definitely keen to hear more about this claim. Sounds like you’re saying there’s a huge group of drivers that are pretty much 100% opposed to running ICE?
Anecdotally, I’d say the largest market is racers that are not bothered either way, they just want to race.
For clarity, racers that prefer EV over ICE are definitely a thing. I’m not arguing that as it’s certainly a fact. But a huge market, maybe? I need to learn more.
As expect, ad hominem attacks when challenged on your products. And people shilling your product are not better in arguing. I don’t hate electric karts, I do enjoy them actually. I don’t like people bullshitting.
But it is not like I asked numerous time for you to introduce me to the people who have the BSR kart for test in Luxembourg, so I could get a feel for it and some data.
In the mean time, keep hyping up your « innovative » product, with 8-10 min race duration.
Chad,
This is interesting. What was the problem that e-kart solved for you that got you on board enthusiastically enough to put your $ into the further development of this?
I 100% agree with Artis and Chad its a niche in the market that alot people would like to explore. And its a great product and getting better. It all takes time to advance and its doing it rapidly .. Why not see were it all goes and enjoy it.. I think people should get out and try the product before they form opinions on it. Our group has and loves the 80 MPH electric race karts. Instant power and torque and speed .. Batteries will keep on advancing and give more run time. As technology advances.. Its all getting there.. Why attack people who are just trying to advance a old sport.. And why to try and chase away companies and people from a different kind of propulsion .. Kind of in the early days of gas . People with horses tryed to say gas cars were bad.. Think about it.. We at K1 Speed Canton Ohio just finished a 12 hour race and had NO overheating and Electric failures. With lithium based batteries that have been in the karts for 11 months now. And were designed by owner of K1 Canton..
I don’t know why it keeps getting conflated that people are against electric karts… I don’t think anyone here is against electric karts. I think the main questions being asked revolve around specific statements about tech and the karting market as a whole. But people are immediately taking questions and comments personally and getting very defensive.
Many members here have been in this sport for decades and have seen many things come and go, lots of promises of the “next thing to save or grow karting” fail or turn out to be cash grabs, so I imagine quite a few of us are a bit jaded in that respect. But the pushback here comes from literal decades of experience.
If no one can discuss the topic in a civil way we will close the discussion down. Goes for everyone.
Very much understand. But alot of people talk about electric and have only tried electric rentals and never have tried electric RACE karts and are giving opinions. Of something they have never tried.. Thats OK in some sense. Its a forum its also great for discussions. So yes alot of people have experience in the sport. But not with this new form of propulsion Electric. So it would be great to see what happens. And just relax and enjoy it.. Electric will keep growing like K1 and other companies are doing BSR / FAT / Etc. are doing no matter what is said about electric.. And thats great too. Hope everybody has a great season
Aha. I see what you are saying. It is true that most of us are familiar with concession e-karts but there isn’t really a way to try “racing” e-karts easily.
I hesitate to include the OTL from K1 Circuit in the racing category. While it is a shifter roller, it is compromised by the practicality of the rubber choice they have to make for renting them out.
My experience was that their tire is way too hard for the power it produces and it’s hard to get a bead on how it would drive optimally. But it is closer to what @Artis_Daugins and pals are doing than concession karts.
Artis, are you able to comment on wether the K1 OTL falls into the race kart category or is still basically a concession kart?
Can you describe how that went in practical terms. Stops, etc.
I did a 1hr race at Cinnaminson before it was absorbed by K1 and it was surprisingly doable. You pitted when you felt like the kart needed changing, up to you. This was on the old otl I think
Yes each team had all the telemetry on each kart they are running at the time. On a computer of there own. Battery voltage / Cell voltage / battery pack temp. it all etc.. for both battery packs on the kart supplied by K1 Owner since he designed his own batteries. Then you decide when you change karts from all the info you have. Then each team had a headset with race control and a Headset for one driver. You stopped in a box and then went forward to get your new kart. Also you could look at others state of charge of the competitors karts to get a plan and strategy together. Would be glad to give anymore info if asked ??? The karts could do about 105 laps before recharge sometimes more sometimes less. You take a chance on both.. No other K1 can do what we do…
Even if there is a market for people who refuse to drive ICE, it’s not huge by any means. Especially compared to the ICE market. I don’t know why you got so aggressive because of my simple comment calling out an exaggeration, your claims sounds like outright shilling. Maybe instead of throwing insults at me you could provide data for that “huge market”.
Bringing back old memories of racing around there. Small chance we may have raced together. I’ve gotta go through some old photos and see if I can find one of me there.
In my mind electric has been a great choice for the rental market and growing and the electric race karts are just a progression of that in a great sport. Cost will get there just takes time . Like when they introduce a car for the first time.. Cost high tell alot are produced or cost of materials and production are reduced.. MY CONCLUSION GET OUT AND TRY THEM AND THEN HAVE THOUGHTS… i THINK ALOT WILL CHANGE WHEN THAT IS DONE..
