Frequently Asked Questions
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1. What are the goals of Green Racing and what will be the benefits?
Green racing aims to use motor sport competition to help rapidly develop cleaner, more fuel efficient vehicle propulsion systems that can be used in consumer vehicles. This will foster new technology development for reduced greenhouse gases (GHG), reduced exhaust pollutants, and increased fuel economy. History has shown that innovations in safety, durability and performance made by race cars are often transferred to mass production cars. Potential improvements could include innovations in alternative fuels, fuel efficiency, energy storage capacity, hybrid technology, and emission control durability. The speed at which technology development occurs in racing is up to four times faster than in normal manufacturer product development. Racing also provides the ideal laboratory and proving ground to assure that technological improvements will be durable under the most demanding conditions.
2. Is this an exclusive deal with ALMS?
No. ALMS is the first racing series to use the green racing challenge criteria set forth in the Green Racing Protocols published by SAE International. We are very pleased to work with ALMS on this, but it is also open to any racing series that chooses to adopt the protocol criteria.
3. What does it take to win the Green Challenge?
The winning car in the Green Challenge will have used the least amount of fuel with the smallest lifecycle environmental and energy footprint. This means the winner will exhibit the lowest levels of fuel use, petroleum use, and greenhouse gas emissions over the lifecycle of the fuel from the time the fuel is produced to the time it is used by the race car. This challenges the race car manufacturer to choose the best combination of efficient technology and fuel in order for the race car to use no more fuel than necessary to be competitive in its class. One of the goals of Green Racing is to reward technology that reduces a vehicle’s total carbon footprint, and the protocols have been developed in a way that will take this into account when determining a winner.
4. How are the Green Challenge winners determined?
The Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy Use in Transportation (GREET) Model was developed by Argonne National Lab to provide input on fuel lifecycles, which is used in the scoring process. Cars are ranked by the amount of energy they use, greenhouse gasses (GHG) they produce and petroleum they consume. These ranking factors are compiled into a single weighted number representing the cars’ environmental performance. Race cars that use less energy and oil and produce fewer GHGs get a higher score. All measurements are made on a well-to-wheel basis (life cycle analysis). GREET calculates all the energy consumed and the GHGs created since the time the oil was pumped out of the ground, the corn was seeded in the field or the wood waste was harvested for use in the car. Finally, during the race, the quantity of the fuel used by each race car is tracked (both liquid fuel and electricity).
5. What are the best strategies for winning this award?
The first strategic decision would be to select a fuel that has an advantage in lifecycle efficiency, petroleum displacement, and greenhouse gas emissions. Both E85 and diesel would have advantages over gasoline (E10) on these factors. The second strategy is to design and build a race car that uses energy efficiently and is fast, taking advantage of a technology such as direct injection, braking energy recovery, or other new untried systems that save fuel while producing the power to win the race. The third strategy is running the race itself as efficiently as possible while remaining in competition for the checkered flag.
6. What makes this a green race?
The “race within a race” establishes a competition between fuels and technologies for environmental and energy purposes, in addition to the actual race time. The fact that competitors vie for a green award as well as the checkered flag affects race car design and racing strategy. One goal of the competition is to transition technology from the race track to the street.
7. Won’t the ethanol or diesel vehicles always win the Green Challenge?
Compared with the E10 gasoline used in the race, the cellulosic E85 will have a lifecycle advantage in petroleum displacement and greenhouse gas emissions. Similarly, the diesel vehicles will have an efficiency advantage over gasoline vehicles. However, other technologies also provide advantages, such as hybrid energy recovery systems, direct injection and better aerodynamics, as well as factors such as racing strategy, mechanical problems, accidents, etc.
8. Given that the only input variable is the amount of fuel used in the race, isn’t this just a fuel economy competition?
No. It is true that once the race starts, energy use is the only new measured parameter, but a high average speed is also critical to obtaining a good score. The fuel types and technologies chosen also play a key role in determining the Green Challenge winner.
9. Why would manufactures care about this award?
By making their racing programs more relevant to their consumer products and future production vehicle plans, manufacturers help streamline their research and development programs. And winning the Green Challenge award also proves their willingness to help lighten their environmental impacts.
10. Aren’t racing events just a waste of energy and emitters of pollution?
Sporting events, including auto racing, all consume energy and emit pollutants. However, they are a part of our culture, leisure, and economy. Green racing is a voluntary effort that encourages the motor sport industry to develop technologies that make automobiles more efficient and less harmful to the environment – technologies that will hopefully make their way from the racetrack to consumers’ driveways. We expect the long term technological benefits to far exceed the environmental and energy costs of individual racing events.
11. What are the emission levels of race cars?
EPA does not have data on emissions from racing vehicles. They are generally designed without consideration of exhaust emission levels. (However, diesel powered cars in the American Le Mans Series are equipped with particulate filters to eliminate visible smoke.) Racing vehicles emit many times higher emission levels than street vehicles because they are not designed for emission control. Emission levels will likely vary with the type of racing vehicle and the way they are driven.
12. What is the fuel economy of a race car?
Generally, this will depend on the type of racing vehicle, the fuel type, and the driving cycle. Needless to say, racing vehicles are not very fuel efficient compared to street vehicles. Racing generally involves rapid accelerations and decelerations, and high speeds. These conditions, along with the use of high performance racing engines, mean that fuel economy will be at its worst. For an ALMS race car, the average fuel economy is on the order of 5 to 10 mpg with average lap speeds from 100 mph to 150 mph. Considering the speed and performance of these vehicles, their energy efficiency is impressive and continues to improve.
13. Since ethanol is one of the fuels used in this race, doesn’t it aggravate the “food for fuel” issue?
It is neither the scope nor purpose of green racing events to pass judgment on complex socioeconomic issues such as this. Green racing only presents options for consideration. It should be noted, however, that the E85 used in ALMS racing is a cellulosic ethanol made from forest waste. The E10 fuel uses corn-derived ethanol like much of the gasoline for sale in the United States.
14. What will be EPA’s role in the SAE Green Racing Protocols when finalized?
EPA will take part in an SAE International partnering group that will include DOE, to assess and endorse Green Racing plans submitted by racing sanctioning bodies. EPA will also take part in presenting the Challenge and Cup awards described in the Green Racing Protocols.
15. What’s the difference between the Green Racing Challenge and the Green Racing Cup?
Two levels of achievement are specified in the Green Racing Protocols. Green Racing Challenge events require three of the five elements we developed for green racing. Events have to use renewable bio-based fuels, multiple fuels, engine types and configurations, and allow hybrid energy recovery systems. Green Racing Cup events use all the elements of the Green Racing Challenge events but have two additional requirements. To be eligible the event must regulate engine performance through energy allocations and require the race cars to use some form of emission controls. These additional elements promote greater energy efficiency by limiting fuel and encourage the development of new emission control systems. The Cup is the ultimate form of Green Racing.
16. Will racing vehicles be required to have emission controls?
No. Pure racing vehicles are not subject to the emission controls required on road going vehicles. However, within the voluntary Green Racing Protocols, racing series can implement their own rules to require controls on exhaust emissions, or to create incentives to control emissions. This is a key element of the Green Racing Cup, as it is intended to use racing as a way to develop more effective emission control systems that can eventually be used on street vehicles.
17. Why are diesel and ethanol being promoted to reduge GHGs?
We are interested in promoting the best technologies for reducing GHGs, but many of these technologies are not sufficiently developed to be competitive on the race track. We believe that Green Racing will speed up their development and that you will see them in racing as the technologies mature.
18. Why aren’t there rules for solar cars or electric cars?
Racing events for solar and electric cars already exist. The Green Racing protocols are geared to technologies that are currently ripe for adoption for existing professional racing series on race tracks. The protocols will change to reflect new technologies when they are closer to being able to be competitive.
19. What is the role of automobile manufacturers in Green Racing?
Many automobile manufacturers are directly involved in racing as a direct or indirect sponsor. Manufacturers can benefit from Green Racing by using technology developed and proven in racing in their production cars. These manufacturers could incorporate these technologies into their design and development processes for future production models.
20. Will this effort make race cars slower?
Slower racing would be an unintentional and unwelcome outcome. We are confident that the spirit of competition and innovation will allow Green Racing to be achieved without degradation of racing speeds and competition.
Download this FAQ (142 kB pdf).
Last updated 11/5/2009