Reports were doing the rounds in mid-April that the Corvette C8 E-Ray, the soon to be released hybrid Corvette, was banned by the National Council of Corvette Clubs (NCCC) from participating at NCCC track days. US publication Corvette Forum reported that the reason for this ban was the inability of officials to handle potential electric fires should the car be involved in an accident.
According to Corvette Forum the NCCC’s competition rulebook reads: “Electric Vehicles/Hybrids using lithium type battery packs are prohibited in competitive events. If driven to NCCC events, they should be parked 30 feet minimum from structures or other vehicles”. Corvette Forum also reports Summit Point Motorsports Park in West Virginia has also placed a ban on EVs and Hybrids.
However, during the last week, the NCCC has come out with what they call a “clarification” to this new rule, saying the E-Ray can actually compete and that it is only plug-in EVs, not hybrid cars like the E-Ray that are banned. According to Road & Track the NCCC president, Deb Murphy, made the clarification, stating “Hybrids are allowed at our competitions and E-Rays will be welcomed at our events.” Murphy went on to give her reasons for the acceptance of the E-Ray, stating that the E-Ray had undergone track testing over more than 1,500 laps without issue. She also stated the E-Ray met the required crash test standards and that ISO and SAE confirmed the car’s central battery location protects it from impact damage. It was also noted the E-Ray’s battery is disengaged if the car’s sensors detect accident damage.
Just as many people have experienced with mobile phones, damaged lithium battery cells can experience uncontrolled temperature and pressure known as “thermal runaway”. Such fires are extremely difficult to extinguish and also pose a risk of electric shocks. Hence the reluctance to put track officials at risk in the event of an EV/Hybrid being involved in a racing accident.
Looking at the bigger picture, if EVs and possibly lesser hybrids than the Corvette are not safe on the track, how safe are they on our roads? There doesn’t seem to be a general warning to EV drivers or hybrid drivers that there is a danger in driving their cars. This danger level would seem to higher on the road where not only the driver and passengers are at risk, but people offering assistance such as unsuspecting good Samaritans are putting their lives at risk. It is interesting to contemplate what happens when the Corvette, like all other cars become EVs.
We can only hope that over the next few years, before the Corvette is only available as an EV, advanced technology will make EVs safer in regard to thermal runaways, both on the road and on the racetrack.