The STARD battery system which will power the new Projekt E series has reached a major milestone, having been proven crash safe by the FIA’s HV crash test, joining the likes of Williams and Mclaren who have also developed a safe electric powertrain.
The tests are derived from the FIA Formula E series and uphold a very high standard of safety. The stringent FIA criteria includes deceleration tests, where values are significantly higher than those of electric road cars, and mechanical tests, with extremely high static loads – equating to multiple tonnes of force – used to check impact and protrusion resistance of the RESS (rechargeable energy storage system) casing.
CEO and founder of STARD, Michael Sakowicz said on the result: “We have invested a lot in our high voltage traction battery development competence. Motorsport and very high-performance battery systems are dramatically different to road car applications for two main reasons: safety requirements and power density.”
“In the area of safety, the FIA has imposed very strict criteria for BEV (battery electric vehicle) traction batteries. That STARD is in a very elite group of industry leading companies like Williams and McLaren, by being able to offer FIA crash tested high performance battery systems for motorsport application, is the result of many years hard work. As part of our turnkey REVelution powertrain package as used in Projekt E, this is immediately available to customers.”
Credit: STARD
The Ford Fiesta ERX2 that is set to be used in Projekt E, made history recently by becoming the first ever electric car to win a rallycross event. Projekt E will be a support class to the FIA World Rallycross Championship with the first race being held at Höljes on the weekend of the 22nd of August.
Electric powered RX supercars will be allowed to compete in World RX from 2022 onwards. Can they be competitive? Only time will tell.
