The Challenges Faced By Women In Motorsport

Formula 1 has usually been seen as a career dominated by males, however, recently we have seen a major rise in participation from females as well. The beauty of motorsport is the fact that once a driver puts on a helmet everyone is equal, it does not matter whether you are a male or a female. X1 Racing is the worlds’ first professional franchise-based motorsport league. X1 Racing has kept the idea of women empowerment in mind and hence allowed women and men to compete against each other on a common platform. There have been many challenges for women racers but a lack of inspiration is not one of them. Women have been drawn to the thrill of racing since the early 1900s and even as early as 1958 have been part of F1. Maria Teresa de Filippis leading the onslaught by becoming the first woman to ever participate in the F1 Grand Prix.

Even though women have been competing in this male-dominated sport in the last hundred years, they still make a minority in the current motorsport demographics. Women have not been encouraged to participate in this heavily male ruled world because of the popular belief that, they don’t belong there. Former racer Susie Wolf rightly believes that the sports is performance-based and gender is irrelevant and that by encouraging girls to attend karting academies with the view of encouraging them to sport will definitely see a surge in female racers. This theory has proven itself where Mira Erda and Sneha Sharma from India are creating milestones in the field of Motorsports. Both the racers started at karting circuits as teenagers and never looked back. Mira has to her credit the badge of being the first-ever Indian woman to participate in the Euro Championships in 2017, also being the youngest Indian female F4 racer. Sneha has also won the Volkswagen D Polo cup among many others. These women are pioneering a generation of women racers by their inspiring achievements. 

 One of the major challenges that women face in Motorsports is an opposing view of the women drivers themselves regarding the sport. Where on one hand it is believed that gender does not matter, on the other, it is believed that women are unable to compete against men on the same playing level. This has resulted in calling for a women’s only competition which has received commendations and also criticisms equally. Creating a mandate for or against creating separate categories for men and women seems to the need of the hour but most of the celebrated racers believe that the “women only” initiative will be short-lived like the ill-fated Formula Women series launched in 2004 which was canned after stuttering along for 4 years. In 2019 an all-women single-seater racing championship was launched consisting of 20 drivers contesting in 6 six races. More and more initiatives like the W Series are required to usher in a new era of equal opportunities for women in motorsport.

 The Dare to be Different campaign by the UK based Susie Wolf aims at finding the not just the talented female racing driver but also providing knowledge about the varied disciplines of the sport, for young girls to understand and to remove the misconception that Motorsport is only for boys.

Carmen Jorda, another woman achiever, believes that women will never be on the same level as men and are unable to endure the grueling grids of the many international racing circuits and events. There is a tiny number of F1 drivers that support her view and believe that the sport is not just mentally but also physically exhausting as many post-race Images of F1 drivers prove this. They imply women are genetically unable to cope with the stress levels of the sport. Michele Mouton (President of FIA’s Women and Motorsport Commission) believes that it is marked the physiological difference in the performance levels of men and women, on one a hand where men are more inclined to be spontaneous and risky women are naturally cautious, however, she concludes that ultimately there is no difference between them as she has proved with her exemplar career.

The major hurdle that the sport faces regarding women competing in F1 level are the lack of categories and participation at junior levels. For example, if there are 10,00 young boys participating in karting globally more than 100 are likely to reach the pinnacle; similarly, the number of young girls participating globally is barely in 100s, therefore, those reaching the top are an insignificant number.  Statistics have proven that there is a marked difference between female and male participation at junior levels, the ratio in Britain stands 14:1 against women. A similar statistic is applicable across the world. Peer opportunities seem to be crucial in the pre-teen years. More boys than girls are likely to have access to karts than girls. Therefore, giving the boys more opportunities at competition levels. Mouton believes that both genders have the ability to be talented.

Talent is not specific to men. The main problem is that not enough women are trying or not being given the same opportunity or equipment. If the women are given the same opportunity and have the resources, they would be motivated to take up the sport and give equal competition to males. Thus, the absence of women in F1 could be not just a simple gender or equality issue, neither a physical nor talent question …but more to do with OPPORTUNITIES. Unless adequate support is being provided to the racers from the grassroots level, there is a possibility of those racers not achieving the goals they have set out of being a F1 Champion.

IIT Bombay Racing's Transition From Combustion To Electric

The future is electric. Recently, there has been a push toward electric mobility. India, one of the largest car markets in the world is also riding the electric wave as quite a few car manufacturers are finally sending their electric cars to Indian shores. Indian car manufacturers, the likes of Tata Motors and Mahindra are also offering a range of electric cars for the Indian market. The Indian college racing circuit is also seeing a lot of teams looking to switch from combustion to electric. IIT Bombay Racing is one of India’s best electric Formula Student teams and also the first college racing team from India to go electric. We are going to tell you about their transition from combustion to electric.

IIT Bombay Racing was established in 2008 by a team of IIT Bombay students looking to leverage their theoretical studies and put it into practice by building a formula race car. The team initially started building combustion race cars, which were powered by a combustion engine. Successful race seasons and a few years later, the team decided they were up for another challenge. Wanting to venture into something more challenging, willing to compete and be the best in the international arena. Researching various trends around the world and quickly realizing the need for electric mobility. Electric mobility has quite a few advantages such as – it is cost-effective, eco-friendly, cheaper to maintain. More importantly IIT Bombay Racing would enter unchartered territory and be the first college racing team from India to go electric. IIT Bombay Racing decided to go electric in 2010. The electric challenge was not going to be an easy one for the team members at IIT Bombay Racing, they did not have experience in building an electric car and were also the first college team from India who had ventured into building an electric formula race car.

While the team was adept with building a combustion race car, EV technology was a completely different ball game; there are several changes in batteries and powertrain. An electric requires different components when compared to a combustion one, hence team IIT Bombay Racing had to deal with a new set of suppliers with new timelines. IIT Bombay Racing participates in Formula Student UK. The switch to electric meant that IIT Bombay Racing had to adhere to the guidelines and rules laid down by Formula Student UK - the changes included a lot of safety improvements, a completely new manufacturing process and a new rejig of the mechanical subsystems to be in line with the new electric set up. The Formula Student rule book is a very important element of the competition and all participating teams must strictly abide by it. The rule book contains various industrial and electrical safety standards teams must follow. A technical scrutineering takes place at the event to ensure all rules are followed and safety shutdown systems are operating in case of an emergency.

According to Jasdeep Singh, the Marketing Head of IIT Bombay Racing, college racing competitions are actively promoting the use of battery over fuel and the market also plays an important role in helping switch from CV to EV. The batteries on the electric cars of IIT Bombay Racing are lithium-ion ones. There are 96 cells connected in series having a max voltage of 403V and a total stored energy of 7.8 kWh. Powering the car are 2 electric motors, each producing 50kW of max power output and a combined output of 80kW. Both the motors can be used separately with the help of an electronic differential; this is helpful while turning. Some of the salient features of Team IIT Bombay Racing are – self-designed battery management system, in-house manufactured bodyworks, aerodynamics, battery box using composite materials. Being pioneers in the electric college racing circuit of India team IIT Bombay has worked closely with industry giants such as Wipro to make 3D printed titanium uprights and also HP Lubricants to develop customized gearbox oil. Sponsors, partners play a vital role in a race team by providing the necessary financial, technical and organizational support where required. This has been the case with IIT Bombay Racing as well. NRB Bearings has been the title sponsor for IIT Bombay Racing for a very long time and has guided the team with regard to organizational structure, decision making and providing resources. Technical giant TE Connectivity has helped IIT Bombay Racing towards electrical development and PCB Power has supported the team in manufacturing PCB (Printed Circuit Boards).

The transition from combustion to electric is not an easy one to make. IIT Bombay Racing being India’s first college racing team has been there and done that before anyone else! With their experience and expertise, IIT Bombay Racing is playing a very important role for many college racing teams in India who are keen to make the switch from combustion to electric. According to Namya Bagree, the Team Leader of IIT Bombay Racing teams find it difficult to find the starting point to make the switch and IIT Bombay Racing helps new teams understand the difference between two with the help of various calculations and simulations. Having collected a lot of data over the past 7 years, IIT Bombay Racing also sometimes shares the same with other teams in order to help them in making better design decisions.

IIT Bombay Racing believes the way forward for electric mobility in India should be spreading awareness, education about the basic knowledge of electric vehicles; how to design and manufacture them. Being a part of an FSAE team is a great way to learn and overcome such challenges. There is a need for increased collaborations between industry giants and college racing teams like IIT Bombay Racing. Such collaborations are a win-win for both the team as well as the corporates. The teams get to learn on new technology and its implementation in their cars and the corporates get access to a great future talent pool. IIT Bombay Racing continues to be the undisputed leader in the electric college racing circuit of India and is actively helping other teams to uplift the entire Indian FSAE community.

Car Of The Week - Jaguar E-Type

When we talk about legendary cars there are many that come to mind but amongst the top contenders is the Jaguar E-Type. The Jaguar E-Type is the most beautiful car ever made. We are going to tell you more about this truly iconic sports car.

The E-Type is a sports car that was manufactured by UK car giant Jaguar. British car manufacturer Jaguar has a rich heritage for producing sports cars which are beautifully designed and great performance as well. The Jaguar E-Type is based on the Jaguar D-Type sports car. The D-Type was a very successful car for Jaguar having won at Le Mans consecutively for three years from 1955. Beautiful design is often subjective and opinionated, however, there is no denying the Jaguar E-Type is arguably the most beautiful car ever designed.

The E-Type was launched in 1961 at the Geneva Motor Show and was the unmistakable center of attraction. The E-Type has a charm, unlike any other car, the beautiful long bonnet with a small grille and well-designed round headlamps and the coupe overhang give rise to one of the most iconic car silhouettes ever! Malcolm Sayer was the man tasked to design the E-Type under the stewardship of Sir William Lyons the owner of Jaguar. Sayer was not a car designer by profession he was an aerodynamicist and designed the car keeping the blueprint of the previous Jaguar D-Type, an intention of making the car as light and aerodynamic as possible. During the 1960s there were no modern aids such as wind tunnel tests or CAD to help car designers design cars in the most efficient manner. The fact that the E-Type was designed only using sketches is a brilliant feat of car designing! Automotive legend Enzo Ferrari, the owner of Ferrari described the E-Type as ‘the most beautiful car ever designed’…now that some serious critical acclaim for the Jaguar E-Type.

The Jaguar E-Type was available in 2 body types – coupe or convertible. The design of the car was well suited for touring and is a very highly regarded GT car. Throughout the course of its production, the car was majorly a 2-seater, however, 2+2 seat variants have also been produced in limited units. On the inside, the E-Type has a very good and welcoming elegant interior. With good quality leather upholstery and sporty design, the car creates a lot of excitement not only for the driver but also for the passenger. The E-Type is a sports car but, Jaguar has done a very good job of blending the sportiness with some class! The well laid out dashboard, steering wheel, and gearbox allow for a comfortable driving experience.

Powering the Jaguar E-Type was Jaguar’s very own XK 3.8 L straight-six petrol engine producing 265 bhp of max power output. This engine was a very popular one and got Jaguar a lot of racing success in the 1960s as well. The sporty engine along gave the car very good performance and it was capable of doing 0-100 in 6.2 seconds. Jaguar cars are known for their great driving dynamics, the E-Type exhibited this well attributed to the front and rear suspension set up on the car. The engine coupled with great driving dynamics made the Jaguar E-Type a car enthusiast’s dream!  Sports cars are specialty products and are more expensive when compared to other cars. Launched with a price of £2,097 for the convertible and £2,196 for the coupe the Jaguar E-Type was considerably more affordable when compared to cars from the likes of Ferrari, Aston Martin. Hence, Jaguar very successfully made the sports car affordable for all.  

The Jaguar E-Type was a revolutionary car that offered an amazing mix of high performance, beautiful design and, competitive pricing. The E-Type was first amongst a series of affordable sports cars globally offered by various car manufacturers. The design of the Jaguar E-Type has been so successful and popular that there are various studies and teachings done over the same to this day in design institutes the world over. The Jaguar E-Type has firmly marked its place in the car hall of fame, such is the legacy of the Jaguar E-Type – the most beautiful car in the world! 

Koenigsegg Gemera - World's First 4-Door 'Mega-GT' Hypercar

Swedish car manufacturer Koenigsegg is world-renowned for producing some crazy and brilliant hypercars. What started off as a dream to create the best car in the world has transpired into a company that is producing beautiful hypercars that are scaling new heights in the field of performance cars. The Geneva Motor Show 2020 was cancelled due to the Coronavirus, however, instead of packing up and leaving Koenigsegg had other ideas, …they decided to unveil their cars via a live stream right there on the show floor! Amongst the cars unveiled were the Regera, Jesko Absolut and the all-new Gemera. The Gemera was the real showstopper and we’re super excited to tell you more about Koenigsegg’s first 4-seater car!

Yes, you read that correctly the Koenigsegg Gemera is the first 4-seater supercar from the house of Koenigsegg. The Gemera defies the traditional aspects of a supercar and is a gamechanger. Firstly, it can seat 4 passengers, 2 in the front and 2 at the back and is also spacious, practical for daily use. The Gemera produces a massive 1700 bhp of max power with a combo of a 3-cylinder twin-turbocharged petrol engine and three electric motors. With a full tank, fully charged batteries the Gemera is capable of having a range of 1000 km. Gemera in Swedish means ‘to give more’ and with this particular car, Koenigsegg has certainly delivered a lot more than what was expected! Hypercars are not exactly the most environment-friendly ones; they do not score well on carbon footprint. Koenigsegg has a solution for this.

Powering the Gemera is a 2.0 L 3-cylinder ingenious petrol engine which is outrageous with regard to the sheer power it produces. Koenigsegg calls this engine the ‘Tiny Friendly Giant’ (TFG). With the TFG Koenigsegg has taken 3-cylinder engine design and engineering to the next level. The TFG is a 2.0 L 3-cylinder twin-turbo petrol engine producing a massive 600 bhp of max power output…300 bhp per litre is unheard of! Having already defined TFG as an extraordinary engine, it uses some really interesting tech too. A camshaft is a very important part of a car engine as it controls the opening and closing of the engine valves. There is no camshaft in the TFG instead it uses pneumatic actuator technology from Koenigsegg’s sister company Freevalve. This technology allows for the opening and closing of each valve individually. The Gemera uses electric motors to power the car alongside the TFG engine. There are 2 electric motors at each of the rear wheels producing 500 bhp of max power and 1000 nm of torque. A 400 bhp electric motor sits mounted on the crankshaft of the petrol engine, thereby sending power to the front wheels. The electric motors of the Gemera draw power from an 800 V, 15 kWh battery mounted below the front passenger seats.

On the outside, the Gemera looks stunning! The car uses a lot of design cues from the Koenigsegg Regera and has a very futuristic, contemporary design. Being a performance machine, the usage of aerodynamics is evident. When seen from outside the Gemera seems like a 2-door car with interior space good enough for 2 adult passengers. The Gemera is a first of its kind hypercar which can seat 4 passengers and go fast, very very fast. The doors on the Gemera are quite unique. The car gets 2 huge doors on both the sides which open up vertically. Once opened the doors give way to 4 individual passenger seats! A stunning feat of design and engineering from team Koenigsegg. In a car, the B-pillar separates the front and rear sections of the car, the doors of the Gemera negates this need. The doors on the Gemera use a system call Koenigsegg Automated Twisted Synchrohelix Actuation Doors (KATSAD). This system allows the doors to open and close in the minimum space footprint available allowing for the passenger to park the car in tight spaces and get in or out of the car with ease. The Gemera interiors are quite a practical place to be, with good seating space at the front and rear, eight cup holders, infotainment touchscreens, Wi-Fi with wireless connectivity etc. The car comes with 2 storage spaces one at the front and second at the rear which can hold 4 carry-ons. This just adds to more points to the practical side of the Koenigsegg Gemera.

Koenigsegg has been regarded as a brand which specializes in creating really crazy, awesome hypercars. A brand is known for having very ambitious ideas, visions for their cars. Koenigsegg have in their short 25-year span always pushed the boundaries of car design, performance and technology. The Koenigsegg Gemera is another great example of a ground-breaking car – the world’s first 4-door GT hypercar. 

An Insight Into How Pravega Racing Has Been Shaped By Formula Student

Exams, tests are a part and parcel of every student’s journey. The world we live in today is a highly competitive one with a huge number of students vying to outscore each other and give their best performance. For a student learning a subject in theory and applying it into practice is always a different experience. It is every aspiring engineer’s dream to one day be a part of a race team and work on building a race car. Now imagine working as part of a race team designing, developing and building a working race car for an international formula competition…while still being a student in college; sounds exciting correct? Formula Student is an international competition that challenges engineering students across the globe to do exactly this! We’re going to tell you how Pravega Racing – India’s best Formula Student (Combustion) team has embraced the Formula Student challenge.

Formula Student is an annual international student design competition organized by the Society of Automobile Engineers (SAE) International. SAE International is a global professional association and standards developing organization for engineers across a variety of industries. Formula Student has been around since 1980 and the first event was held in Austin, Texas, USA. Ever since it has expanded to various countries including Germany, Italy, Hungary, India, Austria, Japan, Australia, etc. Formula Student is an international student design competition that challenges engineering students around the world to develop, design and build a formula-style race car. The car built by student teams is scored under 2 different types of events – Static and Dynamic. Static events are designed to test the business, presentation and communication skills of students. The events under static include – Engineering Design, Cost and Manufacturing, Business Plan Presentation. On the other hand, dynamic events are designed to test the technical, engineering and performance aspects of the car built by the teams. Dynamic events include – Acceleration, Skid Pad, Endurance, Efficiency, Autocross. For a team to participate in Formula Student events, they must first ace the registration quiz. This quiz is conducted online and is based on the rules and regulations of the Formula Student competition. The teams with the quickest completion time and also the best scores will qualify for the global Formula Student events.

Pravega Racing is the official Formula Student (Combustion) team of Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, India. Pravega Racing was established in 2009 as a race team founded by a group of VIT students who wanted to leverage what they had learned in theory and apply it into practice by building a race car. One of the best testaments to the importance of Formula Student and the positive impact it has on participating students is the incredible rise of Pravega Racing. Formula Student is a student competition designed to give participating students a good taste of what the automobile world is really like. Not only does a student team have to develop, design and build a working formula-style race car they also have to take care of the business side of things involved in the process. Hence, making Formula Student a holistic competition and a great learning curve for all students and teams involved. Formula Student is more than a motorsport competition, it is a launchpad and platform which teaches and shapes students to get ready for what the global automobile industry has to offer.

Pravega Racing is made up of a 42-member strong team divided across 8 different departments - Aerodynamics, Design, Composites, Data Acquisition, Vehicle Dynamics, Powertrain, Drivetrain, Brakes, Electrical and Management. Only bonafide students of VIT, Vellore can be members of Pravega Racing. The members of team Pravega come from various fields of engineering taught at VIT such as automobile, mechanical, electrical, etc. Pravega starts recruiting new members from their first year. The team follows a system where senior members and department heads actively mentor their juniors groom and train them to lead various aspects of the team in the future. This method of mentorship allows for a great united culture and also helps a great deal in internal communication, coordination. The nature of the Formula Student competition is such that students are taught leadership, responsibility, and accountability from an early age which will only go on to reap rewards when they actually step into the real world on their own. 

Pravega Racing not only has to design and build the car from scratch on their own but they also have to run the organization like a business while covering aspects such as raising funds via sponsorships, partnerships, sourcing of parts, logistics, marketing and general administrative work. While they may still be engineers, the members of Pravega Racing are also well-groomed in business-related matters due to the dual nature of their role in the team. Formula Student is an international student design competition where over 100 universities around the world compete against each other to be the best in the world. Formula Student is much more than a competition it is a global learning environment as well. Teams from around the world regularly learn from each the various aspects of building race car and also proves to be a great networking pool of like-minded engineers. Pravega Racing has learned a great deal and evolved well as a race team using the inputs of their peers in the global arena. Pravega Racing being India’s best combustion Formula Student team mentors and guides a lot of smaller race teams towards a successful Formula Student journey. Formula Student is an initiative supported by many car manufacturers and component manufacturers, service providers etc. Brands such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, VW Group is just a few brands that are strong supporters of Formula Student. The competition serves as a great talent pool of engineers and future workforce for car manufacturers. Each Formula Student event witnesses the participation of over 1000 engineers from all over the world.

Many of the Pravega Racing alumni have gone on to work in various car companies around the world thanks to their involvement and participation in Formula Student. Having a strong and active alumni network is very important for a student racing team. Past members and team alumni work closely on both engineering and business-related matters with the aim of taking the team to new heights. Pravega Racing currently ranked amongst the top 25 combustion teams in the world of Formula Student is a great success story and also one which continues to inspire a lot of college racing teams from India. It can be safe to say Pravega Racing has fully embraced the Formula Student challenge!

Car Of The Week - Ford GT40

The 1960s were exciting times for the Ford Motor Company. Fuel prices were low which meant good sales, the iconic Ford Mustang was introduced in 1964 and Ford became a force to be reckoned with in the world of car racing. Ford has historically been known as a world-class car manufacturer of mass-market cars and SUVs. In 1966 Ford changed this with the introduction of the legendary Ford GT40. What made the Ford GT40 so successful? We are going to tell you all about this brilliant car! Here goes the story…

At the beginning of the 1960s, Ford had already been established as the brand synonymous with making very good mass-market cars. Ford at the time was not known for its performance cars, race program. Ford was very keen on making a mark in the world of car racing. On receiving word that Italian powerhouse Ferrari was looking to sell, Ford initiated a conversation with Ferrari to acquire them. After months of negotiation Ford and Ferrari seemed to have reached a mutual agreement for the deal. The deal was called off by automotive legend and the owner of Ferrari, Enzo Ferrari when he learned that he would have to give up the management and day to day operations of his beloved race team Scuderia Ferrari to Ford. A heated argument and many insults later the seeds of the famous Ford and Ferrari argument were sowed. After the embarrassment received at the hands of Ferrari, the president of Ford Motor Company Henry Ford II wanted to get back at Ferrari by beating them where it mattered the most – Le Mans.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is regarded as the most prestigious endurance race event in the world. In the 1960s Ferrari was ruling Le Mans. To build a car capable of beating mighty Ferrari, Ford assembled a stellar team of race engineers and experts including race legend Carroll Shelby. In coordination with Ford Advanced Vehicles, Shelby American, Wyer Automotive and legendary race driver Ken Miles the team began building the Ford GT40. The race at Le Mans is a very demanding and challenging one both for the car as well as the driver. The cars have to constantly race at high speeds while cornering, along straights and also maintain brake efficiency, fuel economy too. To maintain high speeds and push the car to the limits while cornering a low center of gravity, excellent driving dynamics and body control are very important. There had been previous variants of the Ford GT40 such as the Mk I, II, III – however, they were a mixed bag with regards to race performance.

For the 1966 season of Le Mans – Ford entered the GT40 Mk II. Aerodynamics is a very crucial element of design in cars, even more so in race cars. For 1966 the Ford team revamped the aerodynamics of the previous edition GT40 and made it even better allowing for the car to seamlessly cut through the air and hence make it more efficient. The lightweight and improved aerodynamics of the car helped reduce the wear on the brakes making them last longer. During a very long and high-intensity race like Le Mans the car brakes take a huge beating and tend to reach extremely high temperatures. The high temperatures often result in brake failure if not maintained or managed well. The Ford team developed an ingenious solution to the brake overheating which allowed them to replace the brake pads at the time of the driver change interval. The Ford GT40 was powered by a 7.0 L V8 petrol engine producing 463 bhp of max power output mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. With this powertrain set up, the Ford GT40 was well equipped to give the Ferrari 330 a run for its money. After a thrilling and nail-biting 24 hours race at Le Mans…Ford pipped Ferrari and beat them with an iconic 1-2-3 Ford finish. With a brilliant driving performance from legendary drivers such as Ken Miles, Bruce McLaren the Ford GT40 put the American car giant on the global race map. The success of the Ford GT40 did not stop there, the car went on to win the Le Mans 1967, 1968, 1969 editions consecutively and is also the only car in the world to win at Le Mans 4 times in a row!

Understanding Your Car - Disc Brakes

Driving is a very complex process. It requires a lot of a concentration, coordination, situational awareness, swift decision making. Braking is one of the most crucial elements of driving. The brakes help control the speed of the car by slowing the car down, either to the desired speed or to a complete stop. The brakes are present on both the front and rear brakes of the car. There are two types of brakes which are generally used in cars – drum brakes and disc brakes. We will be telling you more about disc brakes, read on to find out more!

The development of disc brakes started in the 1890s, but it was Frederick Lanchester who developed the first patented disc brakes in 1902. The Lanchester cars were the first ones to have these brakes. French car giant Citroen was the first car manufacturer in the world to use disc brakes in a mass-production car - the Citroen DS. The DS used disc brakes at the front and was amongst the many innovations of the car at the time. Citroen sold over 1.5 million units of the DS with the same brake set-up over the course of 20 years in production. Modern cars have disc brakes set up either on the front wheels or on all wheels of the car. Disc brakes are very crucial in stopping or reducing the speed of the car. A disc brake is made up of the following parts –

 

• Rotor: The rotor is a circular disc which is bolted onto the wheel and spins along with it. Steel or cast iron are the most common materials used to produce rotors. High-end, high-performance cars use carbon ceramics to make rotors. While braking a lot of heat is produced on the rotor surface to combat this, the rotor discs are given ventilation by way of drilling holes on them for effective cooling and distribution of wasted heat. 
• Brake Pads: Brake pads push into the rotor and create friction which slows down or stops the car. The brake pads contain a metal portion called the shoe; the shoe contains a lining that comes in contact with the rotor.  The brake lining wears away over time with use.    
• Piston: The piston is a cylinder which is connected to the hydraulic fluid system of the brake. The piston moves the brake pads into the rotor when the driver presses the brake pedal.
• Caliper: A caliper is a case that fits over the rotor and holds the brake pads, piston into position. The caliper also contains the duct for the hydraulic brake fluid. There are two types of calipers – floating and fixed.

The brake pedal is connected to the brake master cylinder. When the driver presses the brake pedal the piston inside the master cylinder pressurizes the hydraulic fluid in the brake lines moving the pistons and pushing the brake pads into the rotor. The harder the driver pushes the brake pedal the harder the brake pad will squeeze against the rotor, hence applying more braking force. The brake pads move only a few millimeters and retract back into the calipers as soon as the drivers lift the foot off the pedal. Disc brake systems go through a lot of wear and tear. Even during normal driving conditions, there is a lot of heat that is generated while braking and this tends to take a toll on the brakes. Periodic maintenance is required to change the brake fluid, brake pads etc.

Disc brakes are a very crucial part of the car and can often come to the rescue in emergency situations. Disc brakes are also used in various other modes of transportation such as motorbikes, airplanes, trains, etc. and they continue to remain one of the most important inventions not only for cars but other automobiles, modes of transportation as well. 

Car Of The Week - Aston Martin DB5

Aston Martin is world-renowned for designing and manufacturing luxury sports cars and grand tourers. Aston Martin cars are known for the great blend of beautiful design and amazing driving performance. The British car manufacturer has produced some of the most beautiful and iconic cars of all time. One such car is the Aston Martin DB5. Arguably one of the most beautiful cars ever designed and an iconic movie car the Aston Martin DB5 has legendary status in the car world. Now, let’s get to know more about the Aston Martin DB5!

The Aston Martin DB5 was launched in 1963 as a successor to the Aston Martin DB4. Like other Aston Martin cars before it, the DB5 was a grand tourer (GT). A grand tourer is a car made for high-speed and long-distance driving having a good mix of luxury and performance. The car was designed by Italian design house Carrozzeria Touring using their Superleggera technique. The Superleggera technique involved the use of aluminum in combination with steel to create a beautifully designed car that was lightweight but kept passengers secure with the added strength of the structural frame. At first glance, the car charms you with its beauty and simplicity. The long bonnet, round headlamps, and classic Aston Martin grille ensure you will always remember this car. Step inside the Aston Martin DB5 and you will notice the interiors are elegant and classy. With nicely laid out interiors, comfortable cushion seats the large glass area offers great visibility for the driver. The Aston Martin DB5 is a very mechanical car and uses quite a bit of traditional car engineering when compared to the modern cars we have today. The large steering wheel is nicely wrapped in leather, but takes some effort to operate…of course, there was no power steering in those days! 

Movies are a great way for car brands to showcase their cars. Car manufacturers often allow their cars to be used as product placements in movies. The Aston Martin DB5 was showcased in the popular James Bond movie Goldfinger came out in 1964. Being the car of fictional MI6 agent James Bond, the car was kitted with various gadgets such as revolving number plates, machine guns, ejector seat, rear bulletproof screen, etc. The DB5 continued its association with the James Bond movies with appearances in Thunderball, GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, Casino Royale, Skyfall, Spectre and the latest movie No Time To Die. Powering the Aston Martin DB5 is powered by 4.0 L straight-six petrol engine churning out 282 bhp of max power output and hitting a top speed of 233 km/hr. The Aston Martin DB5 can do a respectable 0-100 time of 7.2 seconds. The DB5 came mated to a 5-speed manual transmission and a 3-speed automatic transmission. The Aston Martin DB5 came in 3 body styles – Vantage, Convertible and Shooting Brake. When the Aston Martin DB5 was launched in 1963, it retailed for a price of £4,175 onwards. In 2006, an Aston Martin DB5 sold at a private auction for over $2 million! Making it amongst the most expensive cars sold at auction.

The Aston Martin DB5 is without a legend in the car world and not only a Hollywood icon but also a car many people have grown up dreaming about. The DB5 has a very rich history and strong legacy having laid the foundation for the various future generations of Aston Martin cars to come after it. The Aston Martin DB5, remember the name…as it will remain around for eternity! 

Is India Ready For Electric Vehicles?

Electric vehicles need one or more motors and use electricity for propelling the vehicle. It uses a battery to store electric energy. The battery can be recharged through charging stations or electric ports built for the purpose. EVs are the need of the hour with the high levels of toxins in the air due to emissions from conventional petrol or diesel engines. Climate change has made it imperative that we Indians do our part in reducing the carbon footprints that we are constantly creating. India is not new to the technology of EVs we have been successfully and indigenously manufacturing and using as electric locomotives. All our long-distance trains, metro trains and monorails in the metropolitan cities have been using electricity to run the network successfully.

There are many benefits of using EVs first and foremost is the positive impact it will have on the environment of our country. Not only are the EVs low maintenance (the engines require far fewer components than the conventional combustion engines), but also cheaper to use. The electricity cost to charge an EV works to almost a third of buying petrol for the same vehicle. Batteries of the electric car are warranted by most manufacturers for almost 8 years!

Despite the known advantages of EVs there is a dearth of knowledge for several stakeholders; most importantly the end-users i.e. the consumers. The Indian automobile industry and the ministry of transportation needs to create awareness regarding the benefits of using EVs, the technology used to manufacture and efficiently use them, the infrastructure requirements of vehicles, etc.

Even as the benefits of EVs are far-reaching and cost-effective in the long run, the present circumstances do not present a conducive atmosphere in India. To run the whole transportation of the Indian sub-continent on electric energy we need sufficient electricity-generating resources. This creates the main crux of the problem. India doesn’t have enough hydroelectric power plants to supply clean emission less energy. Most of our electricity is generated from thermal power plants that use coal to create energy. Thus, we will not be reducing the pollutants in the already toxic environment but adding to it. The several hundred homes that are yet without electric power, the several power cuts experienced in all the urban areas are proof that our electricity generation capacity is not sufficient. Even though we plan to further burden it by using electricity as the source to fuel millions of two-wheelers and three-wheelers besides cars, trucks, public utility vehicles, and even public buses.  

India lacks significant infrastructure and the necessary technology to support EV manufacture. The basic and most important component such as high-density batteries remains a key challenge.  The NITI Aayog wants to invest in building 50-60 GWh of battery capacity by 2025. To achieve this an investment of $40 billion would be required. The lithium-ion battery needs raw materials that are in short supply globally making them expensive also these batteries do not support long-distance travel. Besides these challenges, we also lack a robust supply ecosystem of charging stations leading us to depend heavily on batteries imported from China and other countries. Used, spent electric batteries are harmful and toxic for the environment. There are companies working toward a solution for safer and less harmful disposal, but for the time being there is no recyclable solution.

The GOI initiated the FAME scheme to enable the growth of the E-mobility. The scheme (already in its phase II stage) has failed to create the momentum required as it plans to convert all two and three-wheelers into electric vehicles by 2023. There are start-ups that are designing and testing products to suit the Indian markets. Several studies have shown that there is an increased need for last-mile deliveries with huge mass transportation needs that can be filled by E- rickshaws; yet the lack of private parking space and charging infrastructure hinders the transition to EVs. The 1.3 billion people with unique transportation and commuting requirements make the transition to EVs formidable task. The average cost of manufacturing a conventional car is 5 Lakhs as compared to the 13 Lakh for an EV. Under the current circumstances, EVs are costing 2.5 times more than ICE engines. Therefore, several incentives under FAME have resulted in a lukewarm response from the industry as well as consumers.  The Ola initiative, in Nagpur, to go electric has also witnessed a hurdle as the Ola drivers returned the electric cars and switching to petrol/diesel vehicles citing high operating expenses and long waiting periods at charging stations. The slow pickup, low speeds and insufficient charging stations in the local vicinity added to their woes.

Several Indian car manufacturers have already launched their vehicles in the market with Mahindra and Tata motors emerging as leaders. Hyundai, MG, Toyota, etc have options available for the consumers but the lack of awareness, infrastructure confusion about the after-sales services, trained technicians, service stations etc is causing the lacuna in boosting the sales of EVs in India.

Global players like Tesla, BMW, Toyota, Mercedes Benz who have been waiting to launch into the Indian markets have expressed concern over the high (almost 100%) import duties. Tesla’s interest in setting up a battery manufacturing plant in India should be encouraged if we want to be ground ready for the efficient and smoother transition to EVs. Small steps by the GOI like the 7% reduction in the GST of EVs, free registration and tax benefits for the manufacturing of batteries and technology can lead to generating the demand in the market.

Yes, electric mobility is the future and India needs to get there sooner rather than later. However, the transition from fossil fuel-powered mobility to electric mobility has to be a smoother, more informative and more structured approach. All stakeholders (GOI, OEMs, OES, State Governments, etc.) need to work in unison around a plan and a practical framework to transition well into electric mobility. 

Car Of The Week - Toyota Land Cruiser

In 1950, the Korean war saw the demand for a light utility vehicle for the military. The US government gave Toyota the task of manufacturing 100 vehicles with Willys Jeep specifications. This gave Japan the Jeep! The demand for military UVs saw the creation of the Toyota “Jeep” BJ prototype in 1951. The BJ40 was the predecessor of the Land Cruiser. The BJ40 was larger and more powerful than the American Jeep. In 1954, Toyota decided to rebrand the BJ40 and changed its official name to the Land Cruiser.

   The second-generation Toyota Land Cruiser introduced in 1957 and was designed to keep the civilian consumer in mind. The design was more flashy, modern and compatible with the urban environment. The second-gen Land Cruiser was internally called the 20 Series by Toyota and had better ride quality courtesy of a longer wheelbase and mechanical improvements adapted from the Toyota Light Truck. The car was powered by a 3.9 L in-line six-cylinder petrol engine producing 133 bhp of max power. The third-generation Toyota Land Cruiser was the J40 introduced in 1960. The J40 is arguably the most iconic Land Cruiser ever built. With an updated steel body design, addition of transfer cases the J40 proved itself to be one of the best off-road vehicles around. The car became the best-selling Toyota in the USA between 1961-65. By 1984, Toyota had sold over 1.1 million units of the Land Cruiser, now that’s some amazing market performance. It should be noted that the Toyota Land Cruiser was and has always been competing with 4X4 behemoths the likes of the Range Rover, Jeep Grand Cherokee and has still managed to stand its ground. The Toyota Land Cruiser model range is made up of two model types – comfort-oriented models, off-road-oriented models. The comfort-oriented range of cars is well known for the high levels of luxury, passenger comfort and safety on offer. The off-road Land Cruiser cars are designed and built for the sole purpose of off-roading – venture into the harshest of terrain and the Land Cruiser will not leave you disappointed! Durability and reliability are at the very heart of what Toyota as a brand stands for. The Land Cruiser is a perfect example of this, Land Cruisers are built to outlast a majority of cars. Finding a Land Cruiser to have been in perfect driving condition even after 25 years of usage is not a difficult task. The Toyota Land Cruiser is often considered necessary equipment and the go-to car for the UN and many other relief organizations, NGOs in the most difficult environments on earth. The beauty of the Land Cruiser lies in the way Toyota has designed and built it. While the Land Cruiser is an extremely capable car, it is designed with a lot of simplicity in mind. A car that is designed with simplicity in mind always goes a long way with regard to reliability and durability. The Toyota Land Cruiser is not only the brand longest-running production car, but it is also one of its highest-sellers with 10 million units sold globally. The current generation Toyota Land Cruiser is the J200 Series. The car comes with all the bells, whistles and tech you could ask for with features such as – Smart Entry, Smart Start, 4-zone climate control with over 28 vents, 10 airbags etc. Following the legacy of its predecessors, the current-gen car is also a very capable off-roader with equipment like – CRAWL (a system which operates like off-road cruise control), Multi-terrain ABS, Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System, etc. Engine options on the current Land Cruiser are – a twin-turbo V8 diesel engine, a 4.5 L diesel engine and a 4.7 L petrol engine mated to a 5-speed, or a 6-speed automatic gearbox.

  The Toyota Land Cruiser is a legend in itself. The Land Cruiser has been a leading light for all cars with respect to overall reliability, durability, capability, comfort, and value. The Land Cruiser is one of those cars that silenced critics and also made a very large fan base around the world. Who would have thought that a small, medium car manufacturer like Toyota would excel at making one of the best 4X4 SUVs ever? Not only is the Land Cruiser a major success for the consumers, fans who love and adore the car but also for Toyota who has since 1951 been regarded as one of the stalwarts of 4X4 SUVs manufacturers. 

How Do Electric Cars Perform Better Than Combustion Cars?

Electric cars are more popular than ever. Recently electric cars have seen a very high demand in markets the world over. Conventional cars i.e. those running on fossil fuels are still quite popular and vastly outnumber their electric counterparts. With an over dependence on fossil fuels, their ill effects on global warming, climate change and a need for alternative fuel transportation; electric vehicles have become increasingly popular. Electric cars are more efficient, environment friendly and cheaper to own than combustion cars. However, one of the most surprising differences between electric and combustion cars are the performance figures…you will be surprised to know that electric cars are quicker and outperform combustion ones. Curious to know how? We’ve got you covered!

    Before we get to what makes electric cars quicker it is important to get an understanding of horsepower and torque. In layman’s terms horsepower is the power produced by the car engine. More horsepower means a higher speed achieved. Torque is the strength of the engine, the more torque the engine produces the quicker the car accelerates. An electric car produces instant torque, this means the driver has maximum torque as soon as the pedal is stepped on. Instant torque allows an electric car to achieve higher revs at lower speeds hence it does not need a complex gearbox. This eliminates the added weight in an electric car, which in turn makes the car quicker and more reliable due to less gear shifts. The tuning and analysis of a combustion car engine is difficult and a complicated matter. On the other hand, tuning and customizing the engine inputs to elements like throttle response is easy in an electric car because it relies on a software for the same. This flexibility of performance customization allows an electric car to gain more ground on the performance front over a combustion car. Electric cars are powered by electric batteries which are rather bulky and heavy. However, this works to the advantage of the electric car when it comes to outperforming a combustion one. In a conventional combustion car, the fuel is injected into the engine via a complex network of pipes. This makes it longer for fuel to reach the engine, even after the throttle response is given. Whereas an electric car does not have fuel, it has electrons instead. Electrons are much smaller and cover a distance to the motors via electric wires at lighting quick speeds. Hence the injection of energy into the electric motor of a car is instantaneous making the car go really quick and have superior performance when compared to a combustion car.

    The driving dynamics of an electric car are also better suited to performance driving. The performance of an electric car along with the efficiency, financial feasibility it provides car owners is a great value proposition. Stay tuned to know more about electric cars as we make them simple for you!