The August edition of Materials Inside focusses on hybrid and electric vehicles. We decided to head back to the BTCC and record the episode live by the trackside. Mark Daniels presents, interviewing Steve Brady and Peter Riches.
Why create a podcast about hybrid vehicles at the BTCC?
Steve BradyIntroducing hybrid vehicles adds a small cost now but should pay off in the long run to make life better. But the whole point of it is to help the environment, help the efficiency of the world, and remove fossil fuels.
Goodfellow believe in ensuring we use environmentally friendly materials where possible. This is evident in our introduction of the innovative material green graphene – a material so versatile, that we could see it introduced into motor racing before long. The introduction of hybrid vehicles into the BTCC will have a positive impact on the environment and has created even more need for innovative materials and creative solutions. Aside from fuel and engine choices, materials play a key role in ensuring the sport remains as environmentally friendly as possible. Materials currently in use range from carbon fibre to bamboo!
Steve Brady
There’re more sustainable materials coming through. Some of the carbon fibre cars are now starting to use reconstituted materials and we are growing materials rather than using the carbon options. The two championships are going sustainable, we're trying to remove single use plastics, which is then introducing interesting materials such as bamboo. Sustainability is key.
Why did we choose Steve Brady and Peter Riches as our guests for this episode?
You may remember us talking to Steve Brady during our BTC Materials Inside episode. As the team mechanic, Steve has such great insight into the real-life implications of introducing hybrid vehicles into the championship. With such natural passion, Steve is a pleasure to listen to as he explains what it means to the drivers using hybrid vehicles.
Peter Riches is TOCA’s Technical Director and was the natural choice for us to talk to. Peter is responsible for introducing hybrid vehicles into the championship and is also responsible for all the rules and regulations surrounding the introduction. With such a wealth of knowledge and experience within the industry, it was a pleasure and an honour to talk with Peter about the things he is most passionate about.
Creating the rules and regulations at the BTCC is as fast paced as the vehicles on the track, but Peter is always focussing on keeping the sport affordable and fair.
Peter Riches
The hybrid system is supplied at a fixed price per year, and it's a five-year deal. At the end of every year, everything comes back in service. It’s a set price, so the teams can budget for it. A lot of our regulations are based on keeping the cost down.
The BTCC are making every effort to be more sustainable, and Steve explains that 20% of the fuel currently being used in the BTCC is sustainable, a number which could very well grow in the future.
Steve Brady
Sustainable fuels are grown from crops. We can grow more every year and convert it into a fuel which is just as combustible as the oil that we take out of the ground.
Why turn the podcast into a video?
At Goodfellow, we are always looking for ways to inspire the scientific community. The Materials Inside podcast is one of our most successful ventures with over 250,000 downloads to date. Starting out as a mission to inspire the next generation of scientists – the series has gone from strength to strength, and the audience is now an eclectic mix from across the industry. We know that YouTube and video content is so engaging for the younger generations, and we are passionate about inspiring young people to be the best that they can be. We hope that you have enjoyed the video and we welcome all feedback, as there will be more video content very soon.
How did we decide on the questions, and how did the conversations progress?
The questions are based around what we believe the audience wants to hear about. There is a big collaboration. Making the content relevant to enthusiasts while ensuring there is something relatable in there for everyone.
We asked Steve how the Hybrid vehicles in the BTCC compare with those we use on the roads.
Steve Brady
Our hybrid vehicles are based on performance alone, so we have it on a button to deploy. We're using it as an extra 30 horsepower, whereas at home people are using it to make the first 30 miles of their journey free of charge.
We also spoke in depth about the difference between engine types and the safety of using batteries in high-speed races, here’s what Steve had to say.
Steve Brady
A lot of the differences come from the power source, obviously, with the petrol and diesel engines you've got a tank carrying fuel. With hybrid and electric engines, the technologies are developing really quickly in the batteries. It’s lithium-based batteries we've got in our cars, which is a very reactive material. So, then we've got big safety structures around them to make sure that they're safe. That’s the main problem, just making sure that the lithium is safe in the car.
How did we find the experience of recording live?
It was great fun! Aside from being an opportunity to spend time with the team, it was a unique opportunity to create content in a fun and exciting environment. We had the opportunity to watch some of the races and really soak in the atmosphere. We met some interesting people and created some fantastic content – we hope you agree!
Will we make more video content in the future?
Absolutely. Before this first video was released, we have already started work on our next video project. Without giving too much away just yet – ifGrapheneis of interest to you, you won’t want to miss our next video.
