U.K. Circuit Bans EVs and Hybrids from Track Days
Trac Mon, on the Isle of Anglesey in Wales will no longer allow electric and hybrid cars to be used on track days, unless organizers are able to provide appropriately-trained marshals and suitable safety equipment.
Although the circuit prides itself on being as eco-friendly as possible, with a wind turbine taking advantage of the track’s breezy coastal location, it has decided that risk of electric vehicles running at speed is too great.
“As a circuit we don’t have the equipment and training in place yet to have EVs on a track day,” General Manager Annette Freeman told Hagerty. The circuit will therefore not allow electric and hybrid cars “until we can safeguard both the participants and the marshals.”
Statistics gathered from road use suggest that the risk of fire in electric vehicles is significantly lower than gas-powered vehicles, but once lithium batteries do ignite they require specialist training and a huge volume of water to extinguish. “We can’t just push a car into the sea (as some internet commentators have suggested),” said Freeman. “Track day insurance might cover the cost of a barrier repair, but not replacing a section of the track which has been fire damaged.”
The decision doesn’t impact the circuit’s ability to host testing sessions for car makers and race teams who come with their own safety teams. “We haven’t completely banned electric vehicles, we are very happy to continue our relationships with manufacturers and factory teams,” added Freeman.
Trac Mon, which is easily Britain’s most picturesque circuit, is independently-run, so the cost of training and equipping for EV eventualities will be a key component of this decision. Looking to the future, when more enthusiast vehicles such as the next generation Porsche Boxster/Cayman go electric, the circuit will have to adapt, but until then the move could well set a precedent for other small circuits.
Many public safety agencies are not up on these.
They really are not sure what to do in some departments.
Still a lot of training left to do.
I get this. My friend’s Ford Escape hybrid got overheated just driving up one of the passes in western Montana. It caught fire near the top; fortunately there was a wide place to pull over and my friend got out unhurt. He had just dropped off his two dogs, so things could have been a lot worse. The car was completely burned up by the time firefighters got there, and it took hours to extinguish the batteries.
Also, here in the U.S. a lot of standard insurance companies are no longer writing new policies on many of these.
Haven’t heard of insurance companies flat declining EVs or hybrids. Where did you read this, would be interested to look into it more.
Kyle, I didn’t read it, my wife works for one of the top U.S. insurance companies by market share. They are also denying certain luxury cars and Kia/Hyundai (because of thefts). It is with new and existing customers quoting both new and used vehicles.
Just watched a YouTube video of an EV getting pulled into the water as it backed a boat in. It started on fire and continued to burn underwater, bubbles with flames popping out.
Check your homeowners insurance to see what restrictions are placed on parking these little time bombs in your garage.
This is shocking news! :^) Not really considering the training and expense involved at the moment.
I think some tracks don’t like EVs because they greatly outperform the gas cars. If so, the problem is the track people, not the the EVs. They are much less likely to catch fire than gas cars.
Here’s the sound of EVs on the racetrack…” .”
It should read “________________”
That makes Trac Mon the only circuit in the UK not to allow EVs. Even Castle Coombe now allows them and they are possibly the most safety conscious circuit in the country. Why? Because if you carry out a risk assessment of running a properly maintained EV on a track, a fossil fuel car is 300 times more likely to catch fire than an EV. Trac Mon’s decision is one based on ignorance and misinformation.