Ellis Spiezia
Ellis Spiezia is an American EV racing driver and EV influencer. Part of a generation of EV natives coming up from virtual sims to indoor curciuts to major European race courses and bringing the sport to a mainstream audience.
We asked Ellis about his story and his knowledge of electric vehicle racing and how the technology can transfer from the track to the consumer world.
We asked Ellis about his story and his knowledge of electric vehicle racing and how the technology can transfer from the track to the consumer world.
Ellis’ life/ journey through racing
Despite not coming from a heritage of racing Ellis displayed a interest in cars from a young age. By 11 his Xbox driving rig turned to indoor karting which would turn to track racing in some of Europe’s biggest electric racing curciuts.
A pivotal moment came at the Rotax Project E20 a competition on a sustainable high-performance racing kart. Kart racing eliminates differences in material compositions creating an even playing field for all racers to show off their pure skill. “…In combustion motorsport, not all materials are the same, and you can pay for advantage.” This makes competitions like the German Championship and the European Trophy and World Championships a purist competitor’s dream:
A pivotal moment came at the Rotax Project E20 a competition on a sustainable high-performance racing kart. Kart racing eliminates differences in material compositions creating an even playing field for all racers to show off their pure skill. “…In combustion motorsport, not all materials are the same, and you can pay for advantage.” This makes competitions like the German Championship and the European Trophy and World Championships a purist competitor’s dream:
"Being able to know that every vehicle’s power and performance is the same means it’s down to the drivers"
A big pull of electric motor sports is its ability to break down financial and logisical barriers to racing. Having started on a home simulator Ellis encourages those starting out to do the same to get a feel for the sport. Indoor kart racing offers a step between starting out and the leap to going all in for a career in racing.
Just as there are highs and lows in racing, the process of developing new technology is never an unbroken upward tragectory. Ellis recalls his 12 volt battery dying mid race, costing him a long held lead. “That’s part of motorsport (…) there are issues that happen out of your control.” Being a part of the ride isn’t just about being there for the successes.”You’ve gotta be willing to take risks, experience failure and uncertainty if you want to reap the rewards”.
Just as there are highs and lows in racing, the process of developing new technology is never an unbroken upward tragectory. Ellis recalls his 12 volt battery dying mid race, costing him a long held lead. “That’s part of motorsport (…) there are issues that happen out of your control.” Being a part of the ride isn’t just about being there for the successes.”You’ve gotta be willing to take risks, experience failure and uncertainty if you want to reap the rewards”.
About the karts/ on racing
“People definitely underestimate the speed and performance that electric vehicles offer”
In reality EV racers are packed with torque, “when someone gets behind the wheel of something electric they cannot believe how much power and acceleration comes off the line.”
All racing requires fitness and practise but electric racing is different game altogether.
In reality EV racers are packed with torque, “when someone gets behind the wheel of something electric they cannot believe how much power and acceleration comes off the line.”
All racing requires fitness and practise but electric racing is different game altogether.
“When you have a driver who has only driven combustion, and they try to apply the same style and rules, I have them beat every time.”
EV’s can be optimised in how they deploy and manage energy during a race. Power maps, sometimes known as motor maps, can be adjusted according to the conditions of the track, the type of race, and the preference of the driver. Really knowing your vehicle and how to manage it plays a big part in coming first.
The furture of driving/ EV advocacy
“I always say, no one gets into motorsport to save the planet…” but the journey has opened Ellis’ eyes to the new sustainable technologies that are coming to shape driving and energy production. Ellis has become something of an ‘EV influencer’, the first of its kind. Being so close to the newest electric vehicle technologies he reveals using swappable battery packs, fully sufficient renewable energy minis grids serving race tracks, and hydrogen powered fuel cell generators.
“Weight of the cars coming down, more power, more speed and reliability. We’re still very much at the start”
Ellis advocates for wide EV adoption belieiving the developments happening on the track can work their way into the consumer world. Some already have; CanAm's new electric motorcycle, the Pulse, for which Ellis is ambassador origionated from Rotax project E20 and has hit the road and dirt tracks for the consumer market.
“seeing something I helped develop in motorsport come directly to the road for consumers is pretty amazing.”
Every car needs a track so its just as important that infrastructure keeps pace with the changes and needs of electric vehicles. EV technology is as much to do with the vehicle as its driving environment. Having lived in Europe and the States Ellis has seen the rise of renewable energy sites and supportive EV infrastructure in both continents. Range anxiety only exists on the margins of EV use, and is “just a tactic used as anti-EV (rhetoric)” Ellis writes.
Theres more to be done connecting the excitement of electric motor sports and drivers’ experiences on the road. Where motor sports translates so well to everyday experience, electric vehicles don’t hold the same status in mainstream fans’ minds and sentiment. The new generations of racing fans are going to want more ways to connects with the experience of EV drivers on the track. More gamification and more connection to brands and manufactures are a way to do this.
Theres more to be done connecting the excitement of electric motor sports and drivers’ experiences on the road. Where motor sports translates so well to everyday experience, electric vehicles don’t hold the same status in mainstream fans’ minds and sentiment. The new generations of racing fans are going to want more ways to connects with the experience of EV drivers on the track. More gamification and more connection to brands and manufactures are a way to do this.
On the future on racing a EV technology
EV racing is a race to be the lightest, the most agile, to have the furthest range, to be the fastest to get back on the track. In this race there is no finish line; technology keeps going further than we think it can, “I mean, think of the first cell phones versus what’s in your pocket now…”
When Steve Jobs pushed for an ever slimmer Ipod he was told the version he held was the slimmest it could get. The tale goes he dropped it into a fish tank in his office. Bemused, both the engineers and the fish looked on as bubbles began to flow out of the device.
“See?”, Jobs asked. “Bubbles. If there’s air in it, it can be slimmer.”
The race goes on in the world of EV racing and transforming sustainable personal transport. An eariler message from Ellis to beginner racers can be heard by all: “always be in the mindset to improve and learn and be curious.”
When Steve Jobs pushed for an ever slimmer Ipod he was told the version he held was the slimmest it could get. The tale goes he dropped it into a fish tank in his office. Bemused, both the engineers and the fish looked on as bubbles began to flow out of the device.
“See?”, Jobs asked. “Bubbles. If there’s air in it, it can be slimmer.”
The race goes on in the world of EV racing and transforming sustainable personal transport. An eariler message from Ellis to beginner racers can be heard by all: “always be in the mindset to improve and learn and be curious.”
