SAE Comes out with "Green Racing" Protocols

October 29, 2014

Patrick Ponticel

The Spark-Renault sRT_01E is the racecar used by all teams in the new all-electric Formula E series.

SAE International recently published the J2880 - Recommended Green Racing Protocols. The aims of J2880 are to:

Provide sanctioning bodies with recommendations to help them align competition rules with the objectives of sustainable transportation
Support environmentally responsible and sustainable technology that is transferable to production vehicles
Promote environmentally friendly operations of motorsports venues, competition events, and racing team facilities
Assist sanctioning bodies in establishing a roadmap to increase green initiatives.

The U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. EPA, and SAE, along with partners and representatives from the motorsports industry, developed the protocols to be used by those automotive racing series who seek recognition as a Green Racing Series.

The elements of J2880 identify a range of technologies, fuels, and operational procedures that support development of a sustainable future for both motorsports and personal mobility, and organize them into a matrix of five Green Racing elements and four levels of commitment within each element. These elements are: propulsion systems, fuel/energy carriers, energy recovery, improved efficiency, and emission reduction. The levels of commitment are: Core, Enhanced, Elevated, and Pinnacle.