Porsche has filed a new patent with the European Patent Office for a system that plans charging stops in real time for electric and hybrid race cars — with the goal of minimizing pit time and maximizing overall race performance. The motorsport-focused system uses live data to determine the most efficient charging strategy during a race.
While Toyota is working on a new system that optimizes a hybrid’s electric and ICE drive systems for road use, and BMW’s latest patent adds a supercapacitor to a hybrid battery for extremely rapid charging, Porsche’s innovation zeroes in on optimizing charging logistics as a competitive advantage on the track.
Charging as Strategy: Porsche’s Data-Driven Race System
Winning races is not just about speed, but about race strategy; everybody has seen how F1 races are won in the pits, with optimally timed pit stops, refuels, and tire changes. In hybrid or EV racing, charging is an additional factor, so Porsche’s system is designed to maximize energy usage by taking into account:
- Total race distance
- Track layout and elevation
- Regenerative braking zones
- Current and projected energy use
The goal is to optimize the above in such a way that you end up with maximum track time, minimal charging time, and – most importantly – optimally timed charging stops. This should, in theory, put you in the best position to make optimal use of your EV or hybrid’s drive system to get a leg up on the rest and win the race. Some of the data inputs used to achieve these outcomes include real-time analysis of the above-mentioned metrics, along with utilizing an on-board database of the exact track profile and your vehicle data.
Real-Time Strategy, Dynamic Decisions
What sets Porsche’s system apart is its ability to factor in a wide range of variables — from track data to regenerative braking — while continuously adapting to real-world conditions in real time. The system displays an up-to-date charging strategy directly on the driver’s display and adjusts it dynamically as the race unfolds. By constantly recalculating expected energy consumption based on changing conditions, Porsche aims to give drivers a strategic edge with every lap.
