In competitive racing, battery-powered cars have a long way to go before they can substitute gas-powered cars. But this has become a reality in the case of karting – the very base of the motor racing pyramid.
But this leads many to the question of which is better electric or gas go-karts. Below are the factors where these 2 types differ. So, keep reading to find out more!
Key differences between electric and gas go-karts
- Emission
You obviously know that gas go-karts release exhaust fumes. But if you want a clean and safe indoor racing with no fumes, then electric go-karts are the best option available. The gas go-karts’ exhaust fumes are hazardous to health but with its electric counterpart, you will not experience this problem.
- Danger of flipping
The chance of tipping or flipping of a go-kart is not unheard of during racing. One of the main reasons for such accidents is the uneven weight distribution of the go-kart. The battery weight of the electric type is evenly distributed, so the chances of tipping are quite less. On the other hand, the gas type has heavy engines fixed in a single spot which leads to uneven weight distribution, causing the go-kart to flip.
- Easy to diagnose
The go-karts tend to wear out with time and proper diagnosis is a must for them.This allows the go-karts to perform well during the race. Otherwise, the determining factor to win the race will become luck. The electric is quite easy to diagnose and can give an even playing field. But the gas counterparts are not like that.
- Presence of a reverse gear
This is a handy feature that can save the day if a spin arises during the race. This can help you to continue the race without losing time and needing someone to push you manually. Electric go-karts are popular because of this feature.
- Completely covered
In the electric go-karts, the mechanical components present are completely covered to prevent injuries and burns to the driver. This is not the case with gas go-karts where you have the chance to touch a spot and get nasty burns. In a sense, electric go-karts are much safer to have around than the gas counterparts.
- Torque
Electric cars have low torques but not go-karts. If you want a go-kart that can instantly give you high speed, then the electric type is the best. Once you slam that pedal, you can get instant power. This is useful when racing in a track with multiple turns because to exit a turn, acceleration is important.
- Longevity
This is the only aspect that gas go-karts have superiority over the electric go-karts. The time that a charge can last for an electric go-kart can vary but not for a gas type. To put it simply, the health of the batteries determine how long an electric go-kart can last. But for a gas go-kart, all it needs is a tank refill and it is good to go.
- Costs
The initial costs of gas go-karts are much lower than electric go-karts. This is due to battery cost which is expensive. But the maintenance costs of electric type is pretty less than the gas go-karts.
The bottom line
I am sure that this article will help you to decide on which is better –electric or gas go-karts.
