Re:Formula E reveals second-generation car
by colanderman on Wednesday January 31, 2018 @01:09PM
(#16275992)
Dumb question, why must a driver hop away from a damaged vehicle?
Re:Formula E reveals second-generation car
by mrestko on Wednesday January 31, 2018 @01:14PM
(#16276048)
Theoretically, if there was a short to ground, a voltage potential could develop between the two legs if the driver took a step away from the car. By hopping and landing with feet together, both legs will always be at the same potential so no current should run through the legs even if the immediate area around the car is energized.
Re:Formula E reveals second-generation car
by jdietrich on Wednesday January 31, 2018 @03:08PM
(#16277083)
It looks absurd, but it's standard advice if a backhoe or crane hits a power line.
Re:Formula E reveals second-generation car
by jacquesm on Wednesday January 31, 2018 @08:28PM
(#16279074)
And why you should keep your feet together when there is a thunderstorm. An impact near you can still kill you if your feet are apart.
Re:Formula E reveals second-generation car
by sjm-lbm on Wednesday January 31, 2018 @01:13PM
(#16276032)
It means the driver is never part of a conductive path between the car and the ground.
Re:Formula E reveals second-generation car
by HeyLaughingBoy on Wednesday January 31, 2018 @02:49PM
(#16276950)
Or between different parts of the "ground" that are at different potentials.
There are indicator lights on the outside of the cars that show the status of the hybrid system. They also have a emergency cutoff switch that is large enough for them to push with a fiberglass pole.
In some cases especially in practice if the car is badly damaged they will send one of the safety and intervention vehicles back to the pits and fetch a crew member from that car with tools to properly safe the hybrid system. I've also seen where the Marshalls will have the driver climb out of the car stand on the side pod and jump clear, then take 4 or 5 bunny hops away from the car.