Children take over city streets with electric speed

Exciting go-kart races in Romania show the future of sustainable motorsport – where young drivers race electric karts charged with solar energy

In cities and communities across Romania, the organizers behind RadioKart are closing off streets to hold an exciting series of electric go-kart races – where the drivers are children as young as eight years old.

These children will likely never own internal combustion engine vehicles in their lifetime – already they are paving the way for a new era of silent power. 

 
 
Classifications and Technology

The competition is divided into four classes:

• NanoWatt – for 6–8 years, equipped with 2.4 kW motor and 52V 28Ah battery
• MicroWatt – for 8–10 years, with 3.75 kW motor and 52V 28Ah battery
• MiniWatt – for 10–12 years, with 4.25 kW motor and 52V 28Ah battery
• SuperMiniWatt – for 9–13 years, with 7.5 kW motor and 52V 40Ah battery

Speed and Safety

The karts whiz along at up to 65 km/h just a few centimeters from the ground. For the youngest drivers, power and speed are limited via Bluetooth control for safety. The built-in 52V lithium batteries are perfect for the task – compact, lightweight, and powerful.

Green Charging with Solar Energy

In the pit, the karts are charged by a prototype of a solar-equipped, silent EV Mobile Recharge Station built by Romanian Darcom Energy. Previously, the grid or generators were used – but now the solution is completely green thanks to Victron technology.

Technical Details

The station has twelve solar panels controlled by two SmartSolar MPPT controllers and stores energy in eight lithium batteries balanced by Lynx Smart BMS. Charging takes place via three Quattro 10000 inverter/chargers, controlled by Cerbo GX and monitored with GX Touch 50.

Results and Conclusion

Over the weekend, the station delivered 41 kW to the racing karts – 30 kW of which came directly from the solar panels. The events also attract car Manufacturer who showcase their latest electric models.

The RadioKart events conclude with a colorful award ceremony where everyone is a winner – no champagne, but perhaps a lemonade fountain?

Watch the video from the competition here: