SAE International publishes revised SAE J2880 standard for recommended Green Racing protocols

17 October 2014

SAE International has published the revised J2880_201406 Standard, superseding the older J2880_200810 Standard. The Department of Energy (DOE), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and SAE International, along with partners and representatives from the motorsports industry, developed these protocols to be used by those automotive racing series who seek recognition as a Green Racing Series.

The Recommended Green Racing Protocols establish guidelines enabling motorsports competition to further develop technologies and fuels that respond to the current and future needs of on road vehicles, while they provide a sustainable future for motorsports worldwide. SAE J2880 aligns motorsports with evolving transportation demands, to promote and improve energy efficiency and diversity, and demonstrate environmental responsibility while supporting motorsport that is entertaining, exciting, cost effective and safe.

The SAE J2880:

• Provides sanctioning bodies with recommendations to help them align competition rules with the objectives of sustainable transportation;

• Supports environmentally responsible and sustainable technology that is transferable to production vehicles;

• Promotes environmentally friendly operations of motorsports venues, competition events, and racing team facilities; and

• Assists sanctioning bodies in the establishing a roadmap to increase green initiatives.

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 organizes 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
• Emission Reduction

Within each element there are four possible levels of commitment, i.e., Core, Enhanced, Elevated, and Pinnacle, which is the highest level of Green Racing commitment.

Since 2008, The International Motor Sports Association (IMSA), in a partnership with, EPA, DOE, and SAE, promote the development and use of alternative technologies and renewable fuels in the motorsports industry.