It really depends on the batteries you buy and where you're driving. I can get 15 minutes on a track, but i only get 6 minutes in mud. Some batteries (with at least a 3C charge rate) can be charged in 15 - 20 minutes. Usually I don't play for 45 minutes at a time, but I also can charge more than battery at a time (most electric racers I know do too), so I (we) don't have to worry about super long charging times.Slimneill said:How many battery packs do you have for a 1/5 scale electric? It must take hours to charge enough batteries to go driving for 45 min?
When I go to the track, 9 times out of 10, it's the racers with the gas engines who are having troubles. While it does take time to charge batteries, most racers have 1 or 2 sets charged before they arrive and place another set on the charger when they get to the track. I personally have never seen an electric racer who didn't have their battery ready when it was time for them to race. However, I've seen a few gas racers who had some type of engine problem (can't get it started, can't keep it started, or just don't know what is causing the problem).
In my experience, electric 1/5th scale is more expensive up front, but the total cost of ownership of the gas vehicles seem to be more down the road (and a short one at that).