Incredible Downforce Required.
Volkswagen’s all-electric I.D. R. Pikes Peak racer smashes the all-time hill-climb record
At this year’s world-famous Pikes Peak hill-climb, French racing driver Romain Dumas piloted an all-electric VW racecar to break a record that stood since 2013. Five years ago, Sebastien Loeb took the online motoring community by storm when he drove his V6 powered Redbull Peugeot 208 up the hill, obliterating the previous time record by a full minute and a half. (It must be noted that the vehicle used to achieve this feat is about as far from a factory 208 as physically possible). Sebastien's record has now been smashed by a further 15 seconds by Dumas in his custom built VW racer.
The Volkswagen I.D. R. (I know, catchy name right!) began development in October 2017, with the renderings of the final vehicle being released in March of this year. The electric motors combine to produce 670hp and 479lb/ft of torque, which propels the I.D. R. from 0-60mph in 2.25 seconds. It is important to note that up the Pikes Peak run all-out top speed becomes an irrelevant quantity – the closely-packed, tight cut-back corners stop any vehicle from reaching its intended max speed. Cornering ability, downforce and acceleration are, therefore, critical to the success of any record-setting vehicle.
The weight of the battery packs previously needed for all-electric vehicles to complete the steep, 20km long course badly inhibited their speed. However, with the increasing efficiency of lithium-ion battery tech, the I.D. R. - and many other electric vehicles like it - are able to shed weight while increasing battery life and power output.
While its created somewhat of a crisis for petrol-power, electric cars have made incredible technological leaps in an exceptionally short amount of time. In under five years, we have hundreds of thousands of all-electric cars on our roads – with increasingly available supplies of renewable energy to charge them. There are autonomous, all-electric racecars proving themselves at world-famous motor events like the Goodwood FOS. Above all, however, there is an increasingly popular E-Prix - travelling to major cities across the globe, record breaking hill-climb vehicles and all-electric hypercars putting Lamborghini and Bugatti to shame.
All of the latest record-setters from Koenigesgg, Ferrari, Rimac, Porsche, Mclaren, and now VW are largely – or completely – electric. It is the engineering personnel working within the secretive lairs of these automotive giants that are changing the world for the better. It may not seem like it, but the introduction of these vehicles has genuinely begun to change our traditional opinions of the dangers and inferiority of electric powered cars. Although many would not have believed it a decade ago, the car is undoubtedly, unequivocally going electric – and maybe just in time too!
What do you think about the successes of all-electric vehicles over the last few years? And what’s next for the traditionally petrol-powered car? Let me know in the comments below.
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Comments (3)
I was there to see that amazing car race to the clouds! One of the best days of my life!
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Great piece Alex!