Tag Archives: Pikes Peak

EV West E36 M3 Qualifying and Practice at Pikes Peak International Hill Climb 2012

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EV West just posted these videos of their 700 hp E36 M3 race car qualifying and practicing for this year’s Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC). The course is split into three sections to allow the drivers to pre-run the course before competition day. Qualifying is done based on their time for the lower section. It turns out the car was making too much power which was causing some powerslides on corner exit. The team derated the controller to help with traction.

Part 1: Qualifying the on the lower section. The motor controller cut out for 30 seconds right off the bat, but then it fires up again without any problems. The alarm is required for electric cars so that the people out on course can hear the car coming.

 

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EV West 700hp Pikes Peak Electric E36 M3

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Here’s another compelling argument for our case that electric cars don’t have to be slow, boring and/or ugly. This is the 1995 BMW M3 built by EV West of San Diego for the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. The car is running the best performance brushed DC motor technology currently available. Under the hood there are two NetGain Warp 11 HV’s end to end being fed by a EVnetics Soliton Shiva that’s capable of delivering 3000 amps.

Twin NetGain Warp 11 HV’s connected to a Powerglide transmission

The result is 700hp which is transferred through an externally pumped Powerglide Transmission. The external pumping means the transmission doesn’t need a torque converter. The motors are connected directly through an input shaft from a Turbo 400. Continue reading →

Yokohama HER-02

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The Team Yokohama EV Challenge HER-02 is the current record holder for electric racing cars at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. The car began competing in 2009 and has continued improving its time culminating in a 12’20” last year. For reference, Monster Tajima’s overall record (in a gasoline powered car) is a little over 10 minutes. In addition to testing EV technology in the form of high voltage AC motors and lithium-ion batteries, the HER-02 also helped develop Yokohama’s BluEarth tires. The BluEarths use natural fibers in the casing and orange oil instead of petroleum based products. These materials lent to easier recycling as well as improved grip when compared to a traditional tire. The Yokohama BluEarth has just hit production and was selected as the OEM tire for the Toyota Prius V. Tire Rack classifies them as a Grand Touring All-Season tire and currently only carries them in the Prius V’s OEM size.

The HER-02’s record is going to come under heavy attack this year. The EV class will be filled with new heavy hitters including Monster Tajima’s E-Runner, Toyota’s Nurburgring record holder EV P002 and Mitsubishi’s i-Miev Evolution. It should be a very exciting year for EV racing, but for now check out the videos of HER-02 in action at last year’s Pikes Peak and around Laguna Seca at REFUEL 2012.

 


Source: BuchiElectric on YouTube

Peak Performance! Marcus Gronholm at Pikes Peak

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This is a film made a few years ago following Finnish rally world champion, Marcus Gronholm, up the Pikes Peak Hill Climb in an 800 horsepower Ford Fiesta rally car. It’s filmed in a way that pays homage to Climb Dance, a short film from 1989 that features Ari Vatanen climbing Pikes Peak in a Peugeot 405. It’s a fitting tribute because both drivers are Finnish rally legends driving unlimited versions of WRC cars.


Source: Motor Trend on YouTube