Publications
Partners
Toyota Motorsport has smashed the electric lap record around Germany’s famous Nürburgring circuit. Driver Jochen Krumbach powered his electric EV P001 to a record 7mins 47.794 seconds.
The previous record for an electric car around the track was 9 minutes, 1.338 seconds, held by Peugeot's EX1.
Based on a radical sports car chassis, the EV P001 is powered by two electric motors with a maximum combined power output of 275kW and 800Nm of torque, capable of propelling the electric racer to a top speed of 260km/h. The vehicle weighs just 970kg and Toyota is so impressed with its performance they will begin selling its technology in 2012 for use in a "single make electric motorsport series".
ELECTRIC SERIES?
The EV P001 was fitted with road-legal tyres and fortunately the weather held during the record setting run despite the track temperature being relatively low.
TMG director of business operations, Rob Leupen, said the P001’s record proved there was “huge potential” for electric vehicles on the racetrack.
“There’s no doubt that electric motorsport can be every bit as thrilling as traditional racing and it was an amazing sensation to watch the TMG electric vehicle fly past on the Nordschleife, with only the sound of wind rushing past and tyres squealing,” Mr Leupen said.
“This is not the end of the story for TMG and I hope we will see our electric powertrains in action on the track again soon.”
Watch the record-breaking run below:
The previous record for an electric car around the track was 9 minutes, 1.338 seconds, held by Peugeot's EX1.
Based on a radical sports car chassis, the EV P001 is powered by two electric motors with a maximum combined power output of 275kW and 800Nm of torque, capable of propelling the electric racer to a top speed of 260km/h. The vehicle weighs just 970kg and Toyota is so impressed with its performance they will begin selling its technology in 2012 for use in a "single make electric motorsport series".
ELECTRIC SERIES?
The EV P001 was fitted with road-legal tyres and fortunately the weather held during the record setting run despite the track temperature being relatively low.
TMG director of business operations, Rob Leupen, said the P001’s record proved there was “huge potential” for electric vehicles on the racetrack.
“There’s no doubt that electric motorsport can be every bit as thrilling as traditional racing and it was an amazing sensation to watch the TMG electric vehicle fly past on the Nordschleife, with only the sound of wind rushing past and tyres squealing,” Mr Leupen said.
“This is not the end of the story for TMG and I hope we will see our electric powertrains in action on the track again soon.”
Watch the record-breaking run below: