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Nissan electric supercar for Le Mans

Eight months of development, design and construction have gone by but now Nissan’s Zeod RC electric race car has been unveiled by corporate performance arm Nismo. Take a look...

YOKAHAMA, Japan - Eight months of development, design and construction have gone by but now Nissan’s Zeod RC electric race car has been unveiled by corporate performance arm Nismo.

The zero-emissions racer has gone from zero to Zeod in the 33 weeks since Nissan's chairman/CEO Carlos Ghosn in February 2013 announced Nissan's goal of returning to the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2014 with electric power.

The Zeod RC has been invited to occupy the "Garage 56" entry for vehicles showcasing new and innovative technology.

BASICS FROM LEAF NISMO

Nissan is using the Zeod RC as a test bed to develop battery-car tech for Nissan’s planned future LM P1 programme. The initial prototype show car was revealed at the 2013 24 Hours but the latest version shown at Nismo HQ is a dramatic evolution with new cooling inlets and aerodynamic updates.

Nissan ZEOD Le Mans car gallery

The Zeod RC was unveiled by Nismo president Shoichi Miyatani, Nissan global motorsport director Darren Cox and Nissan’s director of motorsport innovation Ben Bowlby. Shoichi Miyatani said: "The Zeod RC uses our technology gained through the development of the Nissan Leaf Nismo RC, the first electric racer based on a mass-production zero-emissions vehicle.

“The Leaf RC’s energy management and efficient energy recovery system that are suitable for racing are just examples. We believe these technologies serve as important steps for using EV for motorsport."

The Zeod will become the first car to complete an entire race lap of the 13.6km Le Mans circuit on nothing but battery power. It will reach speeds in excess of 300km/h and lap the famous French circuit faster than an LM GTE car.

ENDURANCE WEEKEND OUTING

The driver will be able to switch between battery power and a small and light turbocharged internal combustion engine. The car – which shares the battery technology in the Leaf – will recharge the battery via regenerative braking.

Fans will have had a chance to take a close look at the Zeod in the Fuji paddock throughout the course of the FIA World Endurance championship weekend.

Darren Cox said: “This weekend is an important milestone in the journey to Le Mans for the Zeod. Our goal for the programme is to let fans see the innovative technology Nissan is developing. We could not think of a better place than the Fuji round of the World Endurance championship for the Zeod to appear in public for the first time.

"We have interrupted our intense testing in the UK to fly the car to Japan for the event. The Nissan Zeod RC will utilise technology never before seen at Le Mans and will provide a unique experience for the fans."

Ben Bowlby said: "To see the car go down the Mulsanne Straight at 300km/h in virtual silence will be unique. Developing the battery technology for a Le Mans prototype is an enormous challenge but the lessons learned will not only be very beneficial for the future LM P1 programme but we can also use this information to assist in the development of future versions of the Nissan Leaf and other electric vehicles."

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