Electric racing cars are in vogue right now. The first Formula E championship just concluded in London (sadly the Ars-sponsored car did not win), and this side of the pond saw an electric vehicle win the prestigious Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado, setting a new record in the process. Rhys Millen took his Drive eO PP03 to the top of the mountain in 9:07.022, beating rival Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima by more than 20 seconds. The consequences of getting a corner wrong and going over the side don't bear thinking about.
The annual Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado is the second-oldest race in the US. It first took place in 1916, and it's a unique challenge for man and machine. Starting at Mile 7 on Pikes Peak Highway, cars race one at a time up the side of Pikes Peak, completing 156 turns in 12.4 miles (20km). It may be familiar to you from Gran Turismo 2, featuring prominently in that game, and indeed Polyphony Digital sponsored this year's race, making us wonder if the iconic event will reappear in GT7, whenever that happens to arrive.
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Electric vehicles (EVs) in particular have done well since the resurfacing. From the starting line at 9,390 feet (2,862m) above sea level, the cars climb another 4,720 feet (1,440m) to the summit, causing even forced induction engines to lose power as oxygen molecules become fewer and farther between. But electric motors don't have the same altitude problem, making just as much power and torque in a vacuum as they do at sea level. Consequently, it's become a place for people to test out new EV technology.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 02 2015, @05:48PM
No shifting means more driver concentration on cornering. Very wide power band means equals acceleration to top speed. Probably has regenerative braking when you ease up on the accelerator which means less time on the brake pedal. Then again, it would be fun to go on a "Mr Toads Wild Ride" in it.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by gnuman on Thursday July 02 2015, @07:33PM
No shifting means more driver concentration on cornering.
What about continuously variable transmissions? Or automatic transmissions?
EV has "unfair advantage" in almost all terms except energy storage.
The consequences of getting a corner wrong and going over the side don't bear thinking about.
But isn't this the reason why people go watch this race? Or even race it? The danger aspect is main appeal here.