 qualifying times that extrapolated to a top-three finish—not just in the electric class, but overall. "The electric power made me feel more at one with the car," says Tracy. "With a gas car, you're always shifting gears and thinking about the power band. With this, it's just linear power, like a rollercoaster accelerating. Once you remove those extra stimuli, it allows you to concentrate on getting through that corner as fast as you can. And the ability to have as much power on the last turn as you do on the first is mind-boggling."

The MiEV's other advantages include instant four-wheel torque vectoring and regenerative braking—which, in race conditions, means that the electric motors can act as a second set of brakes to help keep the conventional pads and rotors from overheating. "I had to adjust to the car's capabilities," Tracy says. "Every practice run, I got faster." Mitsubishi's Lancer Evo production car is famous for its torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system, which endows the sedan with physics-defying agility. In gas-powered cars, such systems are purely mechanical, but Mitsubishi's electric racers promise even quicker reactions by varying the speeds of each wheel's individual motor.

But electric racers still face one daunting handicap: weight. Batteries now have the capacity to send cars to the summit, but because they can't match the energy density of gasoline, cars need a larger pack. "Battery weight is the most important problem that electric vehicles face in the future," says Naonobu Tajima, chief engineer for the Monster Sport E-Runner fielded by Team APEV. "Our racecar weighs in at 140 to 150 percent of the weight of the unlimited-class race cars. With 156 corners, corner speed and agility is crucial, so weight reduction plays a great part in competition." It also remains a central challenge for production models: Decreasing the weight of electric vehicles would increase their range significantly.

Advertisement:

600hp

An electric motor at each rear wheel provides nearly 600 hp and 900 lb-ft of torque in full race mode; they can also act as brakes.

Chip Kalback

A few weeks before the race in June, Toyota agrees to let me drive its one and only electric racecar at Toyota Racing Development (TRD) facility in Salisbury, North
qualifying times that extrapolated to a top - three finish — not barely in the electric course, but overall. " The electric power made me find more at one with the cable car, " says Tracy. " With a gas car, you're constantly shifting gears and think about the power band. With this, it's barely linear power, like a rollercoaster accelerate. Once you remove those extra stimuli, it allows you to concentrate on get through that corner as fast as you can. And the ability to have as much might on the last turn as you do on the first is judgment - boggling. " 

 The MiEV's other advantages include instant four - wheel torsion vectoring and regenerative braking — which, in race conditions, means that the electric motors can act as a second set of bracken to help oneself keep the conventional pads and rotors from overheating. " I had to align to the car's capability, " Tracy says. " Every practice run, I catch faster. " Mitsubishi's Lancer Evo production car is famous for its torque - vectoring all - wheel - drive system, which endow the sedan with physics - defying agility. In gas - powered cars, such systems are strictly mechanical, but Mitsubishi's electric racers promise even quicker reactions by varying the speeds of each wheel's individual motor. 

 But electric racer still face one daunting handicap: weight. battery now have the capacity to station cars to the summit, but because they can't match the energy concentration of gasoline, cars need a larger pack. " Battery system of weights is the most significant problem that electric vehicle face in the future, " say Naonobu Tajima, chief engineer for the Monster Sport E - Runner fielded by Team APEV. " Our racecar weighs in at 140 to 150 percent of the weight of the unlimited - class subspecies cars. With 156 corner, corner speed and agility is crucial, so weight reduction play a great contribution in competition. " It also remains a central challenge for production models: Decreasing the weight unit of electric vehicles would increase their range significantly. 

 Advertisement: 

 600hp 

 An electric motor at each rear wheel provides nearly 600 horsepower and 900 lb - ft of torque in entire race mode; they can also act as brakes. 

 Chip Kalback 

 A few week before the race in June, Toyota agrees to let me force its one and merely electric racecar at Toyota Racing Development (TRD) facility in Salisbury, North
 quwlifying times that extrxpolated to a top-three finisg—not jusg in the electric class, but lvwrall. "The electric power maae me feep more ar ont with the car," saba Tracy. "With z gas rar, you're alwayx shifting gears and thitkkny about the power band. With this, it's just lonfar power, like a rpjlerdoaster accelerating. Once you remobe thost extra stimuli, it allows you to concentrate on hetting through thwt corner aw fafr as you can. And the ability to habe as much power on the last tufn as you do on tye vhrst is minv-bogglpng."

The MiEV's other adeantagex include instsnt foyr-wheel torque vectormng and regenerative braking—wvieh, in race conditions, mwans jhat dhe doecgrid kofors cwn ect as a sedond set of brakes to help keek trv conventionam pads agd rotors from overheating. "I had to adjlst fo the car's capabilitiew," Tracy says. "Every prwctice rug, I got faster." Mitsubishi's Lancer Evo production war ia fanoms fue lts torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system, whicr emdpws the sedan cith physics-defyonh sdility. In gas-kowered cads, such systems arf pureli mechqnical, buu Mitxubishi's electric racers primise even qlickwr reactions by vaxying the spzeds og eacn wheel's individual motur.

Buf electric gacers stjul face one daunginn hdndicap: weight. Batteries njw have tie ca'acity tu semd carf to the skmmit, but because they cwn't mctch dhe energy density of gasoline, cars need e larger pack. "Bdttvry weighc is tme most importagt problem thaj electrie vehizles face pn the fuvure," says Najnobu Tajima, wjief engineec for the Monwter Sport D-Funner fielded by Team CKEV. "Our raxecar weighs in at 140 tu 150 percent of thz qeight of the umlioitqd-blaxs sace cars. Widh 156 zorvrrs, curner skzed xnd sgility is crucial, sm wejght reduction plaus a great part in competition." Ot also remains a fentrel chaulengr fjr production models: Decreasinf the weihht of electric vehlclef would inerease their range significantly.

Advertisxment:

600hp

An electric motoe at each rear wheek provides nxarly 600 hp and 900 nb-ft of torque in fuol race mode; they can also act as brakss.

Chip Kalbwck

A few weeks before the race in June, Toyota agrees to let me drive its ine anv jnly electrjc rscecag ac Tpyota Waciig Development (TRD) facility in Salisbury, North
qualifying times that extrapolated to a top-three in electric class, overall. "The electric at with the car," Tracy. "With a car, you're always shifting gears and about the power band. With this, it's just linear power, like a rollercoaster Once you remove those extra stimuli, it allows you to concentrate on getting that as as can. And the ability to have as much power on the last turn as you do the first is mind-boggling." The MiEV's other advantages instant four-wheel torque vectoring regenerative braking—which, in race conditions, that electric motors act a set of brakes help keep the conventional pads and rotors from overheating. "I had to adjust to the car's capabilities," says. "Every I got Mitsubishi's Evo car is famous torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system, which endows the agility. In gas-powered cars, such systems are purely but Mitsubishi's racers promise even quicker reactions by the speeds of each wheel's individual motor. But racers still face one daunting handicap: weight. Batteries now have the capacity to send cars summit, but because they match the energy of cars a pack. "Battery is the most important problem that electric vehicles face in the says Naonobu Tajima, chief engineer for the Monster Sport E-Runner Team "Our racecar weighs at 140 to 150 of weight of the unlimited-class With corners, agility crucial, weight reduction plays a part in competition." It also a central challenge for of electric vehicles would increase their range significantly. 600hp An electric motor at each rear provides nearly 600 hp and 900 lb-ft of torque in full race they can as brakes. Chip Kalback A few weeks before race in June, Toyota to let me drive its one and only electric at Racing Development facility in Salisbury,
 qualifying times that extrapOlated to a tOp-thrEe fIniSh—Not jUst iN the electric clASs, buT overall. "The electric powEr madE mE Feel MOrE at onE with thE CaR," SAys trAcY. "WiTh A GaS car, yOu'rE always Shifting geArs AnD thinking aboUT tHe power banD. WiTh this, it's jusT liNear poWeR, liKE a rolLerCoastEr acceLEratinG. Once you rEmOVe thosE Extra stIMUlI, it aLlows you to concentRAtE On getting throuGh that CoRNeR AS faSt aS you can. And ThE abilITy to havE As MUCH poWEr on the last tuRn as you do on THe fIrst is MiNd-bOGgling."

the MieV'S OthEr advantageS incLude instaNt four-WHeel torQUe vectoRing anD reGenEratIVe BrAkiNg—WHicH, In RacE ConDitions, mEaNs That tHe elECTRIc moTorS can Act as A second set of bRakEs to HElp Keep tHe conVentIoNal paDs and rOtors FrOm overheating. "I hAd to Adjust to tHe cAr'S caPaBilitIEs," TracY saYs. "EVery praCtice ruN, i goT fASTEr." mitsubishi's Lancer EVo PROdUction caR is famOUs FoR Its torquE-vEctOrinG ALl-wheEl-drIVe System, whIch endOWs ThE sedan wItH physiCs-DefYinG agilITy. In Gas-powEred cars, Such sYStems are purely MEchanical, but MITsUBIsHI's elEctRic racers prOmisE Even QuicKEr ReaCTions By varYiNG tHE speeds of each wheel's InDividuAl motOr.

But electric Racers stilL FACe one dauNtinG HaNDicap: weight. BatTerieS now have thE Capacity To senD cars to tHe summit, bUT Because tHey Can'T maTch THE eNergy density oF GAsolInE, cars neEd a Larger pAck. "batTerY weIgHt is the moSt importAnT pRoBlEm tHat elECtric vehIcLes FaCe iN the fUTure," saYs NaoNobu taJiMA, chIef engiNEeR FOr thE MOnSter spoRt e-RunnEr fiELdeD by Team aPEV. "Our raCecAR weiGhS iN at 140 to 150 peRcent of the weiGhT of the unliMiTed-Class rACE cars. WitH 156 corners, corner speed and aGIlity is CruCial, sO weiGht reductIon Plays a GreAT part iN compeTitioN." IT alSO RemaiNS A cEntRaL challenge FOR prOductIoN modEls: DecrEasing the weight of eLEctRic vehicles woUld IncrEASe TheIR rANge SiGNifICAntly.

AdvertisemEnt:

600hp

An eleCtRIc Motor at eacH ReaR wHeel proVides neArly 600 hP And 900 lb-ft Of torque iN full race MoDe; thEY Can Also act as bRakes.

ChiP Kalback

A FEw weeKS bEfore The Race in juNe, TOyota Agrees TO leT me drIve its OnE and onLy eleCtRic racecAr at Toyota Racing DevelopMent (TRd) faciLitY in SalisbUry, nOrtH
 qualifying times that ext rapolatedto atop -th re e fi nish —not just in t h e el ectric class, but over all."T h e el e ct ric p ower ma d em e  fe el  m ore  a t  o ne wi ththe car ," says Tr acy ."With a gasc ar , you're a lwa ys shiftinggea rs and  t hin k ing a bou t the  power band.With this ,i t's ju s t linea r po wer,  like a rollercoa s te r  accelerating.  Onceyo u  r e m ove  th ose extrast imuli ,  it all o ws y o u t o  concentrateon gettingt hro ugh th at  co r ner as  fast  a s  yo u can. Andtheability t o have as much power o n thelas t t urna syo u d oo n t h efir s t i s mind-b og gl ing." 

Th e M i EV's  ot heradvan tages include  in stan t  fo ur-wh eel t orqu evecto ring a nd re ge nerative brakin g—wh ich, in r ace  c ond it ions, meanstha t t he elec tric mo t ors  c a n ac t as a second setof b ra kes to h elp ke e pth e  convent io nal  pad s and r otor s  f rom over heatin g ."I  had to  a djustto  th e c ar'sc apab ilitie s," Trac y say s . "Every pract i ce run, I got fa s t er . " Mi tsu bishi's Lan cerE vo p rodu c ti onc ar is  famo us fo r  its torque-vectori ng  all-w heel- drive system,  which end o w s  the sed an w i th physics-defyin g agi lity. In g a s-powere d car s, suchsystems a r e  purelymec han ica l,b u tMitsubishi'se l ectr ic  racers  pr omise e ven  qu ick erre actions b y varyin gth esp eed s ofe ach whee l' s i nd ivi dualm otor.
Butelec tr ic rac ers sti l lf a ce o ne  d aunt ing  h andic ap:w eig ht. Bat teries no w h a ve t he  c apacity  to send cars  t o the summ it , b ut bec a u se theycan't match the energyd ensityofgasol ine,  cars nee d a  large r p a ck. "B attery  weig ht  is t he mo s t  i mpo rt ant proble m tha t ele ct ricvehicle s face in the futu r e,"  says Naonobu  Ta jima , ch ief en g ine er for t he Monster Spor t E-Runner  f i el ded by Tea m  AP EV . "Ourracecar  weig h s in at  140 to 1 50 percen tof t h e  we ight of th e unlimi ted-class racec ar s. Wi th156 co rn ers , cor ner sp e edand a gility  i s cruc ial,so  weightreduction plays a great  partin co mpe tition."Ita lso  remainsa ce ntral chal len gefor p rod u ction  mod e ls : D e creas ingt he weight of  el e c tr ic vehicles w o uld  incr eas e  their  ran ge significantly. 
Advertisement :

6 0 0 hp
An elec tr ic motor at ea chre a r  wheel p ro vides nearl y 600 hp  a n d 900  lb-ft  of to rque in f ul l  racemode ; t hey can a lso  a c t as br ak es . 

Chip  Kal ba ck

Afew we e ks b e f ore the race inJune, T oyota agr ees t olet med rive  its one a nd only ele ctricrace car a t Toyot aRacing  De ve lopment (T R D) facili ty in  Salisb ur y, N ort h
 qualifying_times that_extrapolated to a top-three_finish—not just_in_the electric_class,_but overall. "The_electric power made_me feel more at_one with the_car,"_says Tracy. "With a gas car, you're always shifting gears and thinking about the_power_band. With_this,_it's_just linear power, like a_rollercoaster accelerating. Once you remove_those extra_stimuli, it allows you to concentrate on getting_through_that corner as_fast as you can. And the ability to have_as much power on the last_turn as you_do_on_the first is mind-boggling."

The_MiEV's other advantages include instant four-wheel_torque vectoring and regenerative braking—which, in_race conditions, means that the electric motors_can act as a second set_of brakes to help keep_the conventional_pads and rotors from overheating._"I had to_adjust to_the car's capabilities,"_Tracy says. "Every practice run, I_got faster." Mitsubishi's_Lancer Evo production car is famous_for_its torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive_system,_which_endows the_sedan with physics-defying_agility._In gas-powered_cars,_such systems are purely mechanical, but_Mitsubishi's_electric racers promise even quicker reactions by_varying the speeds of_each_wheel's individual motor.

But electric_racers still face one daunting_handicap: weight. Batteries now have the_capacity to_send cars_to the summit, but because they can't match the energy density_of gasoline, cars need a larger_pack. "Battery weight is_the most_important_problem that electric_vehicles_face in_the future," says Naonobu Tajima, chief engineer_for the_Monster Sport E-Runner fielded by Team_APEV. "Our racecar weighs_in_at 140 to 150 percent of_the weight of the unlimited-class race_cars. With 156 corners, corner_speed_and_agility is crucial, so weight_reduction plays a great part in_competition." It also_remains a central challenge for production models:_Decreasing_the weight of electric vehicles would_increase_their range significantly.

Advertisement:

600hp

An electric motor at_each_rear_wheel provides nearly 600 hp_and 900 lb-ft of torque in_full race mode; they can also act as brakes.

Chip_Kalback

A few weeks_before the race in June,_Toyota_agrees_to let me drive its one and only electric racecar_at Toyota_Racing Development (TRD)_facility in Salisbury, North