Electric Race News

Formula E adds Bangkok as 9th city in proposed 2014 season

2013-05-18T01:08:00.000-07:00

In addition to announcing its new partnership with Renault, the Formula E has announced Bangkok Thailand as the 9th city for the Formula E 2014 season. Their 2014 season of electric car racing is envisioned to include 10 cities around the world, and two months ago had announced a list of 8 candidate cities. That list is now 9 cities with the addition of Bangkok. In September 2013, Formula E

Renault and Spark Racing Technologies team up for Formula E electric race car

2013-05-18T00:23:00.002-07:00

In April, Renault teased us with an image talking about the marriage of electric of electric vehicles and Formula 1 motorsports. It seemed impossible that it meant Renault would team up with the Formula E series, especially as they seemed to already have partnerships lined up with Dallara and McLaren. It made more sense when they unveiled a Twizy outfitted with a Formula 1 KERS system as a

Mitsubishi enters Pikes Peak with two electric race cars, and intention to win outright

2013-05-17T01:00:00.002-07:00

Mitsubishi has just announced entry into the 2013 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb with two all-new MiEV Evolution II electric race cars. The team is also expressing an intention to win outright. I've written up details here :- http://www.torquenews.com/1075/pikes-peak-electric-racing-heating-two-entries-mitsubishi For data on the Toyota entry see :- http://www.electricracenews.com/2013/

Mission Motors re-entering electric motorcycle field, how will they stack up?

2013-05-09T16:05:00.000-07:00

Mission Motors appears to be coming back into the business of building high performance electric motorcycles. They of course started out in that business, but backed away from it when the company nearly died a few years ago. There was a change of CEO at the time, and a change of strategy. The new strategy was to focus on making EV drive train components to sell to OEM's. Along the way they

Financial Times' take on the Formula E electric racing series.

2013-05-09T15:28:00.001-07:00

A nice video from the Financial Times about the Formula E. Who'd'a'thunk that the Financial Times would have someone covering Formula 1 racing?

Toyota returning to Pikes Peak with significanly more powerful EV P002 electric race car

2013-05-06T17:21:00.001-07:00

Toyota Motorsports Group is returning to the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb with the 2013 EV P002. The new version of the car has significantly higher power, and the team is seeking to hold on to their record in the face of strong competition. The 2013 version sports an upgraded drive train, and prior to the race Toyota will head to North Carolina for track testing and suspension

2013 REFUEL Race open to entries, on for June 30, Laguna Seca

2013-05-02T14:07:00.003-07:00

The Refuel Races are returning to Laguna Seca for the 5th year. I've covered that event for 3 out of the 4 years it has existed, and the 2012 race was awesome if only because of the sheer number of electric vehicles on the track at one time. The electric car portion in 2012 had over 30 entrants, 12+ of which were either Tesla Roadsters or Tesla Model S's. It was simply amazing watching an

A look at DriveEO's Pikes Peak International Hill Climb electric car entry

2013-05-02T13:39:00.001-07:00

We now have some information on one of the Pikes Peak Hill Climb entries, eO, thanks to a blog post describing their goals and electric race car. The car is pictured here and the Audi sign in the background may well have something to do with why this car looks like the Audi R-18's that have been running in the World Endurance Cup. The team is new to the Pikes Peak race, but have built

MotoCzysz uses Dow Kokam cells for 2013 battery packs

2013-05-01T14:46:00.001-07:00

MotoCzysz released today a little bit more information about their 2013 bikes. On Monday the team announced the lineup of their 2013 team, and committed to both the TTZERO and eRoadRacing events in North America. For 2013 they are continuing their battery partnership with Dow Kokam. After a first test session, the team says "amazing results confirmed that the Czysz crew has built the best

MotoCzysz commits to not only TT ZERO but eRoadRacing at Laguna Seca

2013-04-29T23:10:00.001-07:00

MotoCzysz announced today their team lineup and plans for racing in the 2013 season. It included the expected visit to the Isle of Man for the TT ZERO at the end of May, but a very welcome move to participate in the eRoadRacing series. The team lineup is full of top racers, namely: Michael Rutter and Mark Miller for the TT ZERO, and Shane Turpin and Steve Rapp for the eRoadRacing series.

Renault announces Twizy Sport F1, souped up with Formula 1 KERS system

2013-04-25T17:15:00.001-07:00

Renault made their super-duper announcement about "when the worlds of Formula 1 and electric cars meet," and, no, it wasn't about Renault joining the Formula E. Instead it's the most unlikely thing you could expect. They've souped up a Renault Twizy with Formula 1 racing components, including a KERS system that puts the Twizy on steroids. Yes, a Twizy. I checked, the date is not April 1.

Detroit Electric's SP:01, fastest production electric car, being shown in Shanghai

2013-04-22T20:03:00.001-07:00

Coverage of Detroit Electric's electric sportscar, the SP:01, is portrayed as if the SP:01 is the fastest electric vehicle on the planet. At 155 miles/hr top speed it's a fast electric vehicle, but it's not the fastest electric vehicle in existence. It isn't even the fastest production electric vehicle in existence. Detroit Electric is showing the car at the Shanghai Auto Show this week,

Formula E shows electric race car in Los Angeles during Earth Day demo event

2013-04-22T19:16:00.001-07:00

Today is Earth Day, and the Formula E guys went to Los Angeles to show off their electric race car and give Angelenos a preview of the racing championship. Los Angeles is one of the 8 cities that have committed to hosting Formula E during 2014. The FIA Formula E World Championship is an electric car racing series, featuring Formula 1 style cars, and is slated to be held in city centers around

Renault may be getting ready to join Formula E electric racing series

2013-04-22T09:31:00.000-07:00

Renault has announced they will announce something about "When the worlds of Formula 1 and electric cars meet...". That obtuse announcement of a pending announcement was accompanied by a nearly useless picture showing something vaguely electric performance car related. I hesitated posting anything, preferring to wait until the April 25 announcement so I could have something solid to chew on.

Chip Yates riding with Lightning Motorcycles at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

2013-04-15T20:03:00.000-07:00

Chip Yates is making a return to electric motorcycle racing for the 2013 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, riding in the saddle of a Lightning Motorcycle superbike. The press release sent by Chip Yates describes it as a an electric head-to-head battle between Yates and 6-time Pikes Peak motorcycle champion Greg Tracy (#555). While Yates' stead in this challenge is a Lightning Motorcycles

Tesla takes Model S to the Circuit of the America's

2013-04-12T15:26:00.002-07:00

Tesla Motors just posted on their facebook page that they'd taken a Model S to the Circuit of the America's. MotoGP is going to be there next weekend (and... uh... if the TTXGP/e-Power merger had happened more quickly, the eRoadRacing race would have been happening that same weekend). They took 6 laps around the track - and don't say anything about the characteristics of that lap but did leave

AMA pro Ted Rich joins Hollywood Electric's Pikes Peak racing team

2013-04-12T15:02:00.002-07:00

This years Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is shaping up to be a major feast of electric racing, and it's just gotten better with a second AMA Pro racer signing up to ride an electric production bike up the mountain. As we had noticed earlier, Hollywood Electrics is organizing a large team of electric Zero's to race the 2013 Pikes Peak Hill Climb. Ted Rich, the owner of SBK Training, is

Aston Martin to greenwash itself at 24 Hours of Nürburgring with hydrogen powered race car

2013-04-12T14:38:00.003-07:00

British sports car maker Aston Martin is planning to take on the 41st ADAC Zurich 24 Hours of Nürburgring in Germany -- with a hydrogen powered car. The Aston Martin Hybrid Hydrogen Rapide S, based on the company's new four-seater Rapide S sports car, will become the first hydrogen-powered car to compete in an international event as well as the first zero CO2 emissions sports car to complete a

Brammo confirms rumored fourth 2013 eRoadRacing World Cup event in North America

2013-04-05T17:25:00.001-07:00

The 2013 eRoadRacing World Cup calendar that's been published so far is incomplete, with the organizers claiming they're working on confirming at least one more date in both Europe and North America. As it stands the published calendar shows 3 events on both continents, but I'd been told of a fourth event in North America that's not on the published calendar. Brammo just published an event

Formula E business arrangements and other details

2013-04-05T10:26:00.000-07:00

How did Formula E come into being, what are the business relationships between Formula E and the teams, or Formula E and host cities, and just how did Formulec get to be the provider of cars to Formula E? Those questions and others are covered in an article in Square Mile Magazine, that was the source for the previous post about Formula E looking to add Monaco to the 2014 schedule. Alejandro

Formula E electric car racing looking to add event in Monaco for 2014 season

2013-04-04T23:03:00.000-07:00

According to an article on pitpass.com, the Formula E series is planning to add two new cities to the 2014 season, and they're working hard to make one of those cities Monaco. When we last covered Formula E a month ago, they'd announced 8 of the 10 cities in the 2014 schedule. Formula E, of course, is the electric race car series sponsored by the FIA which is slated to have its first season

2013 eRoadRacing World Cup (replaces TTXGP/e-Power) provisional calendar now available

2013-03-28T18:10:00.000-07:00

The electric motorcycle racing world finally gained some clarity with the release of a provisional schedule for the FIM eRoadRacing World Cup. This new series is replacing both the TTXGP and FIM e-Power series. Both of those series are now deceased, and eRoadRacing World Cup takes their place. The plan to replace both TTXGP and e-Power with a new series was announced on March 5, 2013. At

Zero Motorcycles and Hollywood Electrics teaming up on Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

2013-03-28T09:02:00.000-07:00

2013 Zero S Zero Motorcycles and Hollywood Electrics has given the production electric motorcycle class at the 2013 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb a big boost of support. The two companies announced today they were partnering to participate in the PPIHC on June 30, 2013, in Cascade, Colo. Hollywood Electrics will be entering a few bikes in the event, with technical support from Zero

Team Icon Brammo releases shots of team livery ahead of 2013 racing season

2013-03-25T11:42:00.000-07:00

On Monday, Team Icon Brammo released images of the new livery (designed by Icon) that Steve Atlas and Eric Bostrom will be wearing during the 2013 season. The information release includes detailed pictures of not just the Empulse R, but the Empulse TTX, and shows both bikes in action dicing it up with gas bikes at the Thunderhill Raceway. However, the Shelina Moreda fans may become

Buckeye Current team from OSU plans to break the ton at TT ZERO

2013-03-23T13:34:00.002-07:00

A student team at The Ohio State University, the Buckeye Current team, is getting ready to run at the 2013 TT ZERO. The team has a small budget, and a goal to build the fastest collegiate entry in the TT ZERO. Specifically, they want to Break The Ton (a 100+ miles/hr lap). That goal was first met in the 2012 TT ZERO when MotoCzysz and Mugen both broke the ton. “Our goal here is really to