So about five or six years ago, a friend and I got into a huge argument about electric cars. He said one of the biggest barriers to them being accepted was their ability to compete in motorsports. It got kind of heated actually. I made the claim that the general car buying public doesn't give two damns about motorsports or car development in general. Not only that, but electric cars were already pretty damn competitive, even while being niche. I used The White Zombie as a direct example. Not that I hold grudges or anything, but I think I'll bookmark Rhys Millen's accomplishment as an "I told you so."
Shit, I ran an electric Mazda RX-7 in '96 that would run 12 second quarter miles. "Performance" is an area where electrics stomp the shit out of gas - you make peak torque at 0 RPM and a 500HP electric motor weighs about 130lbs. The trick is endurance. Pike's Peak is the perfect race for an EV to show off. Thanks for sharing this.
I'm curious. What was your setup? What batteries did you use, how much did they way, and where were they in the car? I know the batteries, especially if you go with lead, add enough extra weight to negate the lightness of the engine. The fact that you can put them where you want though really helps with controlling the weight distribution. I gotta be honest. I think a 5th Gen El Camino would be perfect for an electric car. Right behind the seat is a compartment called "smuggler's box" and it would be the perfect spot to store the batteries. It's close to the center of the car which would help out with the weight distribution while still allowing you to use the bed.you make peak torque at 0 RPM and a 500HP electric motor weighs about 130lbs.
Wasn't my build - I just interned that summer. As far as where the batteries were - EVERYWHERE. Battery tech has improved since I was involved, but I'll bet you still need lotsa lotsa batteries. We built a Taurus using Optima yellowtops and we had 12 over the motor, 12 under the seats and 12 in the trunk. Which was purely for range. If you just wanna haul ass you don't need a 3x144V setup, a 144V will do.
Cutting down live axles ain't no thang. I made a Ford 9" fit under a Triumph TR-7. Think the whole conversion cost me $250. All you gotta do is ship the housing and the axles off and they'll cut 'em down and respline 'em. Change out the bearings and you're good to go.