Electric cars are becoming a part of the norm as of recent times. From the bright mind of Elon Musk, we are first starting to see cheap and well-rounded electric vehicles, and now a team of Germans have shown off something even more astounding. They have entered one of the most hardcore races in Australia with the first electronic car to compete in the Finke Desert Race.
For those that don’t know; the race is 226km across rough desert conditions with 644 motorcycles of different makes and 138 cars of different models as well. The Germans are racing in the Acciona Electric Buggy, which is 100% ecopowered. This car is officially the first of its kind in the race, and the team hopes to not only win but also are keen to show people that even in the world of sports, electric cars are the future.
The car was built entirely in Spain, and it took five years of research to develop, according to the manufactures. The point they hope to drive home is that it is possible to keep the strength and speed of racing cars, without having them generate such high emissions. It could reduce the impact of motorsports on the climate since, as of now, almost all motorsports use cars that aren’t exactly eco-friendly.
This car has already proved itself in the Dakar Rally. It has eight fast-charging lithium batteries along with a 100W solar panel that powers the electric motor that runs at 250kW. It also has sequential gearbox, making it just as good as a regular car. It even has its clutch. The car has 340 horsepower, however, the faster they go, the more power they are going to use up, so it’s more about trying to prolong the charge more than trying to be as fast as possible.
It isn’t an issue however because most of these races are not so much about testing your speed but more about how much endurance you have travelling a long distance in an unforgiving climate. It’s an excellent way to show just how far electric cars have come.
While Tesla has been trying to convince people that electric cars are the future of personal transportation, this company is instead trying to prove that, in the competitive scene, electric cars are just as viable. Hopefully, this is a trend that will pick up traction, ultimately helping reduce the amount of carbon emissions generated by automobiles.