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Nissan ZEOD RC to be world’s fastest electric car

Nissan has revealed the ZEOD RC, which it claims will be the world’s fastest electric racing car.

Few people expected much in the way of exciting prototypes from Nissan at this year’s Le Mans 2013, the firm having withdrawn from the Deltawing project in 2012. However it’s shocked everyone by busting out a new ZEOD RC prototype that it claims can achieve speeds in excess of 300kmh (186mph). The real kicker: It looks surprisingly similar to the Deltawing.

The ZEOD RC is designed to hit 300kmh (186mph)
The ZEOD RC is designed to hit 300kmh (186mph)

The ZEOD RC (Zero Emission On Demand Racing Car) will use the same lithium-ion battery technology found in the Nissan Leaf. However the batteries will likely be supplemented by a second power source, probably a low-displacement petrol or diesel engine that will help extend the vehicle’s range and allow it to compete when it makes its testing debut at next year’s Le Mans 24 Hour.

The final powertrain has yet to be decided, with Nissan claiming multiple electric drivetrain technologies will be tested before racing.

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“The ZEOD RC program is designed to develop multiple technologies to evaluate how they could be used for a future LM P1 class return of Nissan at the Le Mans 24 Hour,” commented Andy Palmer, Executive Vice President and Executive Committee member at Nissan Motor Company Limited.

“There are multiple options we are investigating. A Zero Emission on Demand option where the driver can switch between electric and petrol-powered drive is a future direction for road cars, so that will be tested in addition to pure electric power and other new technologies that we still have under development.”

“The Nissan ZEOD RC is a natural progression that follows on from the development of the Nissan Leaf road car and the Leaf RC race car prototype. The technologies developed through the ZEOD RC program will form part of future innovations for Nissan road cars,” he continued.

The Nissan ZEOD RC will serve as a mobile test bed to test the potential of Nissan’s planned LM P1 power train.

Do you like the look of it? Will the folks at Deltawing be seething? Could the ZEOD RC one day win Le Mans? Let us know in the comments below or on our Facbook page.

Nissan ZEOD RC pictures














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