Green Le Mans’ race car could lead to production GT-EV

The Green4U Panoz Racing GT-EV all-electric racing car intended to compete in next year’s Le Mans 24 Hour race could pave the road to a production car.

It will be entered for consideration as the race’s Garage 56 entry – an exhibition slot with relaxed rules reserved for a car which displays innovative new racing technologies, reports Electrek.

It will be designed around the idea of hot-swappable batteries to allow faster ‘refuelling’. The GT-EV takes this into account, by having its 450kg battery on the right side in a slot which could be changed out by a pit crew, with a little mechanical help.
The race covers more than 5000km, mostly at full throttle.

Other electrified vehicles have competed in Le Mans and the last seven races have been won by hybrids. That includes this year’s race, which had two Kiwi drivers. However, the GT-EV will be the first all-electric car to attempt the race.

The GT-EV is intended as a competitor in the GT racing class, which pits modified road cars against each other. Typical cars in the class are the Porsche 911, Corvette, Ford GT and Ferrari 488.

While usually Garage 56 entries compete as prototype cars, Green4U says they intend to make a road-going version of the GT-EV.