Volkswagen develops electric race car for international hill climb

An all-electric race car is being developed by Volkswagen for the world-renowned Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado, USA.

The all-wheel drive prototype is expected to be at the event start on June 24.

The goal is to set a record for electric cars at the finish, which is nearly 4300 metres above sea level.

New Zealand driver Rhys Millen holds the record for the electric prototype class of 8 minutes 57.118 seconds, set in 2016.

Volkswagen says the new motorsport project is part of its transformation into a leading producer of EVs. It aims to offer 23 all-electric models by 2025.

“Our electric race car will be equipped with innovative battery and drive technology,” VW board development member Dr Frank Welsch says.

“The extreme stress test on Pikes Peak will give us important findings that will benefit future development, and it will showcase our products and their technologies.”

Volkswagen Motorsport director Sven Smeets says it’s the first time VW is developing an all-electric race vehicle.

The last time VW competed at Pikes Peak was 30 years ago in a twin-engine Golf which barely missed finishing the 1987 event.

Also dubbed the ‘Race to the clouds’, the climb has been run since 1916 over a nearly 20km Rocky Mountains course.