Hayden Paddon reveals Hyundai rally EV

The wraps have been taken off one of the world’s first EV rally cars, based on the Hyundai Kona, by Paddon Rallysport (PRG) at Hyundai Motors New Zealand in Auckland.

Kiwi rally star Hayden Paddon led the project to develop the more than 400kW electric-powered rally car, a project sparked by an idea early in 2018 and officially started in March 2019 and previously featured in EVs and Beyond.

“It goes faster than most ICE rally cars and I (and the team) want to compete on the world stage within about 10 years,” he says.

Following 18 months of work at PRG’s Cromwell facility, Paddon and his six-strong team of engineers and designers finally revealed the completed, fully functional Hyundai Kona EV rally car this week to the world.

Other than the EV rally car having two electric motors, two gears, two pedals and four-wheel drive, Paddon tells EVs and Beyond there’s little more in specs available as there’s still about eight months of development to go before the car is due to be entered in the Rally of New Zealand late next year.

Meanwhile, Paddon is expected to do a demonstration run in it at the Repco Battle of Jacks Ridge on November 15 at Whitford in Auckland before competing in his Hyundai i20 AP4 ICE car against the likes of Greg Murphy and Shane van Gisbergen.

About 80% of the EV rally car has been designed in-house in terms of chassis design, engineering, aerodynamics, suspension, steering, cooling and electrics.

Paddon says he also wanted the car to look good and have the “wow” factor – incorporating ideas provided by Southern Ocean Boat Builders, and the team is working on a car noise to warn people it’s coming.

A noise rather like the World War II air raid sirens is considered, Paddon saying that’s also still being worked on, but he hopes to use air moving over different parts of the car for the sound.

He expects the car will help take New Zealand technology to the world.

Paddon says the EV rally car has better weight distribution (it’s expected to weigh about 1400kg) than an ICE car, far fewer moving parts, Pirelli tyres, and more.

“It’s simply a new era of rallying that has new limits.”

Paddon Rallysport has worked, and continues to work, closely with local motorsport bodies to make EV technology viable in a rally environment. There are numerous considerations such as how EV cars are serviced between rally stages, regulations on changing battery packs, charging systems, vehicle weight and chassis structure, and the safety of the driver and co-driver and rally marshals during competition and in the event of a crash.

“Finding the way to move forward with EV technology is something we identify as being very important for the future of our sport, not only in New Zealand but globally,” Paddon says.

“If the sport doesn’t respond, it will be left behind commercially and technologically compared to other motorsports.”

Hyundai New Zealand general manager Andy Sinclair says the EV rally car project complements the company’s commitment to being at the forefront of innovation and championing the New Zealand EV industry.

Sinclair quips that he hopes to see hydrogen introduced on a future rally car too.

Paddon thanks those involved in the project, including Meridian Energy, YHI Energy and the GenLess campaign through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).

YHI Energy is working on a portable charging system for the car, with battery packs having to be swapped for fully charged ones in the meantime.

Visit www.paddonrallysport.co.nz

for more information.