Electric Mitsi conquers Pikes Peak
Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) launched the world’s first mass-production all-electric vehicle (i-MiEV) in 2009 and the world’s first 4WD plug-in hybrid electric SUV (Outlander PHEV) in 2013 – now its MiEV Evolution III has become the fastest electric vehicle up the iconic Pike’s Peak in Colorado.
American driver Greg Tracy piloted the newgeneration EV in this year’s Pike’s Peak International Hill Climb – a 20km ‘Race to the Clouds’, which climbs nearly 3,000m through 156 turns to finish 4,300m above sea level.
His record-breaking time of 9 mins 08 secs in the Electric Modified division ensured the MiEV Evolution III not only became the fastest EV in the event’s history, but the fourth-fastest of any vehicle to have challenged for the overall win, coming Mountain” from the dominant grip of combustion-engined vehicles.
Tracy was a little over two seconds behind overall winner Romain Dumas of France, who drove a twolitre turbo-charged Norma M20 RD Limited in the Unlimited class.
Hiroshi Masuoka, driving another MiEV Evolution III, rounded out the overall podium, finishing third overall and second in the Electric Modified division with a time of 9 mins 12 secs.
“I’m really proud to be able to deliver the victory in the Electric Modified division, driving the MiEV Evolution III,” said Greg Tracy. “We spent the past week working on the Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) to give me a little less traction in slow corners [to work the back end]. It felt really strong.
“The road surface today was rather slippery, but the S-AWC eliminated any unnecessary drift and I was able to attack the turns all the way to the top with full confidence. I had to take chances and I made some mistakes […] I think we really had a good shot at winning the overall title.”
Data from the car, which featured a 4WD quadmotor set-up, lightweight chassis and aerodynamic shell, will be fed back into the development of MMC’s “e-EVOLUTION” technology – an integration of MiEV’s electric motor configuration and dynamic S-AWC system.