The Engineer

Alliance to launch world's first race-prepared electric vehicle

News

Oxford Yasa Motors, Westfield Sportscars and Potenza Technology have formed an alliance to develop and launch the world’s first fully race-prepared electric vehicle — the iRACER — and the new electric GTM sport scar.

Yasa Motors and Potenza Technology will provide the integrated battery, traction motor and controller solutions based on the Yasa axial-flux motor, Sevcon’s Gen 4 Size 8 controllers and Potenza’s battery and vehicle-control systems.

The three companies plan to race the iRACER in the EV Cup, the world’s first dedicated electric race series that starts at Silverstone on 6 August this year. The EV Cup has attracted high-profile teams such as Drayson Racing, who will be running the iRACER throughout the first season of racing.

For its part, the eGTM road vehicle is currently being developed by Westfield and Potenza Technology for Potenza Sports Cars, which recently entered into a separate agreement with DRB-HICOM in Malaysia to manufacture and distribute the eGTM throughout South East Asia.

The ISYS drive for the eGTM will be developed as a result of a collaboration between Sevcon and Yasa. The drive itself will be a direct-drive twin-motor and controller unit offering a combined specific torque of 30Nm/kg and 200kW/270bhp of power.