Automotive

Electric power lights up Pikes Peak

Electric power lights up Pikes Peak
The Pikes Peak-winning eO weighs 1200 kg and produces 1020 kW, so it's no surprise it can scream all the way to 260 km/h
The Pikes Peak-winning eO weighs 1200 kg and produces 1020 kW, so it's no surprise it can scream all the way to 260 km/h
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Rhys Millen on his way to victory in the 2015 Pikes Peak Hillclimb
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Rhys Millen on his way to victory in the 2015 Pikes Peak Hillclimb
Rhys Millen's eO is the first electric car to win at Pikes Peak
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Rhys Millen's eO is the first electric car to win at Pikes Peak
Millen's time was 25 seconds faster than his nearest competitor could manage
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Millen's time was 25 seconds faster than his nearest competitor could manage
The eO puts out a crazy 2150 Nm of torque
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The eO puts out a crazy 2150 Nm of torque
Rhys Millen's eO is the first electric car to win at Pikes Peak
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Rhys Millen's eO is the first electric car to win at Pikes Peak
The Hillclimb is now paved instead of gravel
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The Hillclimb is now paved instead of gravel
The eO had to tackle 156 corners on its way to victory
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The eO had to tackle 156 corners on its way to victory
The eO on track in testing
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The eO on track in testing
All-wheel drive is used to put the eO's 1020 kW to the ground
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All-wheel drive is used to put the eO's 1020 kW to the ground
The Pikes Peak-winning eO weighs 1200 kg and produces 1020 kW, so it's no surprise it can scream all the way to 260 km/h
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The Pikes Peak-winning eO weighs 1200 kg and produces 1020 kW, so it's no surprise it can scream all the way to 260 km/h
The eO on its way to victory at Pikes Peak
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The eO on its way to victory at Pikes Peak
Millen's victory proves electric racers can match it with the petrol-powered big boys
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Millen's victory proves electric racers can match it with the petrol-powered big boys
View gallery - 12 images

Electric cars have taken out the top two spots at the 2015 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, with Rhys Millen's eO PP03 beating Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima's Tajima Rimac E-Runner Concept_One to become the first ever all-electric winner of the Race to the Clouds.

Millen's eO PP03 was specifically designed for his Pikes Peak tilt, and channels 1020 kW (1368 hp) of power through all four wheels. Even more incredible than the car's power figure is its 2160 Nm of torque, which only has to propel 1200 kg (2646 lb) – little wonder the oE can hit 260 km/h.

Millen's victory proves electric racers can match it with the petrol-powered big boys
Millen's victory proves electric racers can match it with the petrol-powered big boys

Although it managed to take out the overall title, the Latvian-based company's car couldn't complete the climb's 156 turns in under 9-minutes, which was one its goals in the lead up to this year's race.

Flying the flag highest for the petrol-powered camp was Paul Dallenbach, who hustled his crazy naturally aspirated custom creation to the mountain's 14,110 ft (4,301 m) summit in 9:36.496 – 10 seconds faster than Jeff Zwart could manage in his Porsche 911.

The eO had to tackle 156 corners on its way to victory
The eO had to tackle 156 corners on its way to victory

O two wheels, Pikes Peak proved productive for Honda. Jeffery Tigert's CBR 1000 was the fastest motorcycle, climbing the mountain in 10:02.735, 16 seconds faster than Travis Newbold from Ronin could manage aboard his custom built bike.

This year's race was the 93rd running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Frenchman Sebastien Loeb's Peugeot 208 still holds the race record of 8:13.878 set in 2013.

Full results: Pikes Peak

Images: Drive eO

View gallery - 12 images
2 comments
2 comments
Martin Hone
So what happened to the all electric bikes ?
nulo
What time did "the Latvian-based company's car"?? We got to know it wasn't under 9 minutes, nor more then 9' 36.946'' Paul Dallenbach's "crazy naturally aspirated custom creation". Amidst an adjective rich report there's a gap of 36'' eternity and we end up missing that for sure fantastic time "the first ever all-electric winner of the Race to the Clouds" did. Amazing!!