It's not very often we hear about an electric car taking on the fearsome Nurburgring-Nordschleife track. A concept version of an EV is an even rarer sight on the “Green Hell”, but that's exactly what Peugeot did as it put the EX1 design study at work on the world's toughest circuit.
It wasn't just a pleasure ride, however, since Peugeot visited the ‘Ring to break the lap record for electric cars. And it did, with driver Stéphane Caillet lapping the 20.8-kilometer (12.92-mile) long track in 9 minutes and 1.338 seconds, at an average speed of 138,324 km/h (85.95 mph), in “very unfavorable weather conditions”, according to the French automaker. The previous lap record set by an electric car belonged to the Mini E racer, which lapped the German track last year in 9 minutes and 51.45 seconds.
WIGE Performance, the official timekeeper of the Nordschleife track, tracked Peugeot’s record. Revealed at the Paris motor show last year, the EX1 roadster is powered by a pair of electric motors, one on each axle, thus offering four-wheel drive. Each electric motor produces 125 kW (170HP) for a combined output of 340HP and 240Nm (177 lb-ft) of torque. Energy comes from a high-output lithium-ion battery pack.
The radical-looking concept measures just 0.90 meters in height and 1.77 meters in width and makes use of a monocoque body structure manufactured from a carbon/honeycomb composite to optimize weight and rigidity.
Peugeot has promised to share a video of the EX1 lapping the Nurburgring. Once it’s out, we’ll update this story.
By Dan Mihalascu
