2012 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

2012
Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

2012 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

In 2009, MITSUBISHI MOTORS unveiled the i-MiEV, the world's first mass-produced electric car, on June 5th, World Environment Day. In Japan, its sales to corporations began in July of the same year and sales to individuals began in April of the following year. With the start of its sales in Europe in the early spring of 2011 and North America in the fall of the same year, the company demonstrated its vision for the forthcoming low-carbon era. In order to ensure the quality of this mass-produced vehicle, the company conducted a number of demonstration driving tests with electric power companies and local governments, while also considering research and development to improve the performance of EV components for the future. The decision to compete in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb over a three-year period starting in 2012 was one of the ways for them to conduct that research and development. Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (hereinafter Pikes Peak) was a race held in the United States with a history of nearly 100 years at the time.
Pikes Peak began in 1916 and is also known as the "Race to the Clouds". Pikes Peak Mountain is situated in the Rocky Mountains, near Colorado Springs, and has an altitude of about 4,300 meters above sea level. The distance from the start line to the summit is about 20 km, including 156 corners along the way. Pikes Peak is a hill climb competition that runs up a difference in altitude of about 1,500 meters. Various parameters such as the weather, the temperature and the atmospheric pressure differ greatly between the start and the finish line, putting to the test a car’s ability to face conditions that change every minute with its basic performance. MITSUBISHI MOTORS competed in Pikes Peak with two electric vehicles: the i-MiEV EVOLUTION, a competition-only vehicle, and the i-MiEV (its North American name is I), a modified version of the standard production vehicles (with North American specifications).
The i-MiEV EVOLUTION used a specially designed tube-frame chassis with a lightweight carbon bodywork designed for aerodynamic performance. Its motor and battery were similar to those of a standard production vehicle, but had a more powerful 240 kW system. It also achieved excellent cornering and traction performance by using a triple motor (1 in front and 2 at the back) and a 4WD system. The driver was Hiroshi Masuoka, who won the Dakar Rally in 2002 and 2003. He also fulfilled the function of team manager. On the other hand, the i-MiEV’s modification was kept at a minimum by adding a front bumper with improved aerodynamic performance and a roll cage as a safety device. Its driver was Beccy Gordon, an American female driver.
The i-MiEV EVOLUTION driven by Masuoka suffered some damage due to going off course during the first day of practice. However, it was sent out to the finals after mechanics brought it back to its perfect condition, and it ended up recording a time of 10 minutes 30.850 seconds and finishing second in the electric car class. In addition to confirming the competitiveness and proper functioning of future high-performance vehicles, the company demonstrated the reliability of EV components in their standard production cars. On top of that, i-MiEV’s Gordon finished sixth in the class while competing in a car that was almost a standard production vehicle and the team was able to collect valuable data, such as battery consumption and motor temperature that would lead to improvements in standard production vehicles.

Spec

i-MIEV Evolution

Overall length 4341 mm
Overall width 1900 mm
Overall height 1339 mm
Passenger 1
Drivetrain 4 wheel drive
Motors Configuration 3(Front1、Rear2)
Maximum Output(kW) 240(80kW×3)
Battery Maximum Capacity (kWh) 35
Chassis Pipe Frame
Cowl Carbon
Tires 245/40R18

Mitsubishi_i

Overall length 3675 mm
Overall width 1585 mm
Overall height 1615 mm
Passenger 4
Drivetrain Rear Wheel Drive
Motors Configuration 1
Maximum Output(kW) 49/3,000~6,000
Battery Maximum Capacity (kWh) 16
Tires Fr:145/65/R15
Rr:175/60/R15