There is a major development brewing within the
auto industry right now that may very well change the face of drag racing for
good, and usher in a new era of planet-friendly technology that will never be
the same. The Autoweek blog ran a feature last week about the
Chevy eCopo Camaro running a pure electric 9-second pass in front of a
captivated audience, and also posted the video here. Just before launch, the announcer himself admits
that he hopes gas-powered engines remain as the heart and soul of drag racing,
as the loud roar is definitely a large part of the excitement that fans love so
much about the sport.
There are two Borg Warner electric motors under
the hood, that complete the task of driving the rear wheels through a
torque-converter automatic transmission. Completely re-writing the playbook as
far as drag racing and gas-powered engines are concerned, the eCopo finally
proves that the existence of a 700-horsepower beast touting top speeds of
140-plus mph can exist without the presence of gasoline. The NHRA has been said
to be “receptive” of the concept, even though we can be sure that they may be a
bit hesitant about the potential loss of what some think is the only
tried-and-true roots of drag racing. When the eCopo Camaro debuted at least
year's SEMA show many were understandably in shock, but as one takes a close
look at models such as the Tesla Model S sedan, it was only a matter of time
before fully-fledged speed demons powered by battery were in the works.
One peek at the video and all of us on staff here
at Chuck Hutton
could tell that the brand we so love to represent was not playing around in the
least with the eCopo Camaro: it comes straight out of the hole with guns
blazing, wheels in the air, and keeps pulling with all its might until the car
streaks past the beams. We know that it is quick in the unearthly sense, but
there is something a bit strange about a Camaro that can launch and perform
like this minus noise from the engine. But with neighborhoods constantly being
built in closer proximity to racetracks, this strange silence could become a
big selling point for the pastime's future.
When the dust finally settled at the dragstrip
that day, the quarter-mile time was 9.837 seconds, from a standing start, which
is pretty monumental considering the power source. As we've seen with battery
and motor technology, the eCopo will probably just be a starting point for cars
that boast even more capability in the future, but having what is truly the
first dragster of this caliber as a memoir for what is going to come is
excellent. What is so monumental about the eCopo concept is that it is
completely unlike EV cars such as the NIO EP9 or upcoming second-generation
Tesla Roadster: it looks like it derives from the traditional muscle car club
on the outside.
The power pack is split into four 200-volt modules
that are tucked into different spots around the frame: two sit in the rear-seat
area, and two are situated in the trunk. Distributing the mass of the batteries
in this fashion helps improve performance on the strip by giving the car a 56
percent rear weight bias, which is the key to a successful launch. It also
really showcases what a work of mastery this was on the part of Hancock and
Lane, the skilled drag racing team that helped Chevy with the build. It is a
project that really embraces Chevy and GM's commitment to engaging young minds
in STEM education, and represents the sensible goal of a world with zero
emissions via the crop of scientists and engineers who will lead the way
expertly to the finish line!
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