Electric cars are about to enter the world of rallies. It seemed so far away but the first units of the racing electric Corsa have been delivered.
The beginning of the “electric” season
The Opel e-Rally Cup monarch championship is ready for its initial season and customers have just been delivered the top ten Opel Corsa-e Rally. At the Dudenhofen test center, the teams received the vehicles and related equipment.
Loading…
On the occasion of the delivery of the vehicles, the teams received a comprehensive briefing on the new electric technology, which was followed by extensive functional tests with the 100 kW (136 hp) electric cars. Customers were also able to test the high potential of the Opel Corsa-e Rally by sitting next to Opel motorsport legend Volker Strycek on the spectacular endurance circuit of the test center.
Technical characteristics of the car
The Opel Corsa-e Rally is based on the production model. This simplified the demanding work of the Opel Motorsport engineers.
The racing car is equipped with a 100 kW (136 hp) electric motor powered by a 50 kWh lithium-ion battery and allows for a range of 337 km in the Wltp cycle, the same system used by the production car. To optimize the autonomy for rally tests, there are three driving modes: in “competition mode”, maximum power and maximum torque (260 Nm) are available. Electric cars boast particularly high torque, so the ‘rain mode’ offers a torque curve suitable for slippery surfaces. In the transfers between one test and another and to reach assistance, the teams will use the “eco mode” aimed at saving energy. The methods of recharging the car during the event have yet to be clarified.