EVs Set New Records at 102nd Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

The 102nd running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb saw electric vehicles (EVs) shine, setting new records and demonstrating the potential of electric powertrains in motorsports with Ford’s F-150 Lightning SuperTruck and Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 N standing out.

Ford’s F-150 Lightning SuperTruck, driven by Romain Dumas, set the fastest time of the day at 8:53.553. This custom-built EV that is capable of delivering 1,600 horsepower and extensive aerodynamic modifications, showcased the pinnacle of electric performance. Despite an unexpected shutdown in the first sector, the SuperTruck’s time was over ten seconds faster than its closest competitor.

As for Hyundai, it made a strong showing with its IONIQ 5 N, competing in both stock and modified forms. In the unmodified category, Ron Zaras set a new record for production EVs with a time of 10:49.267, narrowly missing the overall production SUV record by just 0.365 seconds. The modified IONIQ 5 N TA (Time Attack) spec, driven by rally driver Dani Sordo, posted a 9:30.852 time, claiming the title of fastest electric modified SUV.

Notably, Rivian’s R1T also demonstrated well, with Gardner Nichols setting a new record for production trucks at 10:53.883. This unmodified electric pickup shaved 30 seconds off its time from last year, indicating major improvements in Rivian’s EV technology. Moreover, this year’s event also marked a new milestone with the Acura ZDX serving as the pace car, which is the first time an EV has filled this role at competition.

While these times are exceptional, they still fall short of the all-time record of 7:57.148, set by Romain Dumas in 2018 driving the Volkswagen ID.R, another purpose-built electric racer. However, the competition still saw the success of EVs at Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, where it saw their performance maintain regardless of altitude.

As a result, the strong performance of EVs at Pikes Peak International Hill Climb serves as a clear indicator that the future of high-performance motorsports is increasingly electric, with EVs proving they can not only compete with but often outperform their gas counterparts in one of the most challenging races in the world. With automakers continuing to push the boundaries of EV technology, we can expect to see even more impressive performances in future hill climbs and other racing events.

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