Australia to develop electric racecar

Australian technology entrepreneur Simon Hackett and global motorsport expert Rudi Tuisk are hoping to offer a partial answer to the death of the local car industry by designing and developing an electric race car that could pave the way to a more technological future.

The project, which is underwritten by start-up company eV Race Systems, is developing a high-performance electric race car to compete in events in Europe and Australia, with the first prototypes expected to be on track by the end of 2014.

Tuisk, the eV Race Systems CEO who was formerly the director of Tesla Australia and Tesla’s chief technician in Europe and Asia Pacific, is described as the architect and technical director behind the design of the electric racecar.

Seven-figure funding has been provided by Simon Hackett to bring the concept to fruition.

Ensuring that the car delivers the spectacle expected by motorsport enthusiasts is central to its development. Rudi Tuisk said the project aims to develop the “most exciting race car to drive and the most exciting race car to watch.

“To use motorsport as an emotional lever, you need a car that’s very fast, convincing and extremely exciting; action packed. We’ve spent the past year designing just such a vehicle, with some of the best engineers in the world. We are very excited by the data we are seeing right now,” he said.

Weighing 1000kg, the racecar is powered by a 400kW/800Nm electric motor that is claimed to enable acceleration from zero to 100km/h in less than three seconds and 0-200km/h in less than eight seconds.

Following the “multi-million dollar” development of three to five prototypes, eV Race Systems plans to have the first cars on the track for demonstration later this year.

Tuisk, who is a pioneer in the global EV (Electric Vehicle) motorsport industry, said he expects electric racecars to provide strong growth businesses during the next decade.

“We should expect to see significant multiples of value in this space.” he continued.

Hackett founded the Adelaide-based internet service provider Internode in 1991. The company was acquired by another Australian-based Internet provider, iiNet in 2011. Both companies continue to operate as separate entities.

With Tuisk (pictured at left with Hackett), Hackett brought Tesla’s first Roadster to Australia in 2009.

Hackett said electric vehicles “represent a sunrise industry in which Australia can be a real leader.

“Australia has convenient proximity to Asia for cell supply and access to innovative and exceptionally talented engineers.

“As we’re saying goodbye to Toyota, Ford and Holden assembly plants, Australia has the opportunity to embrace and invest in EV technology that can underpin new local manufacturing in coming decades,”he said.

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