Drive eO is an engineering company which operates from Latvia and specializes in development of electric and hybrid electric prototype vehicles for demanding applications. It was founded in 2011[1] to create the first ever hybrid electric rally car OSCar eO for the 2012 Dakar Rally.[2] Driven by Māris Saukāns [lv] and Andris Dambis [lv], it successfully completed the rally.[3]
The company went on to develop a number of electric racing cars for participation at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. In 2015, the one-megawatt eO PP03 race car driven by Rhys Millen set a new EV record[4] and became the first ever all-electric vehicle to win the event overall.[5]
OSCar eO
OSCar eO at the 2012 Dakar RallyOSCar eO on the 2012 Dakar Rally finish podium in Lima
The car is based on the platform of all wheel drive OSCar O3rally raid car manufactured by OSC. It features a series hybrid drivetrain. Drive eO gives the following vehicle specification:[6]
Drive motor
PMSM with 2 power inverters, torque 440 Nm nominal / 800 Nm peak, power 150 kW nominal / 335 kW peak
The car features an all wheel drive electric drivetrain with one inboard mounted direct drive motor per wheel. It is based on a tubular spaceframe chassis with bodywork derived from Aquila CR1 racing car. Drive eO gives the following vehicle specification:[7]
Drive motor
Four liquid cooled YASA-750 electric motors, total peak power 400 kW / peak torque 3000 Nm
Motor controller
Four liquid cooled SEVCON electric motor controllers
Chassis controller
eO master controller
Battery pack
eO 50 kWh custom battery pack with integrated BMS
Charger
eO 80 kW off-board DC charger
Total mass
1050 kg
The car was driven at the 2013 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb by Latvian and Baltic touring car champion Jānis Horeliks.[8] The adverse weather conditions had made the track surface slippery and he went off-road after losing grip in a left hand corner at the Halfway Picnic Grounds.[9] A documentary called "Uzvaras cena" has been produced about the project and was first aired in September 2013 on LTV7 during motoring programme "Tavs auto".[10]
eO PP02
eO PP02 based on Tesla Roadster chassis
Drive eO returned to the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in 2014 with a race car based on a Tesla Roadster chassis. This was the first time that Tesla brand was represented at a major international motorsport event. The original chassis was retained but the entire drive train was replaced by Drive eO to validate the new components ahead of scaling them up for successive electric supercar projects.[11] The car was again piloted by Janis Horeliks and he completed the course in 12 minutes and 57.536 seconds to rank fifth in the Electric Modified division.[12]
Drive eO gives the following vehicle specification:[13]
Drive motor
Liquid cooled YASA electric motor, total peak power 360 kW / peak torque 800 Nm
Chassis controller
eO master controller
Battery pack
eO 40 kWh custom battery pack with integrated BMS
Total mass
1060 kg
eO PP03
As the next step, Drive eO developed an entirely new vehicle eO PP03 for the 93rd running of Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on June 28, 2015. The vehicle featured a one-megawatt electric drive train and all-wheel drive transmission. The team signed Rhys Millen to drive the car and was aiming for overall victory.
[14][15][16]
Drive train
Six YASA electric motors with Drive eO controllers, total peak power 1020 kW / peak torque 2160 Nm
Battery pack
50 kWh lithium-ion battery pack with BMS
Transmission
All-wheel drive, limited slip axle differentials, single reduction gear
Chassis
Steel tubular spaceframe with carbon fibre body
Steering
Electrically assisted power steering
Suspension
4-way adjustable shock absorbers
Brakes
Ventilated brake discs Ø378 mm front, Ø330 mm rear
Tyres & wheels
320/710 R18 slick tyres, 13 in × 18 in (330 mm × 460 mm) wheels
Total mass
1150 kg
Top speed
260 km/h
On the race day Rhys Millen completed the course in 9 minutes and 7.222 seconds, setting a new EV record and becoming the overall winner.[17][18]
eO PP100
In 2016, the car had Peak power 1,190 kilowatts (1,600 hp) and peak torque 2520 Nm, with a weight of 1200 kg. Millen set a record of 8:57.118.[citation needed]
