Electric racecar faced electric
superbike for the very first time as Citroën’s striking Survolt
concept and an Agni Z2 went head-to-head at Thruxton race circuit.
In the capable hands of two
professional female racers – Vanina Ickx and Jenny Tinmouth – car
and bike battled it out to test speed, agility and performance in
the all-electric shoot-out of four wheels against two.
Piloting Survolt was Vanina Ickx –
Le Mans Series and Touring Car racing driver and daughter of Formula
One driver, Jacky Ickx. Riding the Agni Z2 was Jenny Tinmouth, the
fastest woman around the Isle of Man TT course and championship
leader in the 2010 TTXGP.
Vanina Ickx commented; “This was a
fantastic experience – the first electric duel of its type. The
lack of engine noise made it a very interesting challenge. Normally
you have an idea where your opponent is by their sound, but with
electric vehicles it’s so much quieter – a new racing dynamic. I
had a lot of fun and I’m thrilled to have been part of this unique
track event.”
Survolt was fresh from its
appearance on Sunday (12/09) as part of The Prince of Wales’ Start
Eco Car Spectacular. Held on The Mall in the shadow of Buckingham
Palace, Survolt led a parade of ecologically-conscious vehicles,
wowing the crowds and attracting much appreciation from attending
celebrities including Kevin McCloud, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Lisa Rogers
and Quentin Willson. At the event’s prize-giving, Survolt was
presented with the ‘Vision Award’ by M&S Chairman Sir Stuart Rose.
Specially developed with compact
dimensions and a light-weight frame (1.15 tonnes) to suit the race
track, Survolt features a tubular chassis, flat underside with
extractor and full carbon bodywork, all combining to make a genuine
emissions-free, electric racing car.
Propelled by two electric motors
with a combined power of 300bhp from 0 to 5,000rpm, Survolt is
capable of exceptional performance with a top speed of 260kph
(162mph) and a 0-100kph (0-62mph) time of under five seconds. The
concept’s twin 140kg lithium-ion batteries each boast a 31kw
capacity and can cover 200km (124 miles).
Powered by 80 battery packs and
weighing 220kg, the Agni Z2’s 65hp all-electric drivetrain delivers
a 0-60mph time of around 3.5seconds with a top speed of just over
130mph.
