Drive eO

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 and Andris Dambis, it successfully completed the rally.[3]

Drive eO
TypePrivate limited company
Founded2011
HeadquartersOgresgala pagasts, Ogre Municipality, Latvia
Websitewww.driveeo.com

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 Rally
OSCar eO on the 2012 Dakar Rally finish podium in Lima

The car is based on the platform of all wheel drive OSCar O3 rally raid car manufactured by OSC. It features a series hybrid drivetrain. Drive eO gives the following vehicle specification:[6]

Drive motorPMSM with 2 power inverters, torque 440 Nm nominal / 800 Nm peak, power 150 kW nominal / 335 kW peak
Chassis controllereO master controller
Battery packWinston Battery Li-ion with battery management system, nominal voltage 512 Vdc, total energy 51.2 kWh
Range extenderPMSM 1 power inverter, nominal output 80 kW, driven by Nissan VQ35DE IC engine, 240 litre safety fuel tank
Charger10 kW off-board battery balancer / charger
RangeUp to 1000 km (terrain dependent)
Gearbox6-speed sequential dog-engagement gearbox
Gross weight2800 kg

OSCar eO has participated at three international rally raids:

YearRallyRouteCrewCategory resultOverall finish positionCars at finishCars at start
2012Dakar RallyMar del Plata - Copiapo - LimaMāris Saukāns / Andris DambisRunner-up in NRJ Challenge7778161
2012Silk Way RallyMoscow - GelendzhikAndris Dambis / Māris SaukānsWinner of Green Challenge216081
2013Africa Eco RaceSaint Cyprien - DakarMāris Saukāns / Uldis DzenisWinner of Experimental Category83339

eO PP01

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 motorFour liquid cooled YASA-750 electric motors, total peak power 400 kW / peak torque 3000 Nm
Motor controllerFour liquid cooled SEVCON electric motor controllers
Chassis controllereO master controller
Battery packeO 50 kWh custom battery pack with integrated BMS
ChargereO 80 kW off-board DC charger
Total mass1050 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 motorLiquid cooled YASA electric motor, total peak power 360  kW / peak torque 800 Nm
Chassis controllereO master controller
Battery packeO 40 kWh custom battery pack with integrated BMS
Total mass1060 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 trainSix YASA electric motors with Drive eO controllers, total peak power 1020  kW / peak torque 2160 Nm
Battery pack50 kWh lithium-ion battery pack with BMS
TransmissionAll-wheel drive, limited slip axle differentials, single reduction gear
ChassisSteel tubular spaceframe with carbon fibre body
SteeringElectrically assisted power steering
Suspension4-way adjustable shock absorbers
BrakesVentilated brake discs Ø378 mm front, Ø330 mm rear
Tyres & wheels320/710 R18 slick tyres, 13 in × 18 in (330 mm × 460 mm) wheels
Total mass1150 kg
Top speed260 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.

References
  1. "eO, Sabiedrība ar ierobežotu atbildību, 40103435150 - par uzņēmumu". lursoft.lv. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  2. "Latvian team aims to be first to contest Dakar rally with EV [w/video] - Autoblog". autoblog.com. Retrieved 2014-03-22.
  3. "articles/first-electric-vehicle-to-finish-the-dakar-rally-00004145". electricvehiclesresearch.com. Retrieved 2014-03-22.
  4. "Rhys Millen breaks Pikes Peak EV record in Latvian eO PP03". autoweek.com. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  5. "Electric power lights up Pikes Peak". gizmag.com. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  6. "Electric OSCar eO Off-road Rally Car — Drive eO". driveeo.com. Retrieved 2014-03-22.
  7. "Electric eO PP01 Supercar for Pikes Peak Hill Climb — Drive eO". driveeo.com. Retrieved 2014-03-22.
  8. "Jānis Horeliks - JH-Motorsport". jh-motorsport.lv. Retrieved 2014-03-22.
  9. "Pikes Peak electric race car crash | Autonet.ca". autonet.ca. Archived from the original on 2014-02-23. Retrieved 2014-03-22.
  10. "TVNET :: Motoru sports - "Tavs auto" dokumentālais stāsts par Pikes Peak sacīkstēm". tvnet.lv. Retrieved 2014-03-22.
  11. "Drive eO Tesla Roadster is going to race up Pikes Peak [w/video]". autoblog.com. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  12. "Pikes Peak International Hill Climb almost saw an EV winning - ElectricAutosport.com". electricautosport.com. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  13. "eO PP02 is our electric drive train research & development platform based on Tesla Roadster chassis — Drive eO". driveeo.com. Retrieved 2014-03-22.
  14. "Megawatt electric race car chases prestigious motorsport title". engadget.com. Retrieved 2014-03-22.
  15. "Rhys Millen returns to Pikes Peak driving a Latvian electric car". autoblog.com. Retrieved 2014-03-22.
  16. "Electric eO PP03 for Pikes Peak International Hill Climb 2015 – Drive eO". driveeo.com. Retrieved 2014-03-22.
  17. "PPIHC 2015 Overall Results" (PDF). PPIHC. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  18. "PPIHC 2015 Records" (PDF). PPIHC. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
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