Tweak For The Peak: Toyota Returns To The Hill With Updated Electric Racer

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

Toyota plans to defend its electric title at this year’s Pikes Peak International Hill Climb with a tweaked TMG EV P002. The electric racer is currently on its way to Salisbury, N.C., where TRD USA will perform aerodynamic upgrades to the Radical-based chassis.

On June 30, 61-year-old Rod Millen will attempt a new record in the TMG EV P002 at Pikes Peak. TMG is using an off-board battery-to-battery charger, because there is no reliable connection to the power grid at the race site. A 42 kilowatt lithium ion battery is mounted into the back of a Toyota Hiace,. and can quickly charge the TMG EV P002 even in places where there is no plug in sight.

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

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  • Henkdevries Henkdevries on May 06, 2013

    I actually like the sound electric racecars make. More subtle than the average V-unamit. But is it going to be quicker than the Peugeot 208 T16 Pikes Peak? Bets are on. Weight: Peug 875 kg Toyo/Radical somewhere below 1000 kg HP: Peug 875 Toyo/Radical 544 Torque: Peug 882 Nm Toyo/Radical 1200 Nm

    • See 1 previous
    • Henkdevries Henkdevries on May 07, 2013

      @herb Actually yes. Have seen some electric Formula Student cars race "live" and I really like it. I agree it's not as spectacular as a SI/CI-engine, but im not a traditional car-guy.

  • Toshi Toshi on May 06, 2013

    "A 42 kilowatt lithium ion battery is mounted into the back of a Toyota Hiace" Kilowatt-hour is the proper unit of capacity, or 42 kWh in the case of the above quoted sentence. Kilowatts (without the appended hour) are a unit of power. For a gasoline analogy, consider that you wouldn't describe your car's gas tank's volume in horsepower...

  • Dartdude The bottom line is that in the new America coming the elites don't want you and me to own cars. They are going to make building cars so expensive that the will only be for the very rich and connected. You will eat bugs and ride the bus and live in a 500sq-ft. apartment and like it. HUD wants to quit giving federal for any development for single family homes and don't be surprised that FHA aren't going to give loans for single family homes in the very near future.
  • Ravenuer The rear view of the Eldo coupe makes it look fat!
  • FreedMike This is before Cadillac styling went full scale nutty...and not particularly attractive, in my opinion.
  • JTiberius1701 Middle of April here in NE Ohio. And that can still be shaky. Also on my Fiesta ST, I use Michelin Pilot Sport A/S tires for the winter and Bridgestone Potenza for my summer tires. No issues at all.
  • TCowner We've had a 64.5 Mustang in the family for the past 40 years. It is all original, Rangoon Red coupe with 289 (one of the first instead of the 260), Rally Pac, 4-speed, factory air, every option. Always gets smiles and thumbs ups.
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