Formula E racing series, the world’s first class of motorsport that only uses electric-powered cars, has finally revealed the electric racecar that will run in its new upcoming off-road sport, “Extreme E.” The new electric race car is named Odyssey 21. The all-electric SUV was introduced at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK this past weekend, on Saturday, July 6. It also made some runs up the famous Goodwood hill, and while this is still just a prototype, this is already an extremely powerful vehicle.
According to Extreme E’s organizers, the electric SUV is equipped with wheels that measure 37 inches (940mm) in diameter. The vehicle is 7.5 feet (2.3 meters) wide, 6.2 feet (1.9 meters) tall, 14.4 feet (4.4 meters) long, and its bulky body weighs a hulking 3,638 pounds (1,650 kilograms). And while hulking, the heavy SUV can still go from 0 to 62 miles per hour (0 to 100 kilometers per hour) in 4.5 seconds, even on steeper ground, thanks to its total 550hp (400kW) power output that’s driven by motors featured on each wheel.
Extreme E announced the electric SUV’s debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK on their official twitter account (@ExtremeELive), sharing some happy thoughts: “Up the hill we go! The Odyssey 21’s first public outing at Goodwood Festival of Speed!”
The Extreme E series will start testing the Odyssey 21 prototype’s racing skills this September, and French manufacturer Spark Racing Technology is planning to deliver 12 final versions of the electric-racing SUV by March 2020.
Extreme E’s first season will kick off in early 2021. Extreme E was created by Formula E founder Alejandro Agag, and the main goal of the series is to race in remote places with “fragile ecosystems” to “highlight the impact of climate change,” while also promoting electric vehicle technology. The Extreme E series is still figuring out how all that will happen, but they’ve already signed a multi-year broadcast deal with Fox Sports.
One thing is certain: if the final vehicles look anything like the Odyssey 21 prototype, Extreme E will be a racing series full of giant, bulky Electric Racing Vehicles that are also lightning fast.
