Nissan ZEOD RC

Nissan ZEOD RC, shown at Frankfurt Motor Show, 2013

The Nissan ZEOD RC (Zero Emission On Demand Racing Car) was a hybrid electric racing car that competed as the experimental "Garage 56" entry at the 2014 24 Hours of Le Mans race.

The ZEOD RC was designed by Ben Bowlby. Bowlby had worked for DeltaWing LLC, a Chip Ganassi company created to develop a concept race car for the IndyCar Series' post-2012 chassis. When IndyCar awarded the tender to the Dallara DW12, Bowlby - working for DeltaWing Project 56 LLC, a consortium led by Don Panoz - adapted the DeltaWing design to race at Le Mans. Nissan Motor Company provided an engine for the Le Mans-specification DeltaWing, and received naming rights on the car, which raced as the Garage 56 entry at the 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans race.

During 2013, the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) announced that Nissan had been granted the Garage 56 entry for 2014 in its own right. Nissan unveiled their car for the race, known as the ZEOD RC, during the 2013 24 Hours of Le Mans weekend. The ZEOD RC utilized a hybrid electric drivetrain with lithium ion battery packs in a chassis similar in design to the DeltaWing.[1] In a 22 June 2013 article at Autosport.com, Bowlby said: "This is a new car, but it uses the narrow track technology of the DeltaWing and that gives us great efficiency. It is something we understand and it is an efficient way of getting around Le Mans."

At the 2014 24 Hours of Le Mans, the ZEOD RC's first race, the car had to retire during the race's early hours due to a gearbox failure. However it managed to achieve its goals of reaching a speed above 300 km/h and completing a lap at Circuit de la Sarthe (Le Mans) using electric power only.

History

A lawsuit was filed on 22 November 2013 by the DeltaWing consortium (Don Panoz, Chip Ganassi) against Ben Bowlby and Nissan for "damages and injunctive relief arising out of theft of confidential and proprietary information, misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of contracts, unjust enrichment, fraud, and negligent misrepresentation."[2] The lawsuit related both to the ZEOD RC and to a road car concept produced by Nissan.[3] Lawsuit was settled out of court for confidential terms in March 2016.[4]

Drivetrain

The ZEOD RC was equipped with a Nissan DIG-T R 1.5-liter three-cylinder turbo engine. The engine produced 400bhp despite weighing only 40kg.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ O'Leary, Jamie (21 June 2013). "Nissan unveils electric Le Mans Garage 56 car". Autosport.com. Haymarket Press. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  2. ↑ "Panoz-led Delta Wing consortium files lawsuit against Ben Bowlby and Nissan". Racer. 30 November 2013.
  3. ↑ "Panoz vs. Nissan Lawsuit Overshadows DeltaWing Road Car Plan". automobilemag.com. 23 March 2015. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  4. ↑ http://blackflag.jalopnik.com/here-s-what-happened-with-that-bizarre-nissan-deltawing-1784827804
  5. ↑ Nissan Unveils Revolutionary Engine to Complement Electric ZEOD RC Powerplant
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