One of the best views into the advancement of EVs comes from looking at what engineers are building for the racetrack, especially for 24 hour endurance races such as The Daytona 24, which showcase the achievements of some of the brightest auto engineers in the world.Â
Le Mans races started to include Hybrid Drivetrain Technology in 2021
Daytona 24 has multiple car classes including The Le Mans Daytona Hypercar Class (LMDH), which includes hybrid cars that have a total combined output (engine + hybrid system) of 500 kW (equal to 670 Horsepower) and can reach speeds of up to 202 MPH.
To get a sense of how this compares to two of the fastest production EVs on the road. The Porche Taycan Turbo S has a maximum power output of 560 kW (750 HP), while The Tesla Model S Plaid has a maximum Power of 760 kW (1019 HP). For the record, The Taycan Turbo S recently beat the "Electric Vehicle" lap time record that the the Model S Plaid held at the legendary Nurburing grand-prix track.
Read here if you want to know more about the specs of The Hypercar Class:
"The new-for-2021 Hypercar class is the top-tier category in the FIA World Endurance Championship which is open to both specialized prototypes and cars based around road-going vehicles. This new class will feature two types of car: LMD (Le Mans Hypercar, from 2021)Â LMDh (Le Mans Daytona hypercar, from 2022)"
The Daytona 24's Influence on Production Cars
The race features advancements in parts /hardware components, software & aerodynamics that start out in racing cars and ultimately make their way into production cars, as engineers do everything machinely (technically) possible to make cars perform better. As captured in this article, "Porsche wins Daytona 24 as hybrid-powered racing takes off," about Porche's victory at The Daytona 24.
“The good old technology transfer that many automakers say originates in racing and comes to production cars is still in play. The manufacturers are well past using innovations like windshield wipers and rearview mirrors that originated in the heyday of racing; now everything from new batteries and drivetrains to software that blends electric power with gas is all being tweaked on the track"
After winning the Daytona 24, The Porsche Penske team along with all the other have their eye on Le Mans, the most celebrated endurance race. And, with it being 2024, the already celebrated 24 Hours of Le Mans will be even more celebrated in the Summer of 24.
Source: What Is the Porche 963 Race Car?
Porsche 963: The engine is based on the high-performance 918 Spyder hybrid sports car, which can go from zero to 60 in 2.2 seconds. The powerful engine is designed to run on renewable fuels. (fun fact: LeBron has a 918 that he can fit into with the sun-roof off)