Kia EV6 beats Ferrari and Lamborghini at 400m race… Electric vehicles also compete for high performance

Input 2021.04.03 06:00

Kia(Kia Motors (000270)) Released the electric car’EV6′ and the video released is becoming a hot topic among car enthusiasts. EV6’s high-performance line GT showcased the world’s leading internal combustion supercars such as the Lamborghini Urs, the Porsche 911 Targa 4, and the Ferrari California T, and a 400m short-distance race.

In the video, the EV6 GT passed the finish line in second place after the McLaren 570S, beating Lamborghini and Ferrari. It emphasizes the excellent acceleration capability of the EV6 GT. The EV6 GT, which is scheduled to be released in the second half of next year, is the fastest in Korea, with a time (zero-back) of 584 horsepower to reach 100 km/h from 0 km/h.

As the competition for electric vehicles intensified, automakers started to enhance the performance of electric vehicles. In addition to securing mileage by mounting a large-capacity battery, it is focusing on making a vehicle that is faster and more stable. In particular, electric vehicles are structurally superior to internal combustion engine vehicles, so they are gradually reducing the zero-back, which has been regarded as a competitive edge of supercars.

Structurally, electric vehicles have much better initial acceleration capabilities than internal combustion engine vehicles. In the case of an internal combustion engine, a certain torque and horsepower must be reached in order to produce a high speed due to the structure of a complex powertrain (a part that transmits power from a vehicle). To this end, the powertrain accelerates slowly while increasing the number of revolutions per minute (RPM). However, an electric vehicle with a simple structure consisting only of a battery and an electric motor can achieve maximum torque from the beginning as long as the battery output is strong, enabling faster acceleration.

In addition, the number of parts that determine the weight of the vehicle is about half of that of an internal combustion locomotive. In electric vehicles, the center of gravity is distributed so that the powertrain consisting of the engine, transmission, and axle does not occupy the engine room, and a stable skateboard-type structure on the floor can withstand high speeds.

This is the background for supercar makers to collaborate with electric car makers. On the 10th of last month, Porsche decided to invest 70 million euros (about 95 billion won) in Limac Automobili, a high-performance electric vehicle company in Croatia. Porsche is focusing on creating high-performance electric vehicles through the pure electric vehicle brand Taycan. The Taycan 4S, which has recently been sold in Korea, reaches 4.0 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h, and the top trim Taycan Turbo S reaches 2.8 seconds.

The details of the cooperation between the two companies are unknown, but the industry believes that there is a possibility to introduce a new ultra-high-performance electric supercar through a technology alliance. Earlier, Limak unveiled the Veloster N-based high-performance electric sports car RM20e together with Hyundai Motor Company at last year’s Beijing Motor Show. The RM20e is equipped with a dedicated motor with a maximum output of 810 horsepower and a maximum torque of 97.9 kg·m, reaching a speed of 100 km/h from a standstill in 3 seconds.

In the U.S., high-performance electric vehicles from Lucid Motors, which are called Tesla’s counterparts, are causing a blast. Lucid’s first mass-produced model, Lucid Air, which is famous for being a brand made by a core man from Tesla, has a maximum output of 1080 horsepower and a battery with a capacity of 113 kWh. This is the capacity to run 809km on a single charge, which is the highest level among existing electric vehicles.

The BMW Group also recently revealed its future electrification strategy and introduced a high-performance lineup. The BMW Group plans to undergo a major transformation by launching a new product line called’Neue Klasse’ from 2025. It is explained that the new class product line features a new IT/software architecture and a next-generation high-performance electric drive train/battery as the core characteristics of a vehicle body optimized for electric vehicles and high performance.

Experts point out that optimization of body weight, battery efficiency, and drive train is important to improve the performance of an electric vehicle. For example, in order for the mileage and acceleration to come out well, the vehicle body must be light and the battery capacity must be large, but because the two conflict, it is explained that the optimal design is important.

“The four-wheel drive (4WD) with high driving safety can shorten the zero-back and increase the acceleration, but there is a problem that the mileage decreases due to an increase in weight when using two motors,” said Pil-soo Kim, a professor at the Department of Automobile Department at Daelim University. “Battery efficiency The electric vehicle that increases safety as well as mileage and charging speed will be chosen by consumers,” he said.