Nissan ZEOD RC revealed

The Nissan ZEOD electric racer has been revealed at the company's HQ in Japan.

The Zero Emissions on Demand race car will race at the 24 hours of Le Mans endurance event next year, and will occupy the 'Garage 56' entry for vehicles showcasing new technology. It will become the first car capable of completing a full lap of Le Mans using nothing but electric power.

Able to reach speeds in excess of 185mph, Nissan says the car will lap the famous Le Mans circuit faster than a conventional racer in the LMGTE class. Super FT and GT1 champion Michael Krumm will join Lucas Ordonez to continue developing the car, with both drivers already mooted to race the ZEOD at Le Mans.

Following an initial unveiling at Le Mans earlier this year, this finished model features revised styling, new cooling inlets and different aerodynamics.

Nissan says it will use the ZEOD to develop new technology for its planned entry into LMP1 endurance racing. 

The company says technology developed from the Nissan Leaf Nismo RC has gone into the ZEOD, including that car's regenerative braking system. Over the course of 11 laps, and 55 'brake events', drivers will be able to collect enough energy to run a full lap on electric power alone. It'll need re-fueling every 12 laps, as part of Garage 56 entry rules.

Nissan says ZEOD drivers will be able to choose between electric-only power, using twin electric motors, and a hybrid mode which activates a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine with about 300bhp. The powertrain runs through a five-speed paddle-shift transmission.

Nissan's head of Motorsport Innovation Ben Bowlby said the ZEOD would utilise technology "never before seen at Le Mans."

"To see the car go down the Mulsanne Straight at 186mph in virtual silence will be unique. Developing the battery technology to incorporate this into a Le Mans prototype is an enormous challenge, but the lessons learnt will not only be very beneficial for the future LMP1 program, but also we can use this information to assist in the development of future versions of the Nissan Leaf and other electric vehicles for the road"

Although the ZEOD is the spiritual successor to the Nissan-backed DeltaWing racer, the firm stresses that "every last nut and bolt" on the ZEOD is new.

The car will be showcased throughout the latest round of the FIA World Endurance Championship in Fuji.