Electric cars are taking on traditional motorsports from Formula E to rally driving with the launch of the Extreme E off-road racing series and the Odyssey 21 electric off-road racer.

Following the growing popularity of Formula E it off-road cousin, Extreme E and the Odyssey 21 electric off-road racer, was launched across the weekend at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. A prototype Extreme E racer tackled the famous hillclimb at Goodwood.

Alejandro Agag, Founder of Extreme E and CEO of Formula E said: “The Extreme E-SUV, ODYSSEY 21, is unlike anything else in motorsport. The cutting-edge technology our industry-leading partners have employed in its design and construction has resulted in a stunning car, capable of the highest performance in the toughest and most varied environments on the planet.

“Extreme E’s combination of top-level sporting competition and ultra-demanding environments will also prove to be a significant research and development platform for manufacturers, driving further advancements in sustainable mobility.”

Concluding, he said: “Whether it’s in the Arctic, Himalayas, Amazon, Desert or on Indian Ocean Islands, this car will showcase the ability of E-SUVs, not only to motorsport enthusiasts, but also to consumers who are looking to make their own difference to the planet by choosing an electric SUV.”

What is Extreme E? Teams will receive their first base vehicles in March 2020 (racing will start in 2021) with 12 teams split into two groups racing in five different locations (details of the exact locations haven’t been revealed), from the Amazon, to the Desert, the Arctic, a marine reserve on an island in the Indian Ocean, and the Himalayas.

The format of Extreme E will see two groups of six teams compete against each other in a round-robin tournament. The top four teams will progress to heats in a knock-out stage, where drivers square off in a one-on-one contest for a coveted spot in the final.

The off-road stages will be around 6-10 km in length, and drivers have to navigate through a series of virtual gates. Each track will be made up of five to six gates, with a combination of off-road tracks and open ground. 

Spark Racing has designed and will construct the control equipment of the electric racers. Spark will build the tubular steel frame, suspension and dampers, braking and steering system and crash structure. The batteries, provided by Williams Advanced Engineering will be compatible with Formula E-specification motors and produce a maximum power output of 470kW – the batteries have been tweaked to handle off-road racing. Continental will provide the control tyres. According to organisers the Extreme E racer will hit 100km/h in 4.5 seconds.

“All Extreme E teams must use the same set of standardized equipment, created and assembled by motorsport manufacturer Spark Racing Technology, equipped with a battery manufactured by Williams Advanced Engineering and Continental tyres. Prototype testing of the electric SUV has now begun in earnest, with substantial tyre technology contributions from Founding Partner Continental. Each Extreme E team will receive two sets of summer and winter tyres,” Continental announced.