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Why electric vehicles will continue to dominate Pikes Peak after record-shattering run

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The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb happens every June in Colorado, sending cars from the base of Pikes Peak up to its top in an arduous climb to a 14,000 feet elevation. The speeds gained are not spectacular by today’s racing standards, but the climb itself is a mixture of brute power and endurance like no other race in the world.

Climbing Pikes Peak even on a normal day is not easily done. Most production vehicles will struggle to get to the summit and many will fail to do so. That’s under standard driving conditions on what is now a fully-paved roadway. The reasons for this are many, but boil down to altitude, the uphill grade, and the huge number of curves in the 12.42-mile road into the clouds.

This year, the Pikes Peak IHC record was blasted through by an electric car. Not for the first time, but so definitively that it’s considered a huge milestone. The car was a Volkswagen purpose-built design whose name specifies what it’s for: the I.D. R Pikes Peak. Meant to showcase the electrification efforts of VW’s new I.D. brand, the car was built specifically to make the Pikes Peak hill climb as quickly as possible. The engineering behind the car is amazing.

Before we talk about that, though, an understanding of what’s at stake at Pikes Peak and how difficult this race really is should be had.

About the Hill Climb

The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb has been the go-to endurance race for high-altitude automotive for over a century. As the second-oldest race in the United States, the Pikes Peak IHC starts at mile marker 7 on the Pikes Peak Highway and runs right up to the top of the roadway’s end 12.42 miles up. There are 156 turns going up the mountain and driver and vehicle gain nearly 5,000 feet in altitude during the climb. The highest point in the race reaches into the sky to over 14,000 feet above sea level.

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This amount of climb at that altitude poses significant challenges for race teams. The thin air means less oxygen for driver and machine, sapping performance considerably. With combustion engines, it means less oxygen for the combustion process. With electrics, it often means less cooling for the batteries and components. Most performance electric vehicles can use significant amounts of energy cooling batteries, which heat up quickly during high-performance driving. Components like electric motors and controllers can similarly have performance drain from heat.

Thus taking a Tesla Model X P100D to Pikes Peak, for example, might be a walk in the park under normal driving conditions, suffering nothing more than a significantly lowered range due to the amount of hill climbing involved. Yet trying to race that X up to the Peak will result in the vehicle overheating and entering limp mode early in the run.

Since 2011 when the Pikes Peak Highway was completely paved, most vehicles, whether electric or not, have been able to make the climb under normal conditions if driven leisurely.

Why Electrics Dominate Pikes Peak

The roadblocks for an EV climbing Pikes Peak versus a combustion-powered vehicle in the same race, are far fewer. With the problems of weight versus range having been conquered for some time, the issue of power delivery versus thermal management is the focus.

One of the first electric vehicles to make headlines for its Pikes Peak International Hill Climb run was the Drive eO PP03. Its race time, an impressive 9 minutes, 7.22 seconds, however, was not the reason it was noticed. It was noticed because it was an electric car piloted by rally champion and well-known Pikes Peak racer Rhys Millen. And the PP03 beat the expected EV winner, Nobuhiro Tajima, by over 20 seconds.

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Since then, an EV has made headlines in every Pikes Peak race. None, until this year, have beaten the 2013 record set by Sebastian Loeb in a specially-modified Peugeot 208. That record, at 8 minutes and 57 seconds, was compared to how long it takes to fly a helicopter, vertically, from the base to the summit.

That record is no more. Thanks to Volkswagen.

The Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak

This specially-built racer was designed, engineered, tested, and raced in only eight months from start to finish. The car set a Pikes Peak Challenge time of just 7 minutes, 57.148 seconds and its engineers say that if conditions had been perfect on race day, it could have made it even faster. Driver Romain Dumas agreed with that assessment. He also said that the race to the summit is far tougher than an entire 24 Hours of Le Mans run.

The secret is in the battery balance of size, weight, and power delivery. There are two battery packs, each running alongside the driver at the center of the chassis. Each pack powers an electric motor. The entire vehicle weighs under 2,500 pounds and produces 670 horsepower of output. It’s 0-60 mph time is 2.2 seconds, faster than a Formula 1 car, and it can sustain that kind of power output for the duration of its charge. Without becoming crippled by heat.

Rather than add weight- and power-expensive cooling, Volkswagen chose to leave the batteries without thermal management. Instead, airflow around and through the car is critical to its success. The bodywork of the I.D. R Pikes Peak is designed in a way similar to Sprint and Formula race cars, aimed towards managing airflow carefully in order to maximize performance capability. Where a combustion-powered car would direct airflow into the engine through ducting and around the engine for cooling, the I.D. R instead focuses airflow around the batteries and components for maximum cooling (even at thin-air altitudes). It also maximizes airflow around the wheels, as per a Formula car, to maximize downward thrust and improve traction for both straightaways and corners.

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This was coupled with a design made specifically for the Pikes Peak climb. The course is just over 12 miles long, so the batteries were sized and formulated to give enough power to run full-throttle for about 13 miles. Cell chemistry is designed to store maximum power and then deliver it at high volume for a sustained amount of time. Unlike production car batteries, of course, VW’s batteries in the I.D. R Pikes Peak don’t have to meet production-level warranty requirements or cycle lifespans.

By perfectly balancing the car’s aerodynamics, cooling flow, battery size, weight distribution, and power delivery, the VW team was able to shatter the previous record for the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. It’s likely that this record will remain for some time.

Going forward, it’s clear that the advantages electric vehicles have in a race like the Pikes Peak IHC are many and most of the roadblocks towards keeping them out of the running are now surmounted. Combustion engines may continue to win this particular race, on occasion, but it’s very unlikely that they’ll dominate from here on out. For perspective, Rhys Millen, who previously won the EV record, was driving a Bentley SUV with a 12-cylinder engine and took almost 11 minutes to finish the race.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0c3ndL0mSAQ

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Aaron Turpen is a freelance writer based in Wyoming, USA. He writes about a large number of subjects, many of which are in the transportation and automotive arenas. Aaron is a recognized automotive journalist, with a background in commercial trucking and automotive repair. He is a member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press (RMAP) and Aaron’s work has appeared on many websites, in print, and on local and national radio broadcasts including NPR’s All Things Considered and on Carfax.com.

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Tesla brings perhaps the coolest interior feature to cars in latest update

Tesla adds on to the “fun” aspect of its vehicles.

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Credit: Tesla

Tesla has brought perhaps the coolest interior feature to its cars in a new update that is rolling out to vehicles now.

The feature will require a newer vehicle that has interior ambient lighting, which is present on the new Model S, Model X, Model 3 “Highland,” and Model Y “Juniper.” The Cybertruck also has ambient lighting strips throughout.

Tesla Model Y’s ambient lighting design changes revealed in leaked video

With the Version 2025.26+ Software Update, Tesla is rolling out a new “Sync Accent Lights w/ Music” feature, which is available on the Tesla Toybox:

To enable the feature, you’ll access the Toybox, choose “Light Sync,” and then choose “Sync Accent Lights w/ Music.”

Although it does not improve the performance of the vehicle, it is yet another example of Tesla making one of the coolest cars out there. This is truly a cool add-on that can be used to impress your friends and family.

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xAI, Musk Foundation helps schools near Memphis supercomputer site

Reports of xAI and the Musk Foundation’s work were recently posted by local news media.

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(Credit: xAI)

Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup xAI and the Musk Foundation have been supporting Memphis-Shelby County Schools with HVAC repairs and facility upgrades, while also funding youth programs for students in the area. 

Reports of xAI and the Musk Foundation’s work were recently posted by local news media.

xAI’s school visits lead to facility repairs

Representatives from xAI visited John P. Freeman Optional School, Fairley High School, and Westwood High School, all of which are located near its Colossus supercomputer site, to assess HVAC systems, plumbing, gym facilities, and athletic fields. The visits resulted in a list of priority repairs, some of which were completed in April and May.

In addition to the repairs, xAI also shared a number of initiatives that are planned for students in the area, as stated in a Commercial Appeal report.

“xAI is working on providing STEM workshops for local students, donating equipment to technical training programs, and supporting job fairs to boost employment opportunities. These initiatives reflect xAl’s commitment to fostering education and economic growth in Memphis,” xAI noted in a statement.

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Musk Foundation donation

Apart from xAI, the Musk Foundation also donated $350,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis, enabling the reopening of two club sites located at Booker T. Washington High School and Westwood High School. Both locations had closed earlier this year due to lapses in funding. As per xAI, the Musk Foundation’s donation allows clubs to reopen for almost 1,000 students. 

The donation will fund staffing, supplies, and transportation, among others. “Kids are the future of humanity,” Elon Musk said in a statement, adding that students need “every chance to shoot for the stars.”

“We’re honored to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis in reopening these sites, giving kids in underserved communities the tools to build brighter futures,” Musk said.

The gift was praised by local officials, including Boys & Girls Clubs board chair Michael Garriga, who stated that the “commitment will ensure the youth of our community have the opportunities they need to develop their skills and talents to become successful students and future citizens.”

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EV fans urge Tesla to acquire Unplugged Performance for edge in fleet and security industry

Unplugged Performance has built a name for itself by producing performance upgrades for Tesla vehicles.

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Credit: Unplugged Performance

A growing number of Tesla enthusiasts and longtime community voices are calling on the electric vehicle maker to acquire Unplugged Performance, a California-based aftermarket company best known for tuning Tesla vehicles and developing specialized government fleet solutions under its UP.FIT division.

The idea was once considered a niche proposal among EV fans, but it is now gaining serious attention not just as a performance play but as a strategic move to deepen Tesla’s roots in the fleet and security industry. 

A strategic fit

Unplugged Performance has built a name for itself by producing performance upgrades for Tesla vehicles, from track-optimized components to visual and aerodynamic upgrades. But in recent years, its UP.FIT division has pivoted toward a more functional future by outfitting Tesla vehicles like Model Ys for police, military, and government use.

That work has sparked growing calls for closer collaboration with Tesla, especially as the EV maker increasingly leans into autonomy, AI, and fleet services as core components of its next chapter.

“I posted this four years ago, but I think it’s more true now than ever,” wrote Whole Mars Catalog, a well-known Tesla investor and FSD Beta tester, on X. “Tesla should buy Unplugged. But not just as a Performance division. What they are doing with UP.FIT unlocks large government and commercial fleet purchases that can improve utilization.”

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Tesla fans such as shareholder Sawyer Merritt echoed the sentiment, calling Unplugged a “great fit within Tesla.” adding, “They are literally located directly next to Tesla’s design studio in Hawthorne.”

Enabling the next wave

Supporters of the idea noted that integrating Unplugged into Tesla’s corporate structure could help accelerate the adoption of autonomous technologies in government sectors. With UP.FIT patrol cars already in use across some U.S. police departments, Tesla fans envisioned a future where self-driving Teslas could potentially revolutionize law enforcement, search-and-rescue, and public service logistics.

“Just imagine how autonomous patrol cars could transform policing and bring us into a safer future,” the veteran FSD tester wrote.

The benefits could also extend to Tesla’s existing consumer base. “They also have some incredible products in the works that I think will appeal to many ordinary Tesla drivers — not just those looking for performance or mods. Stuff that’s so good it should have come straight from the design studio next door,” Whole Mars Catalog noted.

Unplugged Performance, founded in 2013, shares not just a product vision with Tesla, but also geography. Its Hawthorne headquarters sits directly adjacent to Tesla’s design studio, and the two companies have maintained a close working relationship over the years. The aftermarket firm has long positioned itself as a “mission-aligned” partner to Tesla.

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In response to the recent calls for acquisition, Unplugged Performance acknowledged the support from the community. “Our very existence is to support the Tesla mission with @UpfitTesla and @UnpluggedTesla,” Unplugged CEO Ben Schaffer posted on X. “We love working with Tesla and are grateful for the community’s support since 2013!”

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