The Green4U Panoz Racing GT-EV

Don Panoz, chairman and co-founder of Green4U Technologies returned to Le Mans to unveil a new all-electric race car concept. Christened the Green4U Panoz Racing GT-EV, it is being developed at the company’s design and engineering hub in Braselton, Georgia. The goal is to deliver a performance and range similar to internal combustion engine and hybrid powertrain race cars and be able to compete in long-distance endurance races.

Panoz considers the Green4U Panoz Racing GT-EV to be the ‘Holy Grail’ of racing, and is an avid believer in “roots in racing” and pioneering and proving innovative technologies through motorsport.

“We’re debuting it here at Le Mans because of this iconic race’s history where the brightest and most ambitious and tenacious competitors always push the motorsports and automotive boundaries,” said Panoz. “We pushed the boundaries when we brought Sparky (the 1998 Panoz Q9 GTR-1 Hybrid) and the DeltaWing to Le Mans, and we’ll do the same with the all-electric GT-EV.”

“Our goal is to run our car in a race, perhaps even applying for a future Garage 56 slot, and apply what we learn to our Green4U EV vehicle designs,” said Jack Perkowski, Green4U Technologies’ CEO and co-founder, “The development of an all-electric race car that can compete with the best internal combustion engine race cars places Green4U at the forefront of electric vehicle technology.”

The Green4U Panoz Racing GT-EV team, led by Brian Willis, vice president of engineering and design, outlined the race car͛s initial design and performance targets:

• 400 to 450 kW total power
• 175 to 180 mph top speed
• Removable battery pack design enabling battery exchanges during pit stops
• 90- to 110-mile range in race conditions
• All-wheel drive with two electric motors (One driving the front wheels and the second powering the rear wheels)
• 2,200 to 2,750 lbs. total mass with battery pack
• Roughly 192 x 72 x 48 inches (L x W x H)
• A unique carbon fibre chassis design with an offset closed cockpit
• Active aerodynamics to reduce drag on straightaways and increase range and performance
• Regenerative braking technology on all wheels

“Our team is focused on achieving the speed and range of current road racing sports cars,” said Willis. Key is the ability to go as far as petrol and hybrid race cars on the power contained in a single battery pack, then exchange the battery in about the time that it takes them to refill their tanks.

Green4U Technologies also revealed renderings of its proposed street-legal sports car based on the GT-EV. Conceptualised by renowned car designer Peter Stevens, who has contributed to the design of many vehicles such as the Panoz Esperante GTR-1, the design features a unique two-passenger, jet fighter-style passenger compartment where the passenger sits behind the driver.

Founded in late 2016, Green4U Technologies acquired Braselton-based DeltaWing Technology Group this year to serve as the foundation for the company͛s EV operations. Don Panoz originally created the DeltaWing Technology Group to consolidate his organisation͛s transportation, aerospace, aviation, defense industries, and motorsport design, engineering and manufacturing expertise. In addition, Green4U acquired Panoz and Team Panoz Racing. As a result of the acquisitions, Green4U Technologies realises immediate motorsport development, engineering and manufacturing expertise and capabilities with an ambition to produce a number of electric vehicles specifically aimed at the fleet market.