Nissan reveals Le Mans prototype

Standing for Zero Emission On Demand Racing Car, what the Japanese company are claiming as the world's fastest electric car is a development of the 'DeltaWing' racer that caused a lot of comment at last year's Le Mans 24 Hour. The ZEOD RC is set to race at the 2014 Le Mans event.

Nissan will trial variants of new electric drive train technologies as part of its intended future return to LM P1 competition to challenge for overall victory at the world's most prestigious endurance race.

Nissan's invitation from the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) to compete in the 2014 Le Mans 24 Hours was announced by Nissan Chairman and CEO, Carlos Ghosn in Japan in February. The ZEOD RC will compete under the ACO's 'Garage 56' entry - a spot on the grid for vehicles that showcase new and innovative technology . The DeltaWing occupied that garage last year.

Run as a Nissan / Nismo full factory international program with input from Japan, Europe and the US, the Nissan ZEOD RC design team is headed by Ben Bowlby, who has been newly-appointed as Nissan's Director of Motorsport Innovation and previously worked on the Nissan DeltaWing program in 2012.

While current battery technology does not provide the energy storage capacity to race a solely electric Le Mans prototype, Nissan ZEOD RC designer Ben Bowlby believes the development of the car will be an important step in the "electrification" of the racecars of the future.

Nissan will partner with Michelin to produce tyres for the new prototype, continuing the association established with the DeltaWing program. The Nissan ZEOD RC will make its testing debut later in the Northern Hemisphere summer.