Toyota Smashes Its Own Electric Car ‘Ring Record With TMG P002 Prototype

Toyota's TMG EV P002 prototype has set a new lap record for an electric vehicle around Germany’s infamous Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit.

Hammering through a 7:22.329 lap, the EV P002 managed a run more than 25 seconds quicker than the previous 7:47.794 record - also set by Toyota, in August 2011.

As with the previous record run, driving duties were the charge of German driver and renowned Nürburgring specialist Jochen Krumbach.

Toyota’s record boast differs from Audi’s recent 8:09.099 lap set by the R8 e-tron electric supercar in that the e-tron will soon reach production, whereas the TMG EV P002 exists only as a technological showcase.

The TMG EV P002 is an evolution of the previous TMG EV P001 Nürburgring record-setting car, with outputs increased to 350kW and 900Nm (up 70kW/100Nm) from its pure-electric drivetrain, along with a new battery-to-battery charging system.

This quick charge system enables the TMG EV P002 to rapidly charge its lithium-ceramic battery pack from a 42kWh lithium-ion parent battery, currently packaged within a Hiace van.  

Developed in partnership with Schneider Electric GmbH, this mobile charge system has been developed to overcome lengthy mains charging, which has formed a stumbling block to date for electric motorsport.

"Electric race cars need to be charged and it is a challenge to have the right infrastructure at race tracks, particularly temporary street circuits”, GM of Toyota’s Electrics and Electronics division Ludwig Zeller said.

Toyota is yet to outline any commercial plans for the system, but the technology nonetheless represents a significant step forward for electric motorsport.

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