Dana Industries Spicer Electrified Powertrain Will Power Ultra4 EV Race Series
Dana Industries is joining forces with integration partner Hypercraft USA to showcase the off-roading capabilities of its Spicer Electrified TM4 Sumo LD powertrain.
Electric mobility outfits are scaling and expanding at an electrifying rate. In December, we discussed the Audi A1 Honnitron, which the Ingolstadt-based brand built for Ken block within a month. Now, Ohio-based company Dana Incorporated will supply its Spicer electrified motor and inverter system for the upcoming Ultra4 electrified racing series.
Dana is joining forces with the racing organization to power the new spec EV class, starting later in July. The supplier made the announcement at the King of Hammers event that culminated earlier this month. Senior vice president of electrification for Dana, Seth Metzger, shared his thoughts on the new collaboration.
“Dana has been at the forefront of developing and manufacturing electrified vehicle powertrains for trucks and off-road vehicles, making partnering with the Ultra4 racing series an excellent showcase for our products,” said Metzger.
He further adds, “This program raises awareness of the unique capabilities of electrification and provides an opportunity to inspire the next generation of enthusiasts, racers, and engineers as electric vehicles become more attainable for everyone.”
The Spicer system gets programmable regenerative braking. For the long courses, teams can swap the batteries to extend the range of their electric off-roaders.
According to Dana Industries, its electric drivetrain is tough and durable, making it ideal for off-road applications. E-mobility company Hypercraft USA is Dana’s integration partner. The Spicer Electrified TM4 Sumo LD drivetrain churns out 335 HP of power and 885 lb-ft of peak torque. The power comes from a 250 kW electric motor.
In addition to the TM4 Sumo LD system, 11 participating teams will also get a set of four 10 kWh battery packs, which they will use to build their rock crawling vehicles. Furthermore, participants will also get a slew of Holley /AEM controllers and electrical components. Moreover, the drivetrain itself mounts onto the axles and is designed to integrate with Dana axles seamlessly.
According to Dana, the electric-only powertrain will also deliver around 40 miles of range in its most efficient spec. The TM4 Sumo LD system itself weighs 820 lbs. As a result, teams will have to build extremely lightweight rigs to get the most out of the system.
Image Source: Dana Industries