• Latest
  • Trending
Paddon: I initially laughed at the idea of an electric rally car

Paddon: I initially laughed at the idea of an electric rally car

February 6, 2021
Williams reveal retro inspired livery

Williams reveal retro inspired livery

March 6, 2021
Jordan Michels to race in TCR NZ

Jordan Michels to race in TCR NZ

March 5, 2021
Le Mans 24 Hour postponed for second successive year

Le Mans 24 Hour postponed for second successive year

March 5, 2021
Ransley confirmed for 2021 TCR New Zealand gig

Ransley confirmed for 2021 TCR New Zealand gig

March 5, 2021
McLaughlin puts IndyCar career ahead of Bathurst co-drive role

McLaughlin puts IndyCar career ahead of Bathurst co-drive role

March 5, 2021
Kiwi-based Rodin Cars expands operations, confirms UK base

Kiwi-based Rodin Cars expands operations, confirms UK base

March 5, 2021
Kaleb Ngatoa to make S5000 debut

Kaleb Ngatoa to make S5000 debut

March 5, 2021
Haas go bold with 2021 F1 livery

Haas go bold with 2021 F1 livery

March 4, 2021
NIERDC confirm new dates for 2021 season, Pukekohe now season-opener

NIERDC confirm new dates for 2021 season, Pukekohe now season-opener

March 4, 2021
Erebus Motorsport and Team18 set to run Chevrolet Camaros in 2022

Erebus Motorsport and Team18 set to run Chevrolet Camaros in 2022

March 4, 2021
M-Developments planning two TCR cars for TCR NZ champs at Highlands

M-Developments planning two TCR cars for TCR NZ champs at Highlands

March 4, 2021
Saturday, March 6, 2021
VelocityNews
Classifieds
Subscribe
No Result
View All Result
VelocityNews
No Result
View All Result

Paddon: I initially laughed at the idea of an electric rally car

by Zane Shackleton
February 6, 2021
in International, New Zealand, News, Rally, WRC
0

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Williams reveal retro inspired livery

Jordan Michels to race in TCR NZ

Hayden Paddon says he initially ridiculed the idea of building a fully electric rally car when he was pitched the idea in 2017.

Then, four years later, Paddon and Hyundai New Zealand revealed their electric-driven Kona – one of the first electric rally cars in the world. Paddon claims the car can complete full-length rally stages and produce over 400kW from its powertrain.

The car took over 18 months of development and in-house manufacturing before finally hitting the gravel for the first time.

Before then, Paddon spent a year mulling over the idea with commercial partners to gauge interest in building such a unique rally car.

Speaking on the latest episode of Catching up with the Kiwis, Paddon told host Greg Rust that he had originally laughed at the idea. But the growth of alternative energy cars globally drove him to reconsider the pitch.

“The idea first got pitched to me back in 2017 on a phone call just as a random idea, which I laughed at,” Paddon said. “I am a true petrolhead, like everyone else involved in the sport.

“But something about the idea really stuck with me.

“And once I started meeting with potential commercial partners over the next 12 months, I could see how people’s ears perked up [at the idea]. All of a sudden, it was a completely different discussion.

“Then through 2018 we could see Formula E was developing very quickly; we were starting to see a lot more alternative energy cars come onto the car market, and it was all happening quicker than anyone expected.”

At the same time the idea was first raised to Paddon, the World Rally Championship had successfully launched its latest generation of car.

The 2017-spec challengers had an increase in power output and a decrease in overall car weight.

Paddon says the new cars were a significant milestone for the sport, but the WRC then failed to look ahead into the future of the automotive industry.

“We could also see that the WRC was almost resting out its laurels in that they had had a great 2017/18 [season] with the new generation cars,” he said.

“But they were sitting there patting each other on the back and not thinking about the next step. Because of that, I think now [the WRC] are almost starting to lose that opportunity.

“Then of course, once things were starting to go a little bit haywire with us over in the WRC, I started thinking ‘I have got so much more to give. I am not going down like that.’

“And it really lit the fire inside me that said ‘we have got to do something with a Kiwi team, do it our way and go back and achieve our goals.”

Image: Graeme Murray

Paddon believes the effort he and his team have put in over the last few years to develop a fully electric car has given them a leg-up on the world stage.

“You look at it in 5-10 years and how is it going to look, and it will whether you like or not involve EV, Hybrid or Hydrogen. So, there was an opportunity for us to get on the bandwagon early and try and create ourselves a way that people will remember us by.

“I guess you can say we have put our flag in the sand and have said ‘we are here and we mean business, and we are trying to lead the way.”

Main Image: Graeme Murray

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Williams reveal retro inspired livery

Jordan Michels to race in TCR NZ

Le Mans 24 Hour postponed for second successive year

Ransley confirmed for 2021 TCR New Zealand gig

McLaughlin puts IndyCar career ahead of Bathurst co-drive role

Kiwi-based Rodin Cars expands operations, confirms UK base

Bringing you the latest motorsport news in New Zealand and around the world

Managing editor and publisher:
Mark Petch mark@velocitynews.co.nz

Motorsport Editor:
Matthew Hansen matt@velocitynews.co.nz

Motorsport Editor:
Alex Schultz alex@velocitynews.co.nz

Motor Racing Editor:
Zane Shackleton zane@velocitynews.co.nz

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2020 VelocityNews - Independent New Zealand and International Motorsport news.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • International
      • Formula 1
      • Formula 2
      • Formula 3
      • Formula E
      • Esports
      • Super GT
      • Super Formula
      • TCR
      • WEC
      • GT
      • Porsche Carrera Cup
      • BTCC
      • DTM
      • IMSA
      • IndyCar
      • NASCAR
      • WRC
      • MotoGP
      • Motorcycle Racing
      • Classic
    • New Zealand
      • Toyota Race Series
      • Toyota 86
      • Rally
      • Speedway
      • Drifting
      • Formula Ford
      • Formula First
      • TCR NZ
      • TransTasman V8 Series
      • V8 Utes
      • GTRNZ
      • Central Muscle Cars
      • Pirelli Porsche
      • Mazda Racing Series
      • NIERDC
      • SIERDC
      • SsangYong Utes
      • Kartsport
      • NZ General
    • Australia
      • Supercars
      • Super2
      • Australian V8 Touring Car Series
      • S5000
      • Australian GT
      • TCR AU
    • General
  • Features
    • Features
    • Opinion
    • Profile
    • Race Cars
  • Calendar
  • Results
  • Velocity TV
  • Performance Cars
  • Classifieds
    • Classifieds
    • Post Classified
    • Manage your listings
  • Jobs
    • Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Job Dashboard

© 2020 VelocityNews - Independent New Zealand and International Motorsport news.