Conquering the extreme roads of the rainy season in an electric vehicle!

The white machine with the number 127 silently speeds through the jungle. This machine is driven by Chen Ho-Huang, Taiwan's representative off-road driver. Though its shape may be unfamiliar, did you know it has a deep connection to your daily life?

That's because this vehicle is a pure EV manufactured and sold by an EV development company under Hon Hai, a Taiwanese firm that produces iPhone components. The brand is FOXTRON, and the model name is LUXGEN n7 / MODEL C. It is not a full-fledged four-wheel drive but rather positioned as a crossover SUV.

‘Why compete in a race with an EV that is difficult to charge in mountainous areas, jungles, or the countryside?’ Team i-TAIWAN's Chen answers this question as follows:

‘I believe that EVs are the future of cars. I could even say that the future of my favourite four-wheel-drive vehicles lies in EVs. Well, this car is a rear-wheel-drive 2WD, but I want to experiment and prove what can be done with EVs and how far they can go in this harsh cross-country rally world. For the sustainable future of motorsports.’

However, while asphalt roads may be manageable, the AXCR features steep slopes, uneven terrain, potholes, muddy sections, river crossings, and other challenging conditions that pose significant challenges for electric vehicles.

As a result, Chen made significant modifications to the LUXGEN n7. The most critical issue was system cooling. Extreme off-road driving places significant strain on the motor and battery. This challenge was addressed through collaboration with FOXTRON engineers. Additionally, the battery was moved from the front to the rear for safety reasons. In rallies, unexpected situations can arise, such as a misguided vehicle coming head-on. As a result, the front-to-rear weight distribution of the LUXGEN n7 became 800 kg at the front and 1,200 kg at the rear. With rear-wheel drive, sufficient traction is achieved, similar to an off-road buggy. The wheels were downsized from 18 to 16 inches, with sufficient air volume to allow driving even with deflated tyres on extremely rough terrain.

In fact, this vehicle performs remarkably well on AXCR's rough terrain, despite being a 2WD. It performs well alongside the two Hilux vehicles from the same team.

"My wish is simple. I want the young people who will shape Taiwan's future to see this challenge. I want them to experience the potential of EVs firsthand and nurture the talent needed to take the next step. Rankings are not that important. Another goal is to foster heart-to-heart communication and a spirit of mutual support. No matter how difficult the situation, working together to achieve a goal creates bonds between people. We can learn the importance of working together to achieve something. We want to continue to uphold the spirit of AXCR, which has been passed down by privateers since ancient times."

Chen's vision is consistent - Challenge over ranking and education of talent. The evidence of this is, he does not require his co-driver to have rally experience. This year, he welcomed the young famous Taiwanese YouTuber Liu Hong-Ying as his co-driver, and the two Hiluxes are carrying his daughter and three firefighters. The reason is to impart the driving skills necessary to reliably deliver fire trucks and four-wheel-drive vehicles to disaster sites in emergencies. In Taiwan, where such practical programmes are lacking, this is of great importance.

For Chen, cross-country rallying is akin to rescue operations. It requires the skills to arrive at the scene reliably and rescue those in distress, the injured, and damaged vehicles.

The future that the No. 135 Hilux aims for.

The brown Hilux blends seamlessly into Thailand's red soil. Do you know that the No. 135 Hilux, adorned with large TRD and Ultra logos, is currently attracting attention at the forefront of the racing scene? The secret lies in its body colour.

Upon closer inspection, you can see a pattern resembling carbon fibre. In fact, this is a special carbon made from plants. The material's colour is intentionally left unpainted to highlight its natural hue.

CFRP (Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic) is lighter and stronger than steel, and is widely used in various products such as automobiles and aircraft. Especially in today's world where global warming is a major concern, lightweight design for ‘improved fuel efficiency’ and ‘CO2 reduction’ has become an indispensable keyword even in the competitive world.

However, this plant-derived carbon emits less than 85% of the CO2 emissions of carbon fibre as a raw material. It is attracting attention as a lightweight, strong, and sustainable material.

‘We have enjoyed country roads in Thailand and other parts of East Asia, but what if we could give back to the environment through our racing activities?’

Masanao Nitta, who speaks these words, is the CEO and composite specialist of Tras, a carbon composite moulding manufacturer. He has supplied carbon composite products to Lexus and Suzuki's racing projects. With 40 years of experience working with carbon, he has actually crafted all the exterior panels covering this vehicle himself.

"Having worked directly with motorcycle and automobile manufacturers in the motorsports field for many years, I understand this sense of crisis well. If things continue as they are, we will no longer be able to communicate the significance of continuing racing. Companies will no longer be able to convince their shareholders and with that racing itself will disappear. The motorcycle world is particularly sensitive to this sense of crisis. Biofuels, bio-oils, and plant-based carbon. Cars will soon start using this carbon in production vehicles, as BMW is already doing. Therefore, we must also adapt motorsports on dirt tracks. No, precisely because it is a competition held in nature, we must take the lead in promoting environmentally friendly practices."

In his third year of the AXCR, this seasoned competitor with a 9th-place finish in the overall standings becomes passionate when discussing carbon.

‘After all, the flax used in this carbon is cultivated on vast lands, and it's possible to imagine a future where rally cars race through those plantations. If there's an EV class, why not have a bio class that runs on bio-based materials and biofuels? We shouldn't just enjoy rallying; we should all think about how to make this rally we love sustainable. I think AXCR is at that stage now.’

Indeed. Motorsports has always embraced cutting-edge technology to drive its evolution. It has also demonstrated a proactive stance toward addressing environmental issues through regulation changes and other measures. Because the times demanded it and because it was necessary for the survival of motorsports.

EVs, bio-materials, and biofuels are not distant futures. Eventually, an era will come where simply being fast won't attract anyone's attention. An era where sponsors will no longer support us is inevitable.

What can we do now? It is time for us all to seriously consider not only pushing ourselves to the limit in the current SS but also the future direction of the road section leading to a sustainable future.

(Photo: Manabu Takahashi, Text: Dai Kawamura)