Developed through the Ansys-Volkswagen partnership
Aerodynamic calculations and battery performance optimization through simulation solutions

ANSYS announced that Volkswagen's first all-electric racing car, the ID R Pikes Peak, developed under its technical collaboration, successfully broke not only the electric vehicle category record but also the overall world record at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb held on the 24th.

The ID R Pikes Peak was completed in 7 minutes 57.148 seconds, almost 16 seconds faster than the previous best time of 8 minutes 13.878 seconds set by the Peugeot 208 T16 in 2013. The official record will be announced on Monday the 25th (local time).

The ID R Pikes Peak, which attempted to break the record at the 96th Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, boasts a powerful 680 horsepower. The race was led by racer Romain Dumas.

With the goal of breaking the record, Volkswagen leveraged ANSYS' Pervasive Engineering Simulation solution to develop a digital prototype of its battery system and optimize its electric propulsion system.
Especially ID A key element in the development of the R Pikes Peak was aerodynamic analysis and technology to cope with the extreme conditions encountered at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, the event itself.

The track is 19.99 kilometers long, features 156 turns, and starts at 2,862 meters above sea level, with the finish line at 4,302 meters. This high altitude reduces air density by approximately 35 percent, creating aerodynamic conditions different from those of a flat race track.

In addition to real-time data analysis and immediate results, ANSYS solutions were used to simulate driving conditions, such as air density, that cannot be reproduced in ordinary wind tunnels.

Leveraging ANSYS solutions, Volkswagen was able to calculate the ideal balance of cooling airflow and aerodynamic losses and determine the optimal battery cooling strategy to ensure the vehicle achieves peak performance.

“Perfect energy management was crucial for breaking the race record at Pikes Peak,” said François-Xavier Demaison, Technical Director at Volkswagen Cars and head of the ID R Pikes Peak project. “The drive at Pikes Peak was a success and once again confirmed the accuracy and importance of simulation.”

“ANSYS’ multiphysics solutions and pervasive engineering simulation are driving advancements in electrification and next-generation vehicles,” said Shane Emswiler, vice president and general manager at ANSYS. “As Volkswagen is working on the Pikes Peak project, we will continue to support our customers with the best solutions as they tackle new challenges.”