Genovation Built a Very Fast C7 Without an Engine

Breaking Through Barriers

Other than total range, the biggest knock on all-electric vehicles is that they're quick, but have issues gathering speed once they get to a certain point. So typically, EVs have much lower top speeds than their internal-combustion-powered counterparts. Genovation, makers of all-electric C7 Corvettes, have managed to break through this barrier and recently set an impressive new record.

Photos: Genovation  

Breaking Your Own Record

Two years ago, the Genovation GXE reset the record books for all-electric vehicles by recording a top speed of 209 miles per hour. And since no one else has been able to top that mark, the company went out and did it themselves at Bohmer Proving Grounds located in Merritt Island, Florida, by hitting a new high of 210.2 mph.

Photos: Genovation

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Power on Tap

That impressive run helps the GXE retain its record as the world's fastest street-legal electric vehicle. And as you might imagine, hitting those speeds on battery power takes, well, a lot of power. The GXE has plenty on tap, with 800 hp and 718 lb-ft of torque coming from a pair of electric motors.

Photos: Genovation

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Row Your Own

A grand total of five different battery packs feed those hungry motors. And while an 8-speed automatic transmission is available, those who prefer to row their own will undoubtedly love the fact that the GXE can also be fitted with GM's 7-speed manual transmission.

Photos: Genovation 

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Singular Focus

Genovation has been hard at work on their EV Corvette for several years now, and their goal from the very beginning was to break speed records. Still, this sort of thing is easier said than done. There are many technical hurdles to overcome that major manufacturers like Tesla haven't even been able to clear.

Photos: Genovation 

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It's Electric

Originally, the team was gifted a bare chassis from Dana as a basis for their project. To that, they added a pair of AMRacing motors and power inverters from Rinehart Motion Systems. Lithos Energy provided the battery pack, which supplies power at a rate of 61-kW-hr.

Photos: Genovation 

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Daunting Task

Unlike most electric vehicles, the cylindrical-style batteries are designed to prioritize power delivery over energy density for max performance. Thus, range is pretty sub par for the segment - only 175 miles. And that's if you can keep your foot off the go pedal, a daunting task when you have a car that can do 0-60 in less than 3-seconds.

Photos: Genovation 

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No Traction

Working in the GXE's favor is the fact that it's much lighter than the competition. But that also causes problems with traction. According to Genovation, the GXE experiences lots of wheelspin through the first three gears, even with a relatively low launch rpm of 2500 and sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires.

Photos: Genovation

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Let Down?

As impressive as the GXE is, Genovation still has to be somewhat disappointed with their 210 mph run. That's because when the car officially debuted in 2018, the company said that it was capable of 220 mph. But Genovation hasn't given up on that goal just yet, and they believe that the car has plenty of untapped potential.

Photos: Genovation 

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Tough Competition

Meanwhile, the $750,000 all-world Corvette EV is facing tougher competition on the horizon. With the Porsche Taycan, revised Tesla Model S, and 2,000 hp Lotus Evija joining the fray (among others), Genovation will have its hands full staying ahead. But this great EV arms race will only result in good things for us consumers, that much you can bet on.

Photos: Genovation

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