2013

The “Team APEV with Monster Sports” team participated in the final race of the “Pikes Peak International Hill Climb 2013” held in America on June 30 with an electric vehicle (EV), and cruised to victory in the Electric Class.

NTN Corporation (hereafter, NTN) provided bearings and other products for the “Team APEV with Monster Sports” team race vehicle, with Chairman Yasunobu Suzuki acting as the leading supporter of the project team. Nobuhiro Tajima, Chairman/CEO of Tajima Motor Corporation Co., Ltd. and winner of the race six years in a row with gasoline-powered vehicles, participated in an EV for the first time last year and started the project.

The vehicle prepared for this year's race, the “2013 Monster Sport E-RUNNER Pikes Peak Special,” is based on last year's model, with improvements made to all aspects of the vehicle, coupled with better reliability and a lighter weight. NTN provided its main products for the vehicle, including wheel bearings (hub bearings), CVJs, and transmission bearings, contributing to increases in the vehicle's performance.

Chairman Suzuki, the leading supporter of the team, congratulated the victory, stating that “we have provided our full support for this project, as it was not only about winning, but also to give children, the elderly, and those in areas affected by the recent earthquake with vision, courage and confidence. I feel so proud as this win has clearly achieved these objectives, as well as demonstrating the superiority and environmental-friendliness of EVs.”

The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is held in the Pikes Peak Region in the state of Colorado, America, and is a competition with a long tradition and history, with this year marking the 90th time it has been organized. Participants compete against the clock over approximately 20 km of mountainous roads running from a starting altitude of 2,862 m to the finish line at 4,301 m. The race is considered one of the most grueling in the world, as the course consists of steep gradients and 156 turns weaving through mountains, in tough conditions including thin air and unpredictable weather.

Achieving victory in such a demanding race is an impressive result that helps to highlight the superiority of EVs. By advancing development of products such as EV system products into the future, NTN will contribute to technology aimed at increasing the potential of EVs even further.

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