Since 1916, automakers have been subjecting their new vehicles to arduous slopes and punishing high-altitude conditions in the annual Pikes Peak Hill Climb race. The “Race to the Clouds” climbs 4,720 feet in a little over 12 miles.

Several EVs, which of course don’t have the problems with thinner air that fossil fuel racers do, have distinguished themselves at Pikes Peak. In 2013, Lightning Motorcycles made history when its electric motorcycle beat all gas-powered comers to become the fastest two-wheeled vehicle to make it to the top. In 2015, EVs took both first and second places.

Last October, Volkswagen announced that it was building an electric racecar called the I.D. R Pikes Peak (the name highlights VW’s upcoming I.D. family of EVs) that it hoped would set a new course record. And the car, driven by Romain Dumas, did just that, tearing up the hill at over 90 mph in just under eight minutes.

With an official time of 7:57.148, VW’s racer beat the previous EV record of 8:57.118 set in 2016, as well as the course record of 8:13.878 set in 2013.

Source: The Verge