During its online premiere, ElectroMobility Poland presented to prototypes of its new brand: a white SUV and a red hatchback. At the same event, the company revealed to the public the name, the logo and the slogan of the Polish brand of electric cars. 

Cutting edge technologies

Both the SUV and the hatchback have been designed to meet top-notch technological standards. 
“The electric drive of the car ensures acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h within less than eight seconds. We are planning to introduce two versions of battery capacity so as to match the offered range to the demand of users. At a single charge, the car will reach the range up to 400 km. Also, it can be easily charged using power wall home chargers as well as fast charging stations.” explains Łukasz Maliczenko, Director for Product Technical Development at ElectroMobility Poland. 

Electrical architecture and vehicle steering systems of the cars reflect the current market trends. Users will be able to download a dedicated app to their smartphone or another mobile device and remotely start air-conditioning when the car is charging. Additionally, it will have the option of selecting charging time and cycle to reduce the charging cost. The vehicles will feature energy-saving LED lighting which will improve the safety and range of cars. Users will be able to communicate with their cars via the app or voice commands as well as use a high-resolution LCD touchscreen.  

The most advanced technologies will also boost the safety of car users. The designers of the Izera brand have paid special attention to advanced driver assistance systems, as a result of which the cars will be equipped with ESC (Electronic stability control system), FCW (Forward collision warning system), BSW (Blind spot detection system), TSR (Traffic-sign recognition system) and others.

​The project will be implemented by the company via a technological platform and in cooperation with a technical integrator whose role will also be to ensure consistency and coordination of works on the technical specification of parts and components as well as production engineering. Adopting such a model of working on the mass car will limit design and schedule-related risks. Also it will ensure viability of this comprehensive undertaking. From the technical point of view, the development of  Izera concept follows sector standards. 

​Family-friendly and spacious 

Izera is a family brand. This is why its design is especially spacious – a result achieved thanks to an extended wheelbase. The solution allowed to create additional space that considerably enhances the comfort, for the driver and the passengers alike. 
“Our prototypes were designed based on a detailed analysis of expectations of Polish consumers.” says Łukasz Maliczenko. “When working out the design, we considered the features desired by our countrymen. Before the premiere, we conducted industry “car clinic” studies, showing our models to sample consumers. Their reactions were very positive and actually exceeded our expectations. Izera electric cars are not meant to be luxurious goods but rather vehicles affordable by Poles.”

“This was a crucial assumption of the project. Also, we want to introduce a convenient installment payments system so that the total cost of ownership of the car is more favorable than comparable class combustion-engine cars.” announces Piotr Zaremba. 

Distinctive car design with attention to every detail

The external design of the SUV and the hatchback was developed not only by Polish engineers and designers but also the designers from Torino Design. This private, independent Italian design studio founded 15 years ago by Roberto Piatti, has been cooperating with European and global brands, including from the premium segment. 

“We spent long hours designing the appearance of the prototype. Browsing through the works of contemporary Polish artists, we looked for inspirations and reference points to underline the Polish character of our brand. At the same time, it was extremely important to us that the shape of the car evokes positive emotions. After all, this is supposed to be a family car.” says Tadeusz Jelec.
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The cars have been designed with extraordinary attention to detail – this is visible both in the powerful and light body profile of the SUV as well as in the smart and slim hatchback. Distinctive embossed wheel arches will immediately capture your attention. Their strong appearance is softened by few sharp edges and delicate transitions. The innovative form is underlined by proportions so characteristic of electric cars: short overhangs and passenger compartment located closer to the front axle of the vehicle.

A nature- and technology inspired brand

The name comes from the Izera Mountains range, a picture-perfect and pure spot in the South-Western Poland. “With their mild hills and vast areas, the mountains are perfect for family trips and have a very distinctive character. Just like our car does.” comments Paweł Tomaszek.  The Izera Mountains is a cross-border range, located in Poland and the Czech Republic. Similarly, the Izera brand crosses both geographic as well as symbolic boundaries as the project involves a team of international experts. At the same time, the name sounds friendly and is easy to pronounce and memorize not only for Poles. After all, Izera has European aspirations and will be available also outside of Poland. 

Its logo can be interpreted at least in two ways: it features a compass as it is the electric cars that are setting the trend of electromobility development in Poland. It can also be seen as a diamond surrounded by hands, symbolizing care and attention. The style of the graphic sign in a hexagon shape definitely brings to one’s mind technologies, but also e.g. honey-comb, in a clear reference to the world of nature. 

 Izera marks a return to Polish car makes. It is something which – as studies have shown – millions of Poles have been longing for.”, adds Paweł Tomaszek. 

The Evolution of Racing 
Plugging in and Kicking Gas

It was Lead Driver Todd Reid’s session when the rain really began to fall in earnest. Dealing with a foggy helmet and soggy race suit is no fun. Water had begun to puddle on track and it was now splashing up through every opening and seam in the car. Reid was piloting an Electric Vehicle Sports Racer (EVSR), which is an open cockpit, all-electric race car. “It was a challenging 12 hours, that’s for sure”, recalls Reid.

Racing in the rain always tests the skills and focus for a driver; they must be able to adjust their speed, braking, and lines to adapt to ever-changing conditions Racing in the rain for 12-hours straight is another animal all together. At South Jersey Region SCCA’s 2018 “Devil in the Dark” 12-Hour, EVSR Drivers Todd Reid and Mike Wilson were co-driving the event on a cold, late October day.

The EVSR drivers persevered, while all the other cars in their class had failed to finish, giving EVSR a Class Victory as well as finishing 29th overall in a field of 40 gas-powered vehicles. Team Project Manager and Chief Engineer Charlie Greenhaus was ecstatic.
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​2018 SJR SCCA’s “Devil in the Dark”, photo courtesy of WindShadow Photography

Charlie Greenhaus didn’t set out to make any environmental statement when he built the first Electric Vehicle Sports Racer (EVSR) in 2013. Greenhaus recalls, “A long-time customer suggested a high performance electric project. After much discussion we settled on modifying a well proven sports racing car chassis as the donor.” Greenhaus had a plentiful supply of these proven chassis as his main business had been renting and supporting a fleet of SCCA Spec Racer Renaults for road racing. The ultimate goal was to build a fleet and run a stand alone support series of all electric racing cars the average racer could afford. Using simple, off the shelf electronic components, plus some pretty damn impressive engineering, two months later, EVSR was on the dyno. The work on EVSR #001 began in November 2013.
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Pictured far to close: Chris Rallo, Andrew Smith (Technical Director), and Charlie Greeenhaus at an early dyno run in the early development of EVSR. EVSR visited the dyno no less than 11 times in January and February of 2014, working on the mapping, cooling, and learning the car’s systems. Photo shared by Entropy LLC.

By the beginning of March, Greenhaus and his team had a fully functional, fully electric race car, built, tested, and ready to race. During the initial development stage, Entropy Racing worked closely with SCCA both on a national level and with the local support of South Jersey Region SCCA to approve the car for regional competition. This involved in-depth discussion about battery technology, fire and safety and chassis changes all of which considered the safety of drivers, workers and first responders. In conjunction with all parties involved EVSR chose a battery technology that is proven to be the safest chemistry in the industry, rather than choosing the most power dense, thereby mitigating risk and danger to all.

“Sparky” (EVSR #001) took only 3 month to go from concept to competition with Fritz (#002) soon to follow. “It’s the most I’d ever used Algebra in my life.”, Greenhaus said, “My 6th grade teacher would be proud.” On March 22, 2014, Team EVSR was ready to show the world how competitive an all-electric race car could be and entered the Central Carolinas Region SCCA’s “Chasing the Dragon” hillclimb in Robbinsville, NC. The Team had high hopes for this race since Sparky’s track testing ten days earlier at Summit Point Raceway had gone so smoothly.

Todd Reid drove for Team EVSR and continues to be EVSR’s Lead Driver to this day. “We were the only all-electric car competing in a field of 48 gas-powered cars.”, said Reid. “We placed 8th overall, “ continues Reid, “OVERALL!” It was the feather in the cap EVSR was seeking

Greenhaus wanted to compete with traditional race cars with no special considerations and demonstrate his EVSRs were competitive, winning machinery. The focus wasn’t on green-technology but over the years, Greenhaus and his drivers agree it has changed their perspectives on what electric vehicles can do. “They aren’t silent, that’s for sure.”, states Mike Wilson, Team Driver, “It sounds like a small jet engine going by and it’s exciting. You can hear the road noise and tire noise above any engine noise a race car usually has. There are many advantages to a quiet car. As a competitor, we can hear other cars and use that added input to our competitive advantage and strategy. We can hear subtleties in throttle and determine the intent of other drivers in ways that are not at all possible in a loud cockpit. We can hear subtle differences in traction as pavement and grip might change during a race, allowing us more feedback to respond to a changing course more quickly and accurately. We can hear the mechanical bits of the car BEFORE they become catastrophic giving us an advantage in managing a failing part before it fails.”

Greenhaus emphasizes, “I just want the EVSR to be looked at for its merits as a viable, vital part of the racing world. We’re not a gimmick or a flash in the pan. Electric is the future. Not only from a conservation standpoint, but from a safety and noise pollution perspective as well. You can’t have events at some tracks on a Sunday. Most every track in the country has noise limits and many are very restrictive. You know what makes a lot less noise but a lot more Sunday revenue? An all-electric event.” 

​On May 24, 2014 Andy Lally drove “Fritz” (Chassis #002) alongside Reid driving “Sparky” to be the first 2 drivers in the world to compete wheel to wheel against field of gas powered cars with battery powered EVs. This occurred with the cooperation of Lime Rock Park and IMSA during IMSA Weathertech SportsCar Challenge
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​Pictured in “Fritz” (#02) is Andy Lally who raved “[EVSR] is really cool, a lot of fun, a good seat, and the set up’s great.” Lead Driver Reid follows closely behind in “Sparky” (#01)

Since 2014, EVSR has been to countless races. Twice the cars were run at the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb (2015 and 2016, placing 3rd in class in 2015); was the first electric car to record a sub-minute lap at Lime Rock Park; allowed 5-time rally race champ Tim O’Neil to set the electric record at “Climb to the Clouds” at Mt. Washington; on the pole at Lime Rock Park in a field of 44 gas-powered cars; was the first electric race car at SJR SCCA’s 12-hour “Devil in the Dark” endurance in 2017 and came back in 2018 to place 1st in Class and be the first electric car to ever win an endurance race and many more highlights over the past 6 years of racing.
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Tim O’Neil at the wheel on his way to the podium at Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in 2015. Photo shared by Entropy LLC.

Entropy Racing unveiled its EVSR Generation II model in early 2020. The new generation of EVSRs have benefited from 6 years of constant development and refinement of the first generation cars. With a totally new safety cage design, a more aerodynamic one-piece body of carbon fiber, enhanced electronics and instrumentation, and significant weight savings throughout, the next generation EVSR will be faster, more nimble, and have greater range. “Ounces Make Pounds” is a popular shop motto at Entropy. Other areas where the EVSR II is saving weight will be with a new configuration and containment system for the cells, the use of a new inverter which replaces 3 other parts and saves about 25 pounds. In 2019, Greenhaus hired Jeremy Clemens as the Chief of EV Development. What Jeremy has brought to the team is a strong history working with EVs, from rock crawling buggies to record-setting land speed motorcycles and sidecar bikes, as well as a new energy and enthusiasm for the EVSR Program. “I moved up here [Central Pennsylvania] from Alabama to join Charlie and Dale [Weist, Chief Mechanic]”, Clemens shared, “I couldn’t wait to start my dream job, directing a totally electric race program.”

Pictured is Jeremy and Dale installing a new inverter which should give EVSR’s 2nd generation cars more power and the ability to configure for different voltages and more precise tuning.

EVSR was invited to compete for a 3rd time in Subaru’s “Climb to the Clouds” at Mt. Washington in July 2020, but the event postponed its date to July 2021. For the rest of the 2020 Season, as abbreviated as it is, Greenhaus and company have specifically committed to two big events: in October EVSR will be returning to the 12-hour SJR SCCA’s “Devil in the Dark” and racing for the first time in December at the “25-Hours at Thunderhill” hosted by NASA . Clemens explains what’s at stake with these 2 endurance races, “We’ve done enduros before, but we swapped cars. For 2020, with the new models, we’ll be swapping battery packs during pit stops. Up until October we will be simulating and perfecting our pit stops here at the shop. It will take a tight-knit team who is fast, thorough, and strong”.

Since the beginning, Greenhaus’ goal was to build a fleet of EVSRs both for purchase and rentals and he believes we’re going to see that for 2021. “The excitement my customers got from driving in our ESR (Entropy Sports Racer) fleet was beyond words. Everyone had a yellow car built to the same spec and we just raced all weekend long, all season long. It built a community. I’d like to bring back that community and expand racing’s reach by injecting new technology that will certainly appeal to drivers of all skill levels, expand established programs, and re-energize the sport for a whole new generation of drivers.”
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Photo courtesy of Entropy LLC. Pictured is the EVSR Generation II racer. “Ohm” is chassis 02-001, built in 2020. 

Photo courtesy of Entropy LLC. Pictured is the “Ohm” with “Sparky”, EVSR chassis 01-001, built in 2013

​Author: Jennifer Seraphin (Marketing Coordinator - Entropy Racing and EVSR)