50 Golden Years After the Beginning, eCOPO Camaro Race Car Concept is Born

It was fifty years ago that the original COPO Camaro was introduced to the public, and all of us here at West Chevrolet are constantly in awe of this car's potential for power, ability, and raw handling on the track. The new eCOPO Camaro Concept demonstrates a vision for electric drag racing, as the future has arrived, in the sense that planet responsibility and sustainability is at the top of many automaker's list, including ours. Developed by GM and built in conjunction with the Hancock and Lane Racing drag team, this new concept car is based on the 2019 COPO Camaro.

This is an entirely electric-powered car, driven by an electric motor that offers up the equivalent of more than 700 horsepower, and 600 lb-ft of torque. Testing time for the quarter-mile is estimated now in the 9-second range, and this is one concept that has pushed the power and racing envelope to the fullest, while at the same time channels the spirit of full-throttled and high-octane racing. Hancock and Lane Racing not only have a track record of success within the drag racing realm, but also benefit from strong ties to Patrick McCue, the brains behind the record-setting “Shock and Awe” electric drag racing car, and the Seattle-based Bothell High School automotive technology program.

The original 1969 Camaro models relied on the most creative engineering in existence to make them successful in the very exciting and challenging event of Stock Eliminator drag racing. The same level of dedication is evident in the ground-breaking new motor within the eCOPO, which sports GM's first 800-volt battery. This electric motor is based on a pair of BorgWarner HVH 250-150 motor assemblies, each with the capability to generate 300 lb-ft of torque, while utterly replacing the gas engine we have all become so accustomed to. It is mated to a conventional, racing-ready “Turbo 400” automatic transmission that boosts the motor's torque to the same solid rear axle put to use in the production COPO Camaro racers.

With the new 800-volt battery pack, there is a much more efficient transfer of power to the all-electric motor, and it is able to support faster recharging. This is all-important when it comes to the rapidly paced elimination rounds in drag racing, when time is of the essence. This is very exciting new territory in the technological realm, as drag strip racing is one very demanding and pavement-pounding performance arena that gasoline has dominated since its early origins. Each of the four included 200-volt modules in the battery pack weigh around 175 pounds, and are mounted strategically for ultimate weight distribution.

A full On-board Battery Management System monitors all temperatures and constantly changing critical voltages within the pack. It is also tied into a comprehensive safety system that is always evaluating the electrical components in a vehicle, for safe operation and proper function. This electric motor as the same bell house mounting pattern and crankshaft flange as the widely-used LS-family engines in Chevy's crate engine lineup. This is what allows it to bolt up to nearly any single one of the GM transmission family's lineup.

The possibilities are amazing and will open up numerous ways to limit fuel use in the drag racing realm, a place in which fully electric power was scoffed at just a few years ago. The eCOPO Concept joined the 50^th anniversary 2019 COPO Camaro race car along with two dozen additional Chevy concepts and show vehicles, finishing its run at SEMA in Las Vegas on November 2^nd.