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Early exit in baja race for Endurance

Event provided valuable information for EV startup

LORDSTOWN — Lordstown Motors Corp. gained valuable insight into the performance of its battery-powered pickup despite not finishing the grueling SCORE San Felipe 250 baja race, according to the company.

The truck, an off-road version of the startup’s Endurance, made it less than 40 miles of the 280-mile race Saturday. On Monday, company CEO Steve Burns said that’s because navigating the desert terrain required more power than anticipated.

At the first charging stop after stage 1, data showed energy consumption was four times greater than the normal level, which the company set at normal road conditions at 200-feet elevation. Going into the race, Lordstown Motors estimated power usage would be three times more, according to company.

The second leg contained mountainous terrain unsuitable for locating a fast-battery charger.

“So we decided (it was) best not to take that leg and possible block the train for somebody else, so we charged and we went out and continued to test after we dropped out of the race,” Burns said in a video remarks Monday. “All that testing before the race, during the race, after the race, all the data makes its way to every Endurance.”

The truck, according to the company, finished the stage intact and operationally sound.

A second electric vehicle that competed in the Baja E Class also did not finish the race.

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