Developing a car and a company from scratch is an exciting and challenging opportunity. There are many ups and downs along the way and we intend to share details with you in this blog as they develop.

One of the “ups” presented itself at a recent series of tests we were performing on Edna, our powertrain testing delivery van. Edna features a prototype version of the powertrain we are developing for our sedan. The spacious van package allows Atieva engineers to retrofit the vehicle with Atieva powertrain components with as little modification as possible.

Under Edna’s skin are two electric motors, two sets of power electronics, two gearboxes, one battery capable of storing 87 kWh of energy and outputting over 900 horsepower, plus all of the software to make the components play nicely together. With Edna we are able to test various aspects of the powertrain system, including motor control algorithms, regenerative braking behaviors, accelerator pedal feel, and cooling strategies, to name a few.

Edna can often be seen testing on public roads, but occasionally we visit a closed course for tests that cannot be performed safely on public roads. During a recent test session we brought a couple of other cars along to see how Edna would match up in a race. With ample power on tap, Edna was able to overcome her significant weight disadvantage to take the win on repeated runs.

While the race was an opportunity for the team to have some fun, Edna has more tricks up her sleeve than just straight-line acceleration. Enjoy the quick video and stay tuned for more information over the coming months.