The EV revolution has given rise to countless new automotive brands the world over, be it Tesla, Rivian or Lucid in the United States, Rimac in Europe, or Nio in China, the list really is a long one. Vazirani Automotive, based in India, also wants a slice of that pie.
They showed off the stunning Shul electric hypercar at the Goodwood Festival of Speed back in 2018. The automaker is now following up with a new all-electric concept car, dubbed the Ekonk, which apparently has the ability to breathe. The concept carries a unique design and is extremely lightweight by EV standards. The revolutionary cooling technology addresses one of the biggest challenges that face modern EVs; Weight.
Design
The Ekonk is conceived as an open-top single-seater, reminiscent of racing cars from the 50s. The body of the concept car has been sculpted in a way that it slices through the air, with those flared fenders only adding to the visual drama in a form factor that sits so low to the ground. The rear wheels are almost completely covered, which I'm sure will help the drag coefficient of what already looks like a fairly slippery car.
The driver sits, out in the open, with a purpose-built shield designed to keep the elements at bay. You also get a roll bar that fades off in a power dome towards the tail end of the car. A slim ring of LED light accents, finely cut across the front facia, gives the car a distinctive look. At the rear, the lighting element cascades down into five light strip phases.
What makes the Ekonk so Special?
In Indian mythology, Ekonk represents the beginning of the divine light. This project now represents the very first step in the development of a new, exceptionally lightweight electric sports car. According to Vazirani, it is the lightest electric vehicle ever made. The Ekonk, which is primarily built of carbon fiber, comes in at just 1627 pounds. To put that into perspective, a Model S Plaid weighs 4941 pounds.
Here’s where things get interesting. According to Vazirani, the Ekonk lacks the heavy-duty cooling technology that batteries use in an EV. Instead, the engineers have taken inspiration from nature and have looked at how animals regulate their body temperature. The automaker hence describes the Ekonk as a "living automobile" since the batteries can “breathe.” Now that might sound far-fetched, however, the notion is certainly intriguing on paper.
The Powertrain
Details on the specs of the car remain under wraps for now, as the EV maker is only providing basic information on the technology. What we do know is that the Ekonk will feature a 732 horsepower electric motor, that has a power-to-weight ratio of about 1:1. You really have to take a listen to the way the Ekonk sounds. The car has a very distinctive note, straight out a sci-fi movie. With its extremely streamlined form, the car should be able to sprint from zero to 62 mph in just 2.54 seconds and should go on to a top speed of 192 mph, and did I mention that the car has no electronic driving aids? It should make for one hell of a drive.
To Sum it Up
What we see here is merely a prototype. We will have to wait to see if the Ekonk will go into production? Regardless, the technology from this concept will be incorporated into their upcoming Shul hypercar.
You can watch the Vazirani Ekonk in action in the video below
