Electric vehicles dominate the 2024 Pikes Peak Hill Climb, previewing the next generation of motorsport

• The annual Pikes Peak Run takes the tram to the top of the 14,115-foot peak
• Ford’s F-150 Lightning SuperTruck sets the pace this year
• Hyundai and Rivian also raced the Ioniq 5 and R1 versions respectively

Electric vehicles had a strong showing at the 2024 Pikes Peak International Hill Climbshows the potential of electric powertrains in motorsport.

This isn’t the first time electric vehicles have competed at Pikes Peak, an annual competition in which vehicles race against time on a 12.5-mile route to the 14,115 summit of that Colorado mountain. But they dominated this year, with French rider Romain Dumas setting the fastest time of 8:53.533 in the wild race Supercar Ford F-150 Lightning.

The SuperTruck is a unique show vehicle equipped with a three-motor powertrain that, for Pikes Peak, has been tuned to produce 1,600 horsepower. The truck is also equipped with an aerodynamics package that produces a claimed 6,000 pounds of downforce at 150 mph, effectively erasing any similarities between the SuperTruck and the original Lightning.

2025 Rivian R1T Quad-Motor at Pikes Peak

Extensive aerodynamic aids are needed at Pikes Peak because thinner air at altitude reduces the effectiveness of fairings, splitters, diffusers and other components that generate downforce, propulsion vehicle to the track surface to create better grip. Thinner air also affects oxygen-breathing internal combustion engines, but not electric motors.

Dumas also holds the overall Pikes Peak record of 7:57.148, which he set in 2018 at the Volkswagen ID.R—another one-time EV demonstrator. Dumas also drove the same Ford SuperVan 4.2 at Pikes Peak in 2023, setting a time of 8:47.682. Ford said it used lessons from the SuperVan to develop the SuperTruck.

Overall victory isn’t the only goal for Pikes Peak competitors. Gardner Nichols completed the race in 10:53.883 in the 2025 Rivian R1T, beating the time he set last year in the Rivian by 30 seconds and setting the record for fastest production truck. For the 2025 model year, both R1T and its R1S SUV brothers and sisters have been refurbished into Enhanced efficiency and comfort.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 N TA technical specifications at the 2024 Pikes Peak international hill climb race

Meanwhile, Hyundai has deployed a whole warehouse 2025 Ioniq 5 N and two modified TA (Time Attack Spec) versions. The stock Ioniq 5 N was driven by Pikes Peak rookie Ron Zaras, who clocked a time of 10:49.267 and set a record for a production SUV, which is how the Ioniq 5 N was classified for the purposes of the this event.

The TA Spec cars feature a large rear wing, race-specific shock absorbers, brakes and tires, as well as software changes to increase power. Rally driver Dani Sordo recorded a time of 9:30.852 in a car, winning the exhibition class. Veteran driver Randy Pobst set a time of 9:55.551 in the other car.

Electric vehicles also race in specialized series such as Formula E And Pole E. But the Pikes Peak hill climb shows that Electric vehicles can also race alongside internal combustion engines—and win.