2012 Team APEV with Monster Sport Pikes Peak EV Challenge

The Return of Monster Tajima with an Electrifying New Challenge

After only five weeks from full containment of one of the largest wildfires in the history of Colorado, Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima is returning to his second home - Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs. Tajima's Monster Sport is bringing a newly-designed electric hill climb car called the 2012 E-Runner Pikes Peak Special. It was developed by Tajima's elite team of engineers specifically for the 90th running of Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Tajima is teaming up with the Association for the Promotion of Electric Vehicles (APEV) and its chairman, Souichiro Fukutake. "Fukutake-san has always encouraged our project, even when it was only an idea in my head."

Although Tajima admits he thought the race would be cancelled this year, he says he is ready. His new car looks nothing less than revolutionary. Its drive system is powered purely by electricity, and its sleek, slender shape looks purposeful. The cockpit looks like something out of a fighter jet. Tajima explains his decision to go with the new car. "I will be entering this year’s Pikes Peak International Hill Climb with my new electric race car. The reason I made this change is that I would like to help save our beautiful planet earth for our children."

The primary goal of APEV is to reduce CO2 emissions and other harmful greenhouse gases by promoting cleaner electric vehicles (EV) all over the world. Tajima's new car fits perfectly into APEV's mission, as the climb to the summit of the 14,110 foot (4,300m) mountain is the most famous in the world. Cars and motorcycles race up the course at terrifying speeds, sometimes pointed straight at the sky with little margin for error. Tajima is here to make a point: "My intention here is to break my own record with this EV hill climb car and show the world that EVs can be radical and very, very fast."

Tajima concludes, "I am very happy to be back here. Let's all enjoy the race!"

Soichiro Fukutake, Chairman of APEV, decided to take on the challenge of battling global warming and preserving the environment by forming a Pikes Peak EV Challenge Committee. They will be facing arguably the toughest hill climb in the world as "Team APEV with Monster Sport." 

Besides attempting to be the fastest one up to the summit of Pikes Peak, the primary goal of "Team APEV with Monster Sport" is to inspire the general public to use clean energy. APEV is excited about this new opportunity to educate the general public about using clean energy and hopes "Team APEV with Monster Sport" is successful in their mission at Pikes Peak, Colorado, USA.