Only with optimally-charged batteries can the pursuit of the lap record with the Volkswagen ID. R on the 20.8km Nurburgring Nordschleife succeed. To this end, driver Romain Dumas will also have to deploy the full system performance of 671bhp on the 3km 'Dottinger Hohe' section at the end of the Nordschleife, which is nearly dead straight.

The battery system of the ID. R was developed with expertise from the production car research department at Volkswagen. The ID. R's internal battery system is connected to an air-conditioning system to provide optimal charging conditions regardless of the outside air temperature.

With an optimal battery temperature of 30 degrees Celsius, the charged battery is normally preheated before the first lap and then cooled when stationary and charging.

The high efficiency of the ID. R also means that the energy released under braking can also be used. During these moments, the two electric motors on the ID. R provide part of the braking effect and work as generators. Through this recuperation, the race car generates about 10% of the required energy itself.

When determining the recuperation strategy for the record attempt on the Nordschleife, the ID. R team will use the experience gained by Volkswagen Motorsport at the hill climb on Pikes Peak, which is approximately the same distance.

According to Marc-Christian Bertram, Head of Electrics and Electronics at Volkswagen Motorsport, the highest load on the batteries during the Pikes Peak record attempt came during the sections with a steep incline. "On the Nordschleife, it is the long straights, on which you give it full power for a period of up to almost a full minute. The battery must not overheat on these parts of the track," says Bertram.