Nissan has unveiled a new experimental vehicle that also happens to be the world’s fastest electric race car. Unveiled for the 2014 Le Mans 24 Hours, Nissan‘s ZEOD RC is able to reach speeds of more than 300km/hour (approximately 186 miles/hour) using the same lithium battery technology as the Nissan Leaf EV. The new race car will also be tested with a zero-emission on-demand option that will enable drivers to switch between electric and petrol-powered drives, and will mark the Japanese car maker’s official return to the iconic 24-hour race.

The technologies developed through the ZEOD RC program will form part of future innovations for Nissan road cars, said the company. The ZEOD RC (Zero Emission On Demand Racing Car) will make its race debut at next year's Le Mans 24 Hour.

The ultimate goal of the ZEOD RC program, in terms of racing at least, is to sort out the feasibility of a LM P1 all-electric class for future Le Mans racing. This will not only make the ZEOD RC the fastest electric racer in the world, but also help it to put chase to petrol-powered racers thanks to its lightweight architecture and advanced aerodynamics.