SRI partnered with SRD and EV West to construct the EV1 electric race car. SRI presented SRD with a Brenthel Industries chassis and suspension system to modify the EV1 from. SRD the chassis to accommodate batteries and the electronic monitoring systems as well as the standard components of a Class 1 vehicle. EV West was responsible for the electrical engineering of the EV.
"SRI’s strategy is to build and market electric powered vehicles to provide jobs for the graduates that complete the year-long rehabilitation program that SRI is creating. Racing clean-tech vehicles is an attention gainer and provides advertising opportunities for manufactures of Off-Road and High-Tech products that want to partner with team SRI to help others learn to help themselves.” – Jeff Smith