The breaking of the electric land speed record

[DainBramaged]

The Drayson Racing Technologies Lola B12/69 EV electric race car hit a top speed of 204.2 mph at a racetrack at RAF Elvington in Yorkshire, England, smashing the previous record of 175 mph set by Battery Box General Electric in 1974. Fittingly, Lord Paul Drayson was behind the wheel.

In order to qualify for the attempt at the electric land speed record, the vehicle had to weigh less than 2,204 pounds (1,000 kg) without the driver.

“What it shows to people is just what the future potential of electric cars is,” Lord Drayson told the BBC. “Obviously, this is a very special racing car, but by setting this new world record here in Britain we say two things. One, it is a pointer to the future -- the technology that we developed for this car will filter down to the cars we use everyday. And secondly, it's a message about how here in the UK we're a world leader with this technology. We've led motorsport engineering, now we're also leading with electric motorsport engineering.”

Now Drayson will turn his focus toward the FIA Formula E World Championship, which starts in September 2014. Eight races will make up the first season, including events in London, Rome, Miami, Beijing and Rio de Janeiro.

The Lola B12 uses a 30-kWh lithium-ion battery to deliver 850 hp with a single-ratio transmission



Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20130626/carnews/130629886#ixzz2Xcwcja8n

[90-percent]

1. The history of chasing the land speed record is remarkable

Mickey Thompson, Donald Campbell, Summers Brothers, Craig Breedlove, Art and Walt Arfons and the stunning efforts of Andy Green and Richard Nobel breaking the sound barrier on land.

Absolutely remarkable people. Mickey Thompson was perhaps the greatest hot rodder that ever lived! He was murdered in the late 80's.

-90% Jimmy

[DainBramaged]

2. I remember them all well, built their models when I was a kid in the 50's/60's

And met Mickey Thompson many times when I was drag racing in the 70's.

[Enthusiast]

3. What about the Buckeye Bullet?

http://coolmaterial.com/roundup/electric-car-breaks-battery-powered-land-speed-record/

Last week, Ohio State University did the impossible. They made an electric car do something awesome. The Ohio Buckeye Bullet 2.5 travels at the breakneck speed of 307 miles per hour. That’s right – this giant, didlotic, electric powered rocket ship tore up the Bonneville Salt Flats at a top speed that’s 53mph higher than the Bugatti Veyron.

[DainBramaged]

4. Has to be a two-way run within an hour to break the record at Bonneville

The one posted here is official

[Spitfire of ATJ]

5. Imagine the speed possible if this were scaled up...

No battery weight.