Electric drag racing rules are very different from traditional drag racing. The common safety rules apply but additional rules apply depending on voltage, battery type, motor number and configuration.
Electric motors produce 100% torque at zero rpm and this makes them quicker off the line compared to a piston-engined vehicle of the same power. The weight of the battery packs can impact overall performance raising 1/4 mile times. However, since Battery Technology has improved a great deal during the 1980s and 1990s and 2000's the performance gap between piston-engined & electric-engined vehicles has narrowed.
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In the drag motorcycle class, 48 volt NEDRA division,[1] current world record is 8.010 seconds over 1/8 mile, set on 16 June 2010 by Silver Giant II[2] at the NEDRA approved Veidec raceway in Malmö, Sweden. Finish line speed was 127.75 km/h (79 mph).[3] The lithium-ion polymer battery provides 48 volts and 600 amperes to each of four 24 volt motors for a combined power of around 100kW, although less than half that power reaches the rear wheel, because a large part is lost as heat in the motors. Dry ice is used to cool the motors to 5°C between races.[4] It has two gears, and the shift occurs automatically at 65 km/h (40 mph) using CO2-pneumatics. It is built and raced by Danish Team True Cousins, who holds the record for the 24 volt division at 8.677 seconds.[5]
In 2011, Team Haiyin EV Racing posted a new record for the fastest electric drag car in the USA with a time of 10.08 Seconds @ 127 mph. This is the fastest time ever posted in America with a full-body 1981 Camaro drag car. Team Haiyin EV Racing is owned by Ronald Adamowicz of Middletown, CT. The new time is held in the East Coast Electric Drag Racing Association's records for 1/4 mile drag racing.
National Electric Drag Racing Association (NEDRA)
International Electric Drag Racing Corporation (IEDRA)
East Coast Electric Drag Racing Association (ECEDRA)