Electric drag racing

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. The National Electric Drag Racing Association (NEDRA) oversees the majority of electric drag racing events in North America.

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. Since Battery Technology has improved a great deal during the 1980s to present the performance gap between piston-engined & electric-motor vehicles has narrowed. The weight of the battery packs can impact overall performance raising 1/4 mile times.

Electric Drag Racing World Records


Motorcycles, 1/8 mile

In the drag motorcycle class, 48 volt NEDRA division,[1] current world record is 7.800 seconds over 1/8 mile, set on 16 June 2010 by Silver Giant II[2][3] at Mosten, Denmark. Finish line speed was 80.20 mph (129 km/h).[4] 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.[5] 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.[2]

Motorcycles, 1/4 mile

The current quickest electric vehicle in the world as of May 4th, 2012 is the "Rocket Bike", a motorcycle owned by Shawn Lawless and piloted by Larry "Spiderman" McBride with a time of 6.940 seconds ET in the quarter mile at 201.37 MPH for a new NEDRA World Record. Besides being the first rider to break 200 MPH in the quarter mile Mr. McBride was also the first to break into the 6 seconds bracket with an electric vehicle. Larry "Spiderman" McBride is also the first to break into the 5 second bracket on a fuel powered motorcycle. This bike currently holds the NEDRA World Record in class DC3/MC in the National Electric Drag Racing Association.[2]

Dragsters, 1/4 mile

The current record for an electric rail dragster is the "Current Eliminator" owned and driven by Dennis Berube of Phoenix, Arizona. It current holds the NEDRA World Record in the DR/A3 class at 7.956 seconds ET in the quarter mile at 159.85 MPH. This record was set at Southwestern International Raceway in Tucson Arizona on December 30th, 2007.[2]

Cars, 1/4 mile

The current quickest electric doorslammer car is the "Black Current III" owned by Sam and Olly Young of England. It currently holds the NEDRA World Record in the XS/A2 class at 9.64 seconds ET at 133.21 MPH. The record was set at Santa Pod Raceway in Northamptonshire, England on July 23rd, 2011.[2]

The current quickest electric (doorslammer) pick up, "Lemon Juice" is owned and driven by Shawn Lawless of Ohio. It currently holds the NEDRA World Record in the MC/A2 class at 9.957 seconds ET at 127.38 MPH.[2]

In 2011, Team Haiyin EV Racing (Team Lithiumaniacs 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 (door slammer) 1981 Camaro "Warp Factor II" drag car. Team Lithiumaniacs is owned by Ronald Adamowicz of Middletown, CT. The new time is held in the National Electric Motorsports Racing Series (NEMRS) records for 1/4 mile drag racing.

Organisations

See also

External links

References

  1. ↑ NEDRA Handbook: Class Rules Nedra. Retrieved: 19 June 2010.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Record Holders Nedra. Retrieved: 20 May 2012.
  3. ↑ Silver Giant II Wroum. Retrieved: 17 June 2010.
  4. ↑ Andersen, Kasper B. Drag race record Record video Backflip crash video Ingeniøren, 17 June 2010. Retrieved: 17 June 2010.
  5. ↑ Henlov, Julian. Q&A session Ing.dk, 21 June 2010. Retrieved: 21 June 2010.