27.9.2012 'Nemesis' breaks EV land speed record

The electric vehicle land speed record has been broken by a 100% battery electric car at Elvington airfield near York.

The Nemesis, a heavily-modified Lotus Exige which was originally bought off eBay, was recorded travelling with an average speed of 151.6 mph (244km/h).

The car was designed and built by a team of British motorsport engineers in Norfolk, and was developed by green energy company, Ecotricity. The driver was Nick Ponting, a 21 year old estate agent from Gloucestershire.

The Nemesis was clocked at 151.607 mph during two runs down a mile-long runway track. It smashed the previous electric vehicle land speed record of 137 mph by more than 14 mph. The conditions for driving were perfect.

Driver Nick Ponting said: "It was brilliant. The car felt really good. The conditions were perfect... The acceleration is phenomenal. It gets to the top speed very quickly."

Dale Vince, from Ecotricity, originally wanted to build the electric Nemesis to challenge the stereotype of electric cars as being "slow, bring and not cool". The electric car is powered on renewable, green electricity which has been generated by wind turbines owned by Ecotricity.

The previous electric vehicle land speed record was held by Don Wales, grandson of Sir Malcolm Campbell, and achieved in the Bluebird Electric. Last year Don's son Joe Wales attempted to break his father's record, but was let down when the vehicle's suspension was damaged by hitting a pothole on the Pendine Sands in Carmarthenshire, Wales, during the attempt.

The record still needs to be ratified by the Motor Sports Association before the record can be officially declared. However, Dale Vince has certainly been successful in demonstrating that electric cars can be fast, sporty and fun too, whilst helping to minimise pollution to the environment.

BBC