Tag Archives: world’s fastest electric car

Without Electronic Limiter, Lucid Air Hits 235 mph Top Speed

The Lucid Air Alpha Speed Car, was first tested at the large oval track of the Transportation Research Center of Ohio in April 2017. The car was given aerodynamic aids and a parachute to slow the car abruptly in case the straights didn’t prove long enough to reach desired speeds and slow down sufficiently for the next turn. For the first test, the top speed was software limited to 217 mph (350 km/h).

This July. the Lucid team recently returned to the Transportation Research Center facility for the next round of testing with the Lucid Air Alpha Speed Car. The Lucid team tackled the high-speed oval again, this time with the software speed limit removed so they could evaluate performance at even higher speeds, up to 235 mph.

That morning there was a rain delay, but it was clear to the spotters standing hundreds of meters away that the car was moving faster coming off the banking than during the last test. And they were right. This time the Air came off the high banking at 215 mph and reached an ultimate GPS confirmed speed of 235.44 mph.

The Lucid team made a few adjustments based on what they learned to improve upon their first time. The air suspension required a software update to improve responsiveness when loaded heavily. The front motor required updates to coolant flow and ventilation. New, aerodynamically efficient wheels were fitted. Finally, they removed the speed limiter to see what a Lucid Air alpha prototype was capable of achieving.

Lucid Motors intends to start production of the Lucid Air by 2018, with a base model priced at between $50,000-$60,000 dollars.

Features of the base Lucid Air include:

  • 240-mile range
  • 400 horsepower (rear-wheel drive)
  • All hardware necessary for autonomous driving
  • Huge interior space in an efficient package
  • Two trunks, one in the front and one in the rear, with a combined storage capacity of over 32 cubic feet (similar to the volume of a 4-person hot tub)
  • 12-way power front seats
  • LED multi-lens array headlights
  • Four screens, with interactive-touch surfaces on three
  • 5-seat configuration with a rear bench seat
  • 10 advanced airbags
  • Aluminum roof
  • 19-inch wheels
  • 10-speaker audio system
  • Over-the-air software updates

The price of a fully loaded Lucid Air will likely be above $100,000.

Features of the fully loaded Lucid Air include:

  • 315-mile and 400-mile-range battery options
  • Up to 1,000-horsepower twin-motor configuration, with all-wheel drive
  • Fully active suspension, delivering a world-class ride
  • Glass-canopy roof
  • Rear executive seats that recline up to 55 degrees
  • 22-way power front seats with heating, ventilation, dynamic bolsters, and massage
  • 21-inch Lucid-design wheels
  • 29-speaker audio system with active noise cancellation
  • Expanded leather trim with corresponding material upgrades

On The NIO EP9, China’s Super EV

NIO is a global start-up founded only 3 years ago in 2014 in Shanghai,China.  They design and develop high-performance, premium electric, autonomous vehicles. Already they are making a name for themselves in the electric automotive world by breaking the autonomous lap record at Circuit of the Americas on February 23rd and the overall lap record at Nurburgring Nordschleife lap record in Germany on May 12th.

The track only, electric beast they used to demolish records with is the joint project of NIO and the NextEV Formula E team, the NIO EP9. The car is powered by four electric motors each delivering 335.25 hp (250 kW; 340 PS) for a total of 1,341 hp (1,000 kW; 1,360 PS), and all four are driven by four independent transmissions, making the car all-wheel drive. NIO has already set a total of 5 records in their track-only EP9 for the fastest lap for an electric-powered car in a very short amount of time. The EP9 was built in 18 months, and debuted at the Saatchi Gallery in London, England.Six EP9s have been sold to NIO investors for US$1.2 million each. NIO has announced that ten additional EP9s will be sold to the general public.

NIO EP9 breaks the Nurburgring record of 7:05.120s for a production electric vehicle on October 14th, 2016.

NIO EP9 later breaks the Nurburgring Nordschleife overall lap record. On May 12, 2017, the NIO EP9 set a new lap record at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, achieving a lap time of 6m 45.900s.

Each of the EP9’s wheels has its own motor and transmission. The EP9 has an advanced torque vectoring system that can adjust the power output to each wheel. The EP9’s battery can last up to 265 mi (426 km) before it needs to be charged. Recharging takes 45 minutes, and battery replacement takes 8 minutes. The EP9 is equipped with an active suspension, including a ride height controller that makes 200 calculations per second. The car’s chassis construction is all carbon fiber, and is based on the FIA Le Mans Prototype regulations. The exterior is also made of carbon fiber.

The vehicle’s batteries weigh 635 kilograms. All of the carbon fiber in the car, in total, weigh at 364 kilograms. The total weight of the car is 1,735 kilograms (3,825 lb).

The EP9 can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 2.7 seconds, 0-124 mph in 7.1 seconds, and 0-186 mph in 15.9 seconds. Its top speed is 194 mph (313 km/h).[2] The EP9 has the third-quickest 0-60 mph time of any electric vehicle, behind Tesla’s Model S P90D and P100D models when launched with Ludicrous mode.

NIO currently lists the EP9 and NIO ES8 as their production vehicles. The NIO ES8 is an all-new SUV by NIO that is planned to be put into production in 2018 for the China Market. Their concept vehicle is the The NIO EVE, an autonomous car that was unveiled in 2017, in a working form. The car is intended to give drivers a comfortable, entertaining, and connected experience whilst on the move.

White Zombie: Worlds Fastest Street Legal Electric Car

John Whalen’s 1972 Datsun 1200 is powered by 60 lead-acid batteries in his trunk and back seat. In a quarter mile, he can hit speeds of 107 miles per hour in less than 12 seconds. In this OPB special you see Whalen and his “White Zombie” whip up on muscle cars at the dragstrip. Towards the end you see him set world records after he is loaned A123 Systems lithium ion batteries, increasing horsepower and lightening the car by 700 pounds.