This video was just posted of the Audi R8 E-Tron setting the production EV record around the Nurburgring. The E-tron has four electric motors producing a combined 376 hp and 605 ft-lbs of torque. The time posted was an 8:09 which is only about 30 seconds off of a Ferrari 458 Italia.
The prototype for the e-volo electric multicopter achieved its first manned flight at the end of October last year. It represented huge breakthroughs in battery energy density, electric motor power output and controls software programming. Now that e-volo has proof of concept, they are teaming up with Oshkosh to move forward on single and double seat commercial versions of the electric multicopter called the Volocopter. The multicopter format may seem complicated, but it offers many advantages in terms of ease of controls and stability when compared to a traditional helicopter. e-volo is hoping to achieve 6500 ft flight altitude, 60 mph top speed (100 kph), 990 pound (450 kg) payload and one hour of flight time with the new concepts.
This is a documentary from 2008 about one of the early pioneers of electric drag racing, The White Zombie. It’s a 1972 Datsun 1200 running custom dual brushed DC motors and a 2000 amp Zilla ZK2 controller which is a slightly smaller version of what’s on the EV West Pikes Peak E36 M3. The film crew happens to catch the White Zombie as it sets the world record (at the time) quarter mile time for an electric car. They set the record with lead acid batteries and then switch to lithium ion batteries which make more power and shed 700 pounds off of the car. The White Zombie’s current best ET is a 10.258. Head to the Plasma Boy Racing website to see the car’s current specs.
Here’s another compelling argument for our case that electric cars don’t have to be slow, boring and/or ugly. This is the 1995 BMW M3 built by EV West of San Diego for the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. The car is running the best performance brushed DC motor technology currently available. Under the hood there are two NetGain Warp 11 HV’s end to end being fed by a EVnetics Soliton Shiva that’s capable of delivering 3000 amps.
Twin NetGain Warp 11 HV’s connected to a Powerglide transmission
The result is 700hp which is transferred through an externally pumped Powerglide Transmission. The external pumping means the transmission doesn’t need a torque converter. The motors are connected directly through an input shaft from a Turbo 400. Continue reading
Bob Lutz stopped by Jay Leno’s garage to show off the product of his latest venture, the VTRUX by Via Motors. The premise is pretty similar to what we’re about here at Flux Auto. Take a desirable vehicle and retrofit it with an electric drive train so it appeals to regular people. Via motors is turning full sized GM trucks, SUV’s and vans into series hybrids similar to the Chevrolet Volt. They have large ( 24kwh) battery packs that are charged by plugging into a 220V outlet. when the battery pack gets low, an on-board gasoline V6 begins turning a generator to recharge the batteries and extend the truck’s range. The trucks are estimated to get 100 mpg while operating in this mobile recharging mode. It’s really the best of both worlds.