Electric car sets new land speed record
"When we set the record three years ago we felt like we left a lot on the table," said team captain, Kelly Hales. "On paper we thought we could get 200mph (328kmph) but we never had the conditions just right -until now." The car notched the record this month in front of approximately 180 teams and their cars at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Jim Burkdoll, president of the Utah Salt Flats Racing Association, drove the car to set the record, which was certified by the Southern California Timing Association.
Electric Blue is called a streamliner because it has a long, slender shape and enclosed wheels that reduce air resistance. BYU's car is in the E1 category, which means it is electric and weighs less than 500 kilos. The students custom-built the lightweight carbon fiber body of Electric Blue over a six-year period, with the help of computer programs that model wind tunnels. Aerodynamic performance and lithium iron phosphate batteries helped the car reach its high speeds over the last four years of runs.
"We were going to retire the car last year when head faculty advisor, Perry Carter, left for an LDS mission, but we petitioned for one more year," Hales said. "Now the car will officially retire with a record we think will be unbeatable for a while.
