LORDY, LORDY - DRAYSON TAKES THE BRITISH ELECTRIC LSR

A BRITISH ELECTRIC LAND SPEED RECORD SUCCESS 2013

 

 

Drayson Racing (Oxford) is one of the world's foremost proponents of sustainable racing technologies. Now, it's also become the fastest. Driven by team principal and former Science Minister Lord Paul Drayson, the Lola-based Drayson B12 69/EV electric Le-Mans Prototype established a new FIA world speed record for electric vehicles in a 2-way/standing-start run over a 1-mile distance, averaging a blistering 204.185 mph record at Elvington Airfield near York. That velocity eclipsed the existing FIA certified benchmark - which had stood for nearly four decades - by 29.2 mph.

Lord (Paul) Drayson is quoted as paying tribute to his key tech partners, Qualcomm Halo, Michelin, Multimatic and Cosworth noting that: "It is not the outright speed of 204.185 mph that is most impressive about this record, but the engineering challenge of accelerating a 1000kg (2,204 lb) electric vehicle on a short runway over a measured mile. I'm delighted we've beaten the record tonight and can show the world EVs can be fast and reliable."

 

 

 

 

NEXT GREEN CAR 16 OCTOBER 2013

 

Drayson Racing has increased the World Electric Land Speed Record for sub-999kg cars during official FIA-sanctioned runs at Elvington Airfield in Yorkshire, England (subject to FIA homologation).

The all-electric prototype racing car driven by Lord (Paul) Drayson and developed by Drayson Racing Technologies achieved a two-way average speed of 205.139mph over the measured mile and 333.271kph over the measured kilometre on the 3km long Elvington runway.

The car reached an unofficial maximum speed of 219.1mph / 352.6kph during the runs in difficult, windy conditions according to GPS data.

This speed also represents a new British Land Speed Record (subject to MSA ratification) over the measured mile for cars of any propulsion type driven by their wheels.

In addition, the Drayson Racing team submitted the car to FIA-sanctioned timed acceleration runs, setting a new World Electric Record from a standing start over a quarter mile with a time of 9.742 seconds and a top speed of 92.383mph (again, subject to FIA homologation).

On the new record attempts, Lord Drayson commented: "We are continuing the testing and development programme of our electric drivetrain technology and we are delighted with the results achieved today.

"Drayson Racing is a laboratory for novel EV technology such as the high power Qualcomm HaloTM wireless charging system, testing it to the most extreme level and that's why we do this. The engineering challenge of accelerating a 995kg electric car to these speeds and then stopping in time on such a short runway is pretty intense, but it's a great proving ground for our technology. It's also an exciting way of demonstrating what's possible with a state of the art electric vehicle."

The team returned to Elvington in an effort to take the prototype electric racing car even faster than before. When the Drayson Racing team last ran the car in June, it was still accelerating hard at the braking point on the runway. Analysis revealed that performance gains could be found in the car's DRT 4X2 640 all electric drivetrain, so the team spent the summer refining the system. Chassis partner Multimatic has also made further aerodynamic adjustments to reduce drag and further increase the car's performance potential.

Lord Drayson intended to discover the car's maximum possible speed on the 15-mile long track at the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, USA last month, but did not get the opportunity after the event was cancelled due to flooding. With the development work on the car complete, the team decided to run again at Elvington to find out how much faster the car could go within the relatively tight confines of the 3km runway.

 

 

 

 

 

AUTOCAR - BRITISH and WORLD RECORDS 10 SEPTEMBER 2013 - BONNEVILLE

 

Lord Drayson is taking to the Bonneville salt flats in Utah in an attempt to raise his world land speed record. The Drayson Racing B12 69/EV electric Le Mans Prototype broke the world record at Elvington airfield in Yorkshire, achieving 204.2mph in June.

The car is scheduled to run at the Bonneville Speed Shootout between 12-18 September to top his world record in the sub-1000kg electric car class.

Lord Drayson said: “Back in June, the relatively short runway at Elvington limited our top speed as we had to brake as the car was still accelerating. We are looking forward to discovering just how fast the car can go on the wide-open spaces of the Bonneville salt flats, although its been a major engineering challenge to prepare the car for running on salt.

“The development of lightweight car technology is a key part of the drive to bring electric cars to market with the range and performance that consumers expect. That is why we are focused on the sub-1000kg category for the EV world record. It presents the greatest technical challenge to engineer a car that weighs under 1000kg, goes over 200mph and is purely driven by sustainable electric energy.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

DRAYSON TAKES THE BRITISH CROWN - YORK PRESS JUNE 2013

 

A NEW world land speed record for a lightweight electric car has been set at a racetrack near York.

The Drayson Racing Technologies Lola B12 69/EV hit a top speed of 204.185mph at the racetrack at Elvington Airfield. The company’s chief executive, Lord Drayson, a former UK Science Minister who was behind the wheel of the 600bhp race car, was celebrating yesterday after smashing the record.

He said the achievement was designed to highlight the potential of electronic vehicle technology. The vehicle broke the previous record of 175mph, which was set by the US-built Battery Box Electric almost 40 years ago, in 1974. 

 

The Labour peer’s record-breaking Drayson B12 69/EV electric Le-Mans Prototype is built by Drayson Racing. Lord Drayson, 53, an entrepreneur who was the Science Minister from 2008 to 2010, had to perform two runs at the airfield within an hour for the record to stand. He said: “I’m delighted we’ve beaten the record and can show the world EVs can be fast and reliable.

“Drayson Racing is a laboratory for EV technology, testing it to the most extreme level, as we’ve seen today.

“It is not the outright speed that is most impressive about this record, but the engineering challenge of accelerating a 1,000kg electric vehicle on a short runway over a measured mile. What it, I hope, shows to people is just what the future potential of electric cars is.” 

 

Drayson Racing is a research and development business, pioneering the development of sustainable technologies in the challenging environment of motorsport. With the electric land speed record it intends to showcase what is possible with an electric drivetrain and underscore Britain’s leadership position in the EV industry.

Based in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, the firm – founded in 2007 – works with others to develop more sustainable automotive technologies. To qualify for an attempt on the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile’s (FIA) world electric land speed record the vehicle had to weigh less than 1,000kg (2,204lb) without the driver.

 

 

Lord Drayson electric land speed record 

 

 

 

NEW BRITISH E RECORD ATTEMPT

 

Lord Drayson's racing team is bidding to break the world land speed record for a light electric car on an airfield in Yorkshire next month.

The former science minister's Drayson Racing Technologies yesterday confirmed June 25 as the date it will attempt to smash through the 175 miles per hour record in the Drayson B12 69/EV electric Le-Mans Prototype at RAF Elvington's 1.86-mile runway.

The current record for a sub-1,000kg class EV has been held by 39 years by Battery Box General Electric in the United States.


Lord Drayson's B12 is converted from a B10 Le Mans Prototype that was previously powered by a 5.5 litre bio-fuelled Judd engine. The car debuted at Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2011, breaking the record for the fastest hillclimb in an EV at 53.91 seconds and forms the basis for the car Drayson is designing to drive in the all-electric Formula E racing series from 2015.

Now it aims to become the fastest pure electric drive in the world, reaching speeds of more than 200mph, as part of a joint project between Lola Cars, Cambridgeshire and Drayson Racing Technologies.
Drayson said the record attempt represents a "tremendous technical challenge", which would have to be overcome.

"It is not the outright speed that is impressive about this record attempt, but the engineering challenge of accelerating a 1000kg electric vehicle to such a high speed and sustaining that speed over a measured mile, before stopping safely all within a relatively short distance then turning round and doing it again within an hour," he said in a statement.

Last year, Nick Ponting reached a top speed of 151 miles per hour in Ecotricity's Nemesis EV, at Elvington Airfield, breaking the previous UK record of 137mph.

http://www.businessgreen.com lord-drayson-gears-up-to-smash-electric-landspeed-record


 

 



Drayson Racing Technologies announced today its intention to brake the current FIA World Electric Land Speed Record. The attempt will be made on June 25 at RAF Elvington in Yorkshire with a low-drag version of the Drayson B12 69/EV electric Le-Mans Prototype. Behind the wheel will be racing driver and former UK science minister Lord Drayson.

According to the first details we have the company aims for a top speed of about 200 mph - quite an increase over the current 175 mph record set by Battery Box General Electric in the United States which has stood since 1974.

This record has held firm for nearly 40 years due to the immense technical challenge of running an electric vehicle consistently and reliably at such speeds when weighing less than 1000 kg (2200 pounds).

The B12 69/EV was developed on a carbon Lola LMP1 chassis and is powered by 4 axial flux motors (2 per rear wheel) with integrated transmission. This system delivers a total of 850 horsepower and takes its power from a carbon battery cell integrated into the chassis.

However, for the land speed record attempt the output will be limited to 600 horsepower and for the battery the company will use a 20 kWh lightweight, high-power configuration. This way Drayson ensure a total weight of less than 1000 kg (2200 pounds.)

To challenge for the record some changes have been made to the set-up of the car and drivetrain that are consistent with racing at a low downforce circuit. This will give the B12 69/EV the traction to achieve maximum acceleration in the short distance available, sustain maximum speed over a measured mile and stop safely.


PRESS RELEASE

Drayson Racing Technologies today announces it will make an attempt for the FIA World Electric Land Speed Record on June 25 at RAF Elvington in Yorkshire. It’s the latest challenge to be undertaken by the pioneering electric motorsport firm, which has been at the forefront of sustainable racing since 2007 and was first to sign up for the new FIA Formula E championship.


The attempt will be made in the sub-1000kg class by entrepreneur, racing driver and former UK science minister Lord Drayson who will drive a low-drag version of the Drayson B12 69/EV electric Le-Mans Prototype flat-out along Elvington’s 1.86-mile runway.

Lord Drayson will aim to better the current record of 175mph set by Battery Box General Electric in the United States and which has stood since 1974. This record has held firm for nearly 40 years due to the immense technical challenge of running an electric vehicle consistently and reliably at such speeds when weighing less than 1000kg.

Lord Drayson, CEO and co-founder of Drayson Racing Technologies, commented: “It is not the outright speed that is impressive about this record attempt, but the engineering challenge of accelerating a 1000kg electric vehicle to such a high speed and sustaining that speed over a measured mile, before stopping safely all within a relatively short distance then turning round and doing it again within an hour. It’s a tremendous technical challenge but we believe it’s about time someone moved this record on to demonstrate just how far EV technology has come.”

Drayson Racing Technologies is a research and development business, pioneering the development of sustainable technologies in the challenging environment of motorsport. With the electric land speed record they intend to showcase what is possible with an electric drivetrain and underscore Britain’s leadership position in the burgeoning EV industry.

The Drayson B12 69/EV was not originally conceived as a land speed car. Having raced the Lola chassis in sports car championships around the world powered by a second generation bio-fueled Judd V10 engine, Drayson Racing Technologies took the decision to explore the potential of the electric drivetrain and use the familiar Lola chassis as a starting point. This provided the team with a considerably tougher engineering challenge than starting from a ground-up design – particularly in packaging the drivetrain to maintain the rigidity and crash safety of the original car.

In its current iteration, the Drayson B12 69/EV represents the pinnacle of what a bona fide electric racing car can achieve in terms of performance. To challenge for the record some changes have been made to the set-up of the car and drivetrain that are consistent with racing at a low downforce circuit. This will give the B12 69/EV the traction to achieve maximum acceleration in the short distance available, sustain maximum speed over a measured mile and stop safely.

Lord Drayson: “The reason we are doing this is to showcase the maximum level of EV performance at the moment - and in a real racing car rather than a teardrop-shaped land speed record car. We are also demonstrating the future potential of technologies like wireless charging in speeding the adoption of high performance EVs. It’s a great way to build up to the Formula E championship that we are competing in from 2014 and will demonstrate that Britain is at the forefront of this vital technology, which I believe represents the future of the automobile.”

http://www.topspeed.com/drayson-aims-for-a-new-electric-vehicle-land-speed-record

 

 

 

BRITISH ELECTRIC LSR HISTORY

 

Lotus Nemesis - Ecotricity

Bluebird - Joe Wales

Bluebird - Don Wales

Volta - St Richard's School

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

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ENERGY GENERATING-DISTRIBUTION UTILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FORMULA E LINKS:

 

http://www.kbb.com/drayson-racing-sets-new-ev-top_speed-mark-of-204185-mph

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/British_car_breaks_electric_land_speed_record_at_Elvington_Airfield

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/motorsport/drayson-plots-new-ev-record-bonneville

http://www.nextgreencar.com/news/6378/Drayson-EV-sets-4-electric-speed-records

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Bluebird recharging system concept Formula E racing car Bluebird instant pit stop recharging system, Formula E concept design
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