Eco Factor: Zero-emission drag race car powered by electricity.
John Wayland believes that the only way to win over gas-powered cars with electric vehicles is to beat the conventional at races. The drag racer has converted an old 1972 Datsun called “White Zombie” to run on a zero-emission electric engine that is powered by lead-acid batteries. Surprisingly, the replacement makes the car fast and helps it beat Corvettes, Camaros and other 600hp vehicles in quarter-mile drag races.
The car, which takes only 2.95 seconds to hit 60mph, will return to Portland International Raceway for what Wayland hopes to be another record-breaking race. A crew of three mechanics is putting the finishing touches on the Datsun’s new lithium batteries, which have been built by hand.
The new cells, which were originally designed for the rotor crank of military helicopter, weigh just half but produce twice the power of White Zombie’s old batteries. Wayland states that the White Zombie will try to be the first electric car to run a quarter mile in under 11 seconds.
White Zombie’s new lithium batteries will store 355V of energy and can generate 2400 instantaneous amps. Storing about 22.7KWh of electricity, the vehicle can travel 120 miles at freeway speeds.
Via: Oregon Live
