Electric Dragsters
 

http://www.thekansascitychannel.com/video/13787848/index.html

K.T.
1973 911 E 2.4 MFI
1983 911 SC
1978 911 SC
1965 Devin "D" / 1967 912 Power Plant
1998 GMC Serra 4X4 Z71
John Deere LT166
Money Can Buy Happiness........Buy A Porsche......a

We have been talking about electric hovercraft for racing lately. Ion-lithium batteries seem to be the budget breaker.

I actually had the oppurutnity to drive one of these [well sort of] and it was AWESOME.
it was set up for forula racing, not pure draging, with a 100 hp electric motor power rear wheels via ultracapictors. the entire rig weighed about as much as a mouse fart [1 seater, tube frame] and went like HELL! full power at 0 rpm's

I drove an GM EV-1 electric car once. It climbed this hill like a Pikes Peak racer, all that torque, it was awesome too. Maybe not as awesome as what you drove though.:)

While looking for a starter racing kart for my 4 y/o I stumbled upon lots of electric Karts. I think they will be a hot item in the years to come.

I would drive one.

Electric carts are FAST.
We've got a track across the highway from where I work. 0-40 in 3 secs.
2, 1/4 mile tracks.
After 16 laps, your arms feel like lead...


http://www.grandprixspeedways.com/

At $2k-2.5K each, LiON phosphate from Valence seem to be the only non-lead/acid, electric vehicle-sized batteries being available to the general public here in the US.

The reasons for that are another thread, but in analogy, 400 years ago the freedoms of "new technowlogy" Galileo discovered were in direct conflict with population supression efforts by a centralized group.

EVs are and always will be a JOKE. Their pollution is far from zero, if fact, far above a typical gas powered vehicle. Their torque is impressive, a good old electric motor will always out do anything else. But only if plugged into the grid. And that grid, and those batteries, produce far more pollutants than any gas engine ever imagined. I can still envision the kids in India taking down the waste batteries form EVs, with their bare hands. Just to dump the waste into the local river.

Assuming, of course no advancement in battery technology or conversion to less polluting energy sources (geothermal, wind, solar, tidal, etc).

I was the principle engineer for Tri Services (AF, Navy, Army) for batteries at one time. I don't think so.

The LiON phosphate claims to be "environmentally friendly", which probably means it doesn't have pure mercury in them, but gell cell and glass matte tech will help keep the contents inside. Centralized energy production is always going to be easier to make more efficient and safer.
You might want to discuss the enviromental issues of nuclear electricity with Red-Beard while I warm up the popcorn.

I don't imagine shirtless kids in cut-off jean shorts are going to be dumping expensive batteries in the river just for kicks. The solution for is two-words: core charge.
Besides, they can have more fun just draining the oil in the dirt driveway instead:)

A friend of mine produces the fastest nitro, radio controlled boat engines in the country. 102.7 mph is the record. One day I ask him how much slower the electrics are. He tells me an electric boat has gone 141 mph.

I continue to believe that electric cars are the thing.

QUOTE: "I continue to believe that electric cars are the thing."
__________________

And I'm working on putting a windmill atop my 911. Still designing the soooo tricky structural supports.

Brushless DC electrics are insane. Problem is in energy storage, the run times are awful at those output levels.

I work in Bridgeton and have wanted to check out the track. What is the pricing schedule and how cool is it?

I once thought of making an electric dragster. I was considering using MHD and TNT to power it. Then I looked at gas and nitro methane. Forget the TNT it can't do it. Not even against gas.
No battery, and battery's need charging by something, can compete with gas, period. Electric cars went by the wayside in the 1920's, and they should remain buried, because they simply are a net loss to the environment as well as to simple transportation.

Again I am an EE and like electricity, electronics, but I am also a physicist and simple calculations show that batteries and electric cars are a total waste of resources, time, and are bad, very bad for the environment.

I predict that DIESEL engines will be the thing of the future. They will run clean, clean enough to be acceptable, they are powerful, they are the most efficient and they run on the least expensive and most available fuel, at least for the next 500 years. Diesel can be produced from Coal, the most abundant FUEL in the world.

The only, and I mean ONLY other hope is nuclear fusion. It is the ONLY fuel that can, long term, solve the overall energy problem. At least its possible, there are NO other possibilities that have even been identified, to date.

Snowman, I think you are thinking 'in the box'. You absolutely correct given current technology. The disposal of hundreds of pounds of lead acid batteries per vehicle.....yikes, not good. And they are being charged using coal fired plants......not good.

But what is we changed the model?

A) Find a better battery.

B) Change the charging and ownership model. In dense urban areas, have cars charged using a combination of solar and wind energy. Have the cars available for short rental like they do now with Zip Car (http://www.zipcar.com/). They are very popular up her in Seattle.

C) Develop a mutant breed of chimps that live on battery acid, and piss scotch, and employ them to recycle the batteries.

SEE? You just gotta think outside the box a little. :)

When was that, in 1930? LOL . I think you are the joke, Snowman. Battery technology has made large improvements since you retired... I can teach you about modern Li-ion batteries any time of the day. Ever heard about Bellcore? I was there. Valence? They got some of my patents. Have you read about Altair Nano recently? I work with them. Matter of fact, their nanosafe Li-ion battery is based on a paper I wrote in 2004. How many papers have you written on battery technology? Seriously, what do you know about batteries?

Aurel

Gr8, it's about 20 bucks for 16 laps (I think) You have to have a valid divers license, take a 20 minute safety and familiarization class, and wear driving suit, neck brace and helmet (supplied, if you don't have your own). Very fast, very cool. I highly recommend it...