Electric Cars Extend Range, Break Records in Tour de Sol Race

In a significant milestone for the electric vehicle industry, a Geo Metro converted to electricity by Solectria Inc. has completed 214.2 miles without stopping for a battery recharge, shattering previous range records. The car runs on nickel metal hydride batteries, developed by Ovonic Battery, and was driven by James Worden, co-founder of Solectria. This achievement highlights the growing capabilities of electric cars and the innovative technologies being developed to overcome their limited range. The Tour de Sol race, which took place from Manhattan to Philadelphia, saw multiple vehicles extending their range by employing strategies such as creeping along to conserve energy.

Key Takeaways:

• A Geo Metro converted to electricity by Solectria Inc. completed 214.2 miles without recharging, setting a new range record.
• The car runs on nickel metal hydride batteries developed by Ovonic Battery, which are becoming increasingly common in laptop computers.
• James Worden, co-founder of Solectria, drove the car, which extended its range by employing strategies such as creeping along to conserve energy.
• Other Tour de Sol entrants, including two Eco Star vans built by Ford, also achieved impressive performances, running over 180 miles without recharging.
• The Eco Star vans used sodium sulfur batteries, which Ford claims approach the performance needed for mass production but remain too expensive.
• An Eco Star driven by Roberta Nichols, a Ford engineer, set a record by crossing the finish line 27 seconds under the minimum time, but was assessed a five-minute penalty for speeding.

Statistics:

• 214.2 miles: the distance the Solectria car traveled without recharging.
• 200 kilometers (125 miles): the distance the same car traveled in slightly less than two hours during the Arizona Public Service Electric 500 in March.
• 60 miles per hour: the sustained speed of the Solectria car during the test.
• 2 hours: the time it took the Solectra car to travel 200 kilometers (125 miles) in March.
• 180 miles: the distance two Eco Star vans, built by Ford, ran without recharging.
• 27 seconds: the time Roberta Nichols' Eco Star vehicle was under the minimum course time before being assessed a penalty.

Sources:

• American Tour de Sol (no date mentioned)
• Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (no date mentioned)
• Arizona Public Service Electric 500 (no date mentioned)