Nemesis electric car breaks UK land-speed record

A battery-powered Lotus Exige has broken the UK electric car land-speed record at a race track near York.

Designed and built entirely in the UK, the Nemesis race car clocked an average speed of 151mph yesterday at Elvington airfield.

The car was driven by Nick Ponting, 21, from Gloucestershire, who beat the previous record of 137mph set by Don Wales, the grandson of speed ace Sir Malcolm Campbell, 10 years ago.

"This is brilliant," said Dale Vince, the brainchild behind the car and founder of Stroud based green electricity company, Ecotricity. "We built the Nemesis to smash the stereotype of electric cars as something Noddy would drive – slow, boring, not cool – and I think we've done exactly that today.

"Hopefully this will further stimulate debate about the future of transport in Britain and how we'll be getting around when the world runs out of oil. What we've been able to demonstrate is that wind-powered cars are not just feasible, but can be a load of fun."

Powered entirely by 100% green electricity made by Ecotricity's network of 53 windmills around the UK, the Nemesis was designed and built in less than two years by a team of British motorsport engineers in Norfolk.

Unlike a combustion engine, electric cars have 100% torque from a standing start and in initial speed tests last year the road-legal Nemesis achieved 0 to 100mph in 8.5 seconds.

Yesterday, the Nemesis completed two runs along Elvington Airfield over a one mile distance, with Ponting breaking the record on the first set of consecutive runs with an average speed of 148mph. He further extended the record later in the day, to 151mph.

Author
Laura Hopperton

This material is protected by Findlay Media copyright
See Terms and Conditions.
One-off usage is permitted but bulk copying is not.
For multiple copies contact the sales team.