Electric LSR at Detroit Auto Show

[aircap]

In case anyone cares, they had a replica of Camille Jenatzy's "La Jamais Contente" running at the Detroit Auto Show. AutoBlog readers liked it.

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/01/12/detroit-2010-electric-landspeed-car-races-onto-the-show-floor/

[bvillercr]

Wow, even an electric car had some suspension a 111 years ago. 

[McRat]

Something is odd, maybe a typo.

It says two 50kW motors took it to 62mph

That's ~ 70 x 2 = 140HP.  140HP will push a pretty large truck to 65mph or better.

And back then, a 70HP electric motor was a monster.  4,000lb or larger.

I think it was 5kW x 2 = 14hp, which would make more sense.

[PorkPie]

Correct, the numbers are wrong.

The right number was 2 electric motor, each got 25 kw (34 hp) /900 rpm.

for the speed - when Jenatzy set the record  the course was only two kilometers long - the second kilo was the measured kilo for the record with flying start - and this on a very bad dirt road.

Also the battery technology was just enough to run through this 2 kilometers.

The weight of the racer was 3100 pounds - very heavy for a so small vehicle.

At last - the car body looks very aerodynamic - earlier lakester  - but, see the air brake (box) under the car where the two electric motor was built in and the driver was sitting on the car, the whole upper body was above the body work.

with today roads and battery technology this racer would go much faster.

About the power of the electric motor - this motor had a brand new technique which was designed by Jenatzy - a big technology step to the former systems and it was from there on used everywhere in Europe - not too much different to the today technique.

[McRat]

Thanks for the explanation.   

[4-barrel Mike]

The Great PorkPie knows all, tells all!   

Thank you, sir!   

Mike