Shhhhh: Drayson Racing quietly sets its sights set on an EV speed record

By Stephen Edelstein May 30, 2013

Drayson Racing is putting its electric Le Mans prototype car to the test with a world speed record attempt.

Emphasis on a world record: If it succeeds, Drayson’s B12 69/EV will not be the fastest electric car in the world period, but it will still be pretty darn fast.

The British green technology firm hopes to set the world land speed record for an EV in the sub-1,000 kilogram (2,200 pound) category.

The current record, set by the General Electric Battery Box way back in 1974, is 175 mph. The overall record of 307.58 mph was set by the Ohio State University-Venturi “Buckeye Bullet” in 2010.

Unlike the purpose-built Buckeye Bullet, the Drayson is designed for road course endurance races, such as the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which this class of car takes its name from.

The Drayson EV is based on a Lola chassis, and was originally powered by a bio-fuel Judd V10. That’s been replaced by four electric motors, with two powering each of the rear wheels, and a single-speed transmission.

Powering the motors is a 20-kWh battery pack, which is housed in a special cell that is part of the chassis. Total power output in land speed record-spec is 643 horsepower, which should get the Drayson-Lola going in a hurry. In an effort to increase downforce, Drayson also made a few aerodynamic modifications for the attempt.

Drayson Racing was founded by former British science minister Lord Paul Drayson and has been working on green racing projects since 2007. Besides bringing green tech to endurance racing and land speed records with the B12 69/EV, the company was also the first to join the Formula E Championship.

Drayson Racing’s record attempt will take place on an airfield in Yorkshire, England on June 25. It will be one of the quietest land speed record attempts in history.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Stephen Edelstein

Contributing Editor

Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…

Cars

Mercedes-Benz EQG: range, price, release date, and more

Concept image of the larger electric G-Wagon

The G-Class is going electric. We already knew that Mercedes-Benz was working on an electric, small-size G-Wagon, but it looks like the company is also working on a larger G-Class SUV, in the form of the EQG. In fact, Mercedes has gone as far as to show off a concept version of the off-roader.

While there's much we don't know about what will become the production model of the EQG, Mercedes has also shared a lot about it. Curious about whether the Mercedes-Benz EQG could be the EV for you? Here's everything we know so far.
Design
Fear not -- the EQG will retain many of the design aspects of the G-Class that you already know and love but with a modern face-lift. The EQG will keep the boxy design that gives the G-Class a classic look but with some additional modern styling, at least if the concept version is anything to go by.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs. Kia EV9: battle of affordable electric SUVs

Kia EV9 GT-Line Three Quarters

The long-awaited Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it's an excellent option for those who want an electric SUV that doesn't completely break the bank. Sure, the R2 isn't cheap -- but it's a whole lot cheaper than most other EVs out there, especially when it comes to SUVs. But Rivian isn't the only company trying to tackle the problem of the budget electric SUV. The Kia EV9 is finally available, and it too offers a modern design and a range of helpful features.

Given the fact that the Rivian R2 and Kia EV9 are two electric SUVs in a similar price range, you might be wondering which is better for your needs. That's why we put the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 head-to-head.
Design
Both the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 are actual SUVs -- not crossovers pretending to be SUVs, like plenty of other EVs out there. The two vehicles offer big, boxy designs and plenty of interior space, making them excellent options for families or those who need that extra storage.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs R1S: How will Rivian’s cheaper SUV compare?

The front three-quarter view of a 2022 Rivian against a rocky backdrop.

Rivian has finally unveiled the R2, its long-awaited attempt at a more affordable electric SUV. The new vehicle may not be available just yet, but fans of Rivian's design aesthetics and feature set are already looking forward to being able to order the new car. The R2 is targeted at being a more affordable take on the electric SUV and will sit alongside the flagship-tier R1S.

Let's get this out of the way right now: The R1S is most likely going to be a better vehicle than the R2. Rivian isn't replacing the R1S with the R2 — it's releasing the R2 as a more affordable alternative, and there will be some compromises when buying the R2 over the R1S.