Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
TOOELE COUNTY — An electric car built by engineering students at Brigham Young University beat its previous land speed record during test runs in September.
The previous land speed record was set by the electric car in 2011 at 155.8 miles per hour, according to a BYU news release. Electric Blue once again made history after averaging 204.9 mph during two qualifying runs at the Bonneville Salt Flats.
“When we set the record three years ago we felt like we left a lot on the table,” BYU student and team captain Kelly Hales said in a news release. “On paper we thought we could get 200 mph, but we never had the conditions just right — until now.”
Utah Salt Flats Racing Association President Jim Burkdoll drove the car and beat 180 cars and teams for the record.
Electric Blue was custom built from lightweight carbon fiber over a six-year period and received modifications from more than 130 BYU students over a 10-year period. The E1 streamliner car has a long, slender shape and enclosed wheels to reduce air resistance. It weighs less than 1,100 pounds.
The car will likely end up in a racing museum or on display in BYU’s engineering building, but it won’t be dismantled, the news release says.
