News

Posted On: 06/02/2004

World's fastest industrial motors and drives?

Industrial equipment could be taking its place in the record books on June 9 when ABB drives and motors will be used to power the British challenger to the world electric-land-speed record. The attempt will be made on the Chott-el-Jerid salt flats in Tunisia. Updates that include photos and video clips will be posted at www.abb.com/

An industrial drive and two 50-hp AC motors will be used to power the e=motion electric car to speeds in excess of the current world record of 245.523 mph, which is held by the White Lightning team from the United States. Based on the data from development and testing, the car could also set another record if it becomes the first-ever electrically powered vehicle to break the 300 mph limit.
With its motors producing a combined output of more than 500 bhp (the horsepower produced at the motor shaft), ABB's system has already helped propel the e=motion car to 146 mph during testing, unofficially breaking England's 139-mph record for the fastest speed traveled by an electric vehicle, and equaling the first-ever land-speed record set by Sir Malcolm Campbell's gasoline-powered car in 1924.
The vehicle's designers, Mark Newby and Colin Fallows, will attempt to set the new world record between June 9 and June 11.