Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

E-Dragsters Go for Gas-Powered Records
Associated Press ^ | Sunday July 29, 2:10 pm ET | Aaron Clark

Posted on 07/30/2007 1:30:10 PM PDT by GBA

With Barely a Sound, Electric Dragsters Aim for Gas-Powered Records

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Straddling a 619-pound motorcycle, Scotty Pollacheck tucks in his knees and lowers his head as he waits for the green light. When he revs the engine, there's no roar. The bike moves so fast that within seconds all that's visible is a faint red taillight melting in the distance.

Pollacheck crosses the quarter-mile marker doing 156 mph; he's traveled 1,320 feet in 8.22 seconds, faster than any of the gas-powered cars, trucks or motorcycles that have raced in the drag sprints on this weekend at Portland International Raceway.

It's particularly impressive given Pollacheck is riding a vehicle that uses no gasoline and is powered entirely by lithium-ion batteries.

(Excerpt) Read more at in.us.biz.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: autoshop; electricpower; energy; racing; transportation
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-76 next last
To: John Jamieson

Im sure he meant torque.


41 posted on 07/30/2007 3:29:07 PM PDT by mamelukesabre
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Westlander
Let’s see how these batteries hold out at -20F.

They'd be less of a problem than the tires.

42 posted on 07/30/2007 3:29:48 PM PDT by Clam Digger
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: martin_fierro

http://www.electricmotorsport.com/index.html


43 posted on 07/30/2007 3:34:37 PM PDT by postaldave (republicans need spending rehab before trying to control congress again.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: GoldCountryRedneck
Yeahbut, that sewing-machine whine just ain't gonna grab the fans the way a fire-breathin' nitro-burnin' flames-from-the-exhaust-stacks Top Fueler will....

True. And the fans will demand those good old nitromethane headaches.

44 posted on 07/30/2007 3:58:51 PM PDT by Ole Okie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: martin_fierro

You’ll never get me on or in a hybrid or an electric vehicle.

The engine sound is part of the enjoyment!!


45 posted on 07/30/2007 4:11:47 PM PDT by blackie (Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: GBA

OK, when they start mass producing them, at a cost I can afford, with enough power to go 300 miles, I want one.


46 posted on 07/30/2007 5:06:11 PM PDT by Sensei Ern (http://www.myspace.com/reconcomedy - Ann Coulter is My Press Secretary)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mamelukesabre
Steel is stronger than titanium.

Now someone will call you names. LOL

I believe the first electric drag bike was built back in the fifties wasn't it? Could have been early sixties?

47 posted on 07/30/2007 5:13:10 PM PDT by org.whodat (What's the difference between a Democrat and a republican????)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: Jonx6
From his post it is clear he is talking about energy transfer from the motor to the wheel and not, as you thought, about energy transfer from the wheel to the ground. So, traction and tires do not come into it, yet…

Cannot have one with out there other.

48 posted on 07/30/2007 5:25:10 PM PDT by org.whodat (What's the difference between a Democrat and a republican????)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: xcamel
Shows how OLD your information is. Check out: Sudbury Ontario
49 posted on 07/30/2007 5:25:43 PM PDT by Don W ("Well Done" is far better to hear than "Well Said". (Samuel Clemens))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: Neidermeyer
"you have the same torque per hundred rpm at barely running and at 10k."

No, the same power. Torque is half at twice the RPM.

50 posted on 07/30/2007 5:39:34 PM PDT by zipper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: Don W

You assume I was talking about Sudbury?
In squeaky clean and viciously liberal canada?


51 posted on 07/30/2007 5:39:58 PM PDT by xcamel ("It's Talk Thompson Time!" >> irc://irc.freenode.net/fredthompson)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 49 | View Replies]

To: xcamel
lemme see here... 1000 hp = 745.699871582 Kw for 8.2 seconds, that’s a hell of a lot more tan “nine cents”

Assuming your hp conversion figure is correct, and with an average price of 10 cents/kw-hour:

745.7 kw x .10/kw-hr x 1 hour/3600 sec x 8.2 seconds = .1698538 dollars,

or about 17 cents.

52 posted on 07/30/2007 6:02:06 PM PDT by zipper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: zipper
They claim 350 HP on the current machine, which is 260KW - less the charging system losses and heat production. It's been too long since I've done the math but I think the input (in watts) is 1.707 times the expected energy output moment at full charge.

anyway... the $30K in batteries is enough to make you think twice...

53 posted on 07/30/2007 6:10:15 PM PDT by xcamel ("It's Talk Thompson Time!" >> irc://irc.freenode.net/fredthompson)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 52 | View Replies]

To: xcamel
I think the input (in watts) is 1.707 times the expected energy output moment at full charge

You'd have to explain that further. Obviously not all batteries are of the same efficiency or weight, especially when you're comparing lead-acid, NiMH, lithium-poly, etc.

Yes the batteries are expensive. But they will get much cheaper as the technology evolves, and with mass production. Gas engine technology is already mature.

54 posted on 07/30/2007 6:26:05 PM PDT by zipper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]

To: zipper

I think...I might be mistaken, but I’m going to go on a limb and say that the torque of an electric motor is max at zero RPMs. In gasoline motors max occurs somewhere between 2000 and 4000 for the usual normal everyday automotive engine. For a diesel it is sometimes just under 1000 but usually 1500 to 2000.

I don’t recall the difference in power and torque output curves for normal variable speed electric motors vs freek drives (variable frequency motors), but I think the freek drives have superior low speed power. I know there’s less heat generated. I’m guessing a freek drive could really haul a$$ in a drag race if you had a computer modulating the frequency vs weel spin all the way down the strip.


55 posted on 07/30/2007 6:42:40 PM PDT by mamelukesabre
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: GBA
Racin' improves the breed.

Yep, from superchargers to turbochargers to you name it, today's cars are running on the innovations that were created on the race track.............

56 posted on 07/30/2007 6:46:36 PM PDT by Hot Tabasco (If your cat was big enough it would probably eat you)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 31M20RedDevil
NHRA going green,would be interesting. Love the smell of nitro in the morning tho

Whatever produces consistant winners will dictate the direction the auto industry will pursue. Thats historic and that's what's great about auto racing.........

57 posted on 07/30/2007 6:56:23 PM PDT by Hot Tabasco (If your cat was big enough it would probably eat you)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: mamelukesabre
I’m going to go on a limb and say that the torque of an electric motor is max at zero RPMs

I hope it's a strong limb, because I'm out there with you! The same horsepower at all rpm.

That's why the 0-60 speed is so quick, despite the bike's heavy weight -- max power availability all the time. Also easier on the drive train, since it can be designed for a single-figure constant strain, without torque variation and power pulses. The track times can be quicker with a motor that has less overall power compared to the liquid-fuel competitors, provided the bike weights are comparable.

58 posted on 07/30/2007 7:01:31 PM PDT by zipper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]

To: zipper
That all makes sense. But what I don’t understand then is this...internal combustion engines that most closely resemble the power output characteristics of electric motors should also see these same advantages. That means that diesel motors should reign supreme in a drag race. THEY DON’T.

The next closest thing to electric motors would be large displacement-small number of cylinder engines of old fashioned design. For instance, the old “johnny poppers” of john deere tractors from 75 years ago. Or...harley davidson motors. Or...WWII vintage radial aircraft engines. These are all engines designed with the very same advantages you are touting in electric motors.

The only thing I can think of is the strength of the shafts in High RPM situations is much less. Nothing snaps shafts and breaks gears faster than low RPM torque. Heavier drivetrains means slower acceleration...in two ways. The vehicle weighs more, so it accelerates down the strip slower, but also, the rotational inertia is greater, which drags down the motor when trying to “spin up” to speed.

59 posted on 07/30/2007 7:12:35 PM PDT by mamelukesabre
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 58 | View Replies]

To: Godzilla
Earth First!! Mine the other planets later.

Good one!!!

60 posted on 07/30/2007 7:58:51 PM PDT by dc27
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-76 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson