Electrathon at Ford Proving Grounds - July 2009

[purplepeopledesign]

I was at the Ford Proving Grounds for the Michigan Human Powered Speed Championships on the weekend. On Sunday, there were four electrathon racers running one hour times between the human powered runs. From what I understand, at least two of them broke the record.

ELECTRATHON ONE-HOUR #2 BEST PERFORMANCE
Cloud Electric, Dave Cloud, Builder, Steve Nash, Driver
He broke C.Michael Lewis previous record of 58 miles.
12 laps * (26359.43 feet/5280=4.992316 miles) + 0.9 miles + 790 feet, =
60.95742 miles, 98.10165 km - Broke old World record of 58 mile!!

ELECTRATHON ONE-HOUR WORLD RECORD
C. Micheal Lewis, Builder & Driver
He broke his own previous record of 58 miles.
12 laps * (26359.43 feet/5280=4.992316 miles) + 2.0 miles + 321 feet, =
61.96859 miles, 99.72898 km - Broke old World record of 58 mile!!

ensen.

 

[paultrafalgar]

Interesting. Do you have any info on the technology used?

 

[Tiberius]

Tell us more, please. Any links?

I'm very interested. What manner of vehicles were these; what were the rules?

Nick

 

[John in CR]

Don't those guys have a 1kwh battery limit? It seems like I remember the old record holder saying he used just under 1kwh to set the 58mile record. Without a battery limit wouldn't those bikes in the race at the Isle of Man easily surpass 60mi in an hour?

John

 

[Zoot Katz]

Tell us more, please. Any links?

I'm very interested. What manner of vehicles were these; what were the rules?

Nick

http://www.electrathonamerica.org/designrules2.htm

 

[purplepeopledesign]

Not sure about the technology, although I recall seeing Optima batteries in the pit area. There are all sorts of photos at the race homepage.

http://www.recumbents.com/home.asp?URL=wisil/fordchallenge2009

ensen.