KleenSpeed Technologies EV-X11 Sets Electric Race Car Record at Laguna Seca
Image credit: David Herron
The KleenSpeed Technologies EV-X11 Electric Race Car Powered by UQM Technologies Electric Drive System has set a new lap record of 1:38.858 during the 3rd annual REFUEL – Clean Power Motorsports Event at MAZDA Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California. The KleenSpeed EV-X11 was almost four seconds faster than last year’s car, the WX-10, which set the previous record of 1:42.5 during REFUEL 2010.
In preparation for the competition, the team made several key changes to the EV-X11 including installing a UQM Technologies PowerPhase Select 145 electric drive system. According to team members, while tuning and assessing its potential, they limited to using only 65% of the available torque when the new record was set. “The new UQM PowerPhase Select 145 gave us more power, less weight, complete programmability and better power management,” said Dante Zeviar, Chief Technology Officer of KleenSpeed Technologies.
“The KleenSpeed EV-X11 was considerably faster than last year’s car, with much better acceleration and overall speed due to the completely new KleenSpeed electric power system incorporating a more powerful UQM electric motor and controller,” said Tim Collins, President of KleenSpeed Technologies. “This new system is not only more powerful and sophisticated; it is also much lighter, which offers many additional benefits.”
A UQM powered vehicle set a second performance record this week when the SWIGZ.COM Pro Racing electric motorcycle broke the previous record during the 89th Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.
“The EV-X11 benefited from the same advantages that our systems offer production vehicle manufacturers: a power-dense design, compact packaging, exceptional torque delivery and more efficient use of electrical power,” said Eric Ridenour, President and Chief Executive Officer of UQM Technologies. “We offer the KleenSpeed team our congratulations on this record as they continue to demonstrate and raise awareness for the performance capability of electric vehicles.”
Located in the NASA Ames Research Park near Mountain View, California, KleenSpeed Technologies is working to develop original solutions in Electric Propulsion systems, Energy Storage systems and Electric Vehicle Systems Integration.
UQM Technologies develops and manufactures power-dense, high-efficiency electric motors, generators and power electronic controllers for the automotive, aerospace, military and industrial markets.
