Toyota electric car sets speed record [video]
Think electric cars are for aging hippies in the slow lane? Think again.
The EV P001 from Toyota Motorsports Group completed the 12.9-mile Nordschleife course in 7 minutes 47.79 seconds, not a bad speed considering that’s only a minute slower than the record set by a gasoline-engine racecar on the course.
TMG built its EV P001 car especially for the record attempt. At just over 2,100 pounds, the EV P001 is heavy for a race car, but 770 pounds of that weight is a lithium ion ceramic battery pack, rated at 41.5 kilowatt hours. That power gives the EV P001 a top speed of 160 mph and a zero to 62 mph time of 3.9 seconds. The car's two electric motors deliver 375 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque.
This ain’t your tofu-eatin', Birkenstock-wearin', vermicomposting grandma’s electric car, baby.
Full story at CNET.
