The Venturi VBB-3 established two new FIA world speed records for an electric vehicle : 341.4 miles per hour (549.43kph).
The car also set a top speed record : 358 mph (576 kph). The performance took place on the Bonneville salt flats (Utah, USA) under the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) regulation. Timing has been done on 1 mile ran in both directions at one hour intervals.
With Roger Schroer (from the Transportation Research Center TRC, Ohio) behind the wheel, this is the 5th time in their history that Venturi reached with the Center For Automotive Research (The Ohio State University) this level of performance. In 2009 the Monaco powertrain manufacturer clinched the FIA world speed record for a fuel cell car (303mph/487kph). In 2010 the Venturi VBB-2.5 realized the FIA world speed record for an electric vehicle (307mph/495kph), and in 2014 and 2015 two new category records.
«I each time enjoyed driving the car and achieving this performance. But at those speeds you have to focus on your task not on your emotions. I know we can go further. This week the track was good. No main vehicle instability. Much better than the last days during tuning and testing. We always have to be patient and wait for the track to be ready.» said Roger.
2016 result has been long to come. Built in the first half of 2013, this 3rd generation of Venturi VBB could have run in September 2013. Severe weather that hit Utah 3 years in a row led to the cancellation of record attempts.
«It’s a relief because we were waiting for this result for 3 years. Heavy rain and bad weather conditions on the Salt Flats prevented our success. VBB-3 is the most powerful electric car in the world (3000hp). We had to demonstrate that it was also the fastest. It’s done by breaking our own record achieved with the VBB-2.5 in 2010. It shows also that our partnership between students and a manufacturer can bring a lot in this new automotive industry in terms of research and development», said Gildo Pallanca Pastor, Venturi’s owner.
For Venturi Automobiles the VBB program is a strategic approach and is a fantastic test for electric powertrain in harsh conditions and environments. This scope allows innovation in the fields of electric propulsion and energy efficiency one of the great challenges of the automotive industry. Each component of the vehicle was specifically studied, designed and built for that particular application that has no reference. For CAR it is an incomparable way to expose 25 young engineers to experience the realities of development applied to automotive technology and innovative methods of propulsion.
«For our group of students this program is an incredible way to apply the academic knowledge to real life. Moreover VBB is a unique application, a new world to discover at the forefront of the electric industry. It’s a real experience which interest the companies whom are going to hire our students.» David Cooke, team Manager.
