Jan 2 2008
Altair Nanotechnologies Inc., a leading manufacturer of safe, high-performance lithium-titanate battery pack products and energy storage products announced today that Dennis “Kilowatt” Berube set a new National Electric Drag Racing Association (NEDRA) electric vehicle world speed record driving an electric dragster powered by Altairnano battery packs. This is the 17th consecutive year that Dennis Berube has held the world record for fastest electric vehicle in a quarter mile.
Using Altairnano’s lithium-titanate battery packs, Berube's electric dragster, named the Current Eliminator V, achieved the electric vehicle world speed record at the Southwestern International Raceway in Tucson, AZ on Sunday, December 30th. Requirements for setting the world record include two record-breaking times on the same day under the same conditions. With runs rapidly decreasing in time, Berube began with 9.0 seconds, followed by 8.4, then 8.009 seconds. On the fourth run of the day, Berube broke into the 7-second category reaching 159.65 mph in 7.956 seconds. Dennis then assured his spot in the record book with a consecutive run of 7.963 while reaching 160.65 mph for the quarter mile.
“Setting two world records in one month is an impressive feat,” said Dr. Alan Gotcher, President and CEO of Altair Nanotechnologies. “With his first record in the electric dragster category and now the record for all electric vehicles, Dennis and Altairnano are pushing the frontier of advanced battery technology in racing vehicles.”
A founding competitor of the National Electric Drag Racing Association (NEDRA), Dennis Berube has made the exceptional accomplishment of improving upon and maintaining notable records on numerous occasions over a 17-year span.