An old-timer electric racing car has the 100 km/h record
According to our recent knowledges it's probably difficult to believe, though there was a time, when the fastest vehicles were powered by electric engines.
It's a fact that the electric resources are able to ensure by low 'rpm' a high torque, which in case of a proper transmission may result a really high speed.
That the recognition doesn't come from these days, for this the La Jamais Contente from 1899 is a good example. The electric vehicle used by the Belgian Camille Jenatzy was the first electric car, which reached the 100 km/h speed. Two, singly 50 kW performanced electro engines powered the wheels of the bullet designed car rolling on Michelin tyres.
The battery was always a tender point in such a construction, though according to these the unit made up of hundred 2 volt cells proved to be sufficient to reach the limit which may truly seem as a dream that time.
The body was made up of weak metal plates and the driver hung out of the car from the waist up. At this time it was thought that the burden hitting the respiratory and – muscle system, which rises at the speed of 60 mph (appr. 100 km/h), can't be survived.
The front and rear part of the car was the same. The driver sat in the middle and controlled the car by the help of a steering column. All wheels sat on simplistic springs reminiscent of that of the carriages.