British team to try again

WEST WENDOVER, Nev. — A British team attempting to break the speed record for electric-powered cars called off its effort Thursday, blaming gusty winds and mechanical problems. They plan to try again today.

The team is trying to eclipse the record for an electric car weighing more than 2,200 pounds by using a vehicle with 52 batteries and no mechanical gears.

Nevada agreed to shut down a state highway for the torpedo-shaped car's attempt to top 300 mph — which would shatter the old mark of 245 mph, set by an American team in 1999 using a similarly streamlined car powered by thousands of "AA" batteries.

Britons Mark Newby and Colin Fallows already have accelerated their car to 146 mph in just 1,000 yards — the longest, safest distance available to them in England. They say the test showed they can easily beat the world record.

The car uses compact, industrial motors and drives made by Swiss engineering company ABB Ltd.

Newby, 46, a pilot, drives the car. Fallows, 54, a retired Royal Air Force propulsion technician, designed it. They built the vehicle in a barn in the English countryside using money from home-equity loans.

"We think that at some point in the future, all cars will be electric, and we want to show you can go fast in an electric car," Newby said.

The "emotion" car has no mechanical gears, which are useful for acceleration but limit torque at top speeds. The car is designed to top 300 mph on a pair of motors than can turn out as much horsepower as a new Chevrolet Corvette with 7-liter, V8 engine.

Newby was to make two runs Thursday. His team is now looking to today.

After the first run, mechanics will replace the batteries and turn around the car for a second run. The speeds of each run will then be averaged by agents for the Federation Internationale de L'Automobile, the motor sports governing body that will impound the car for an inspection after the attempt.