Electric drag racing

Electric drag racing rules are very different from traditional drag racing. The common safety rules apply but additional rules apply depending on voltage, battery type, motor number and configuration. The National Electric Drag Racing Association (NEDRA) oversees the majority of electric drag racing events in North America.

Electric motors produce 100% torque at zero RPM and this makes them quicker off the line compared to a piston-engined vehicle of the same power. Since Battery Technology has improved a great deal during the 1980s to present, the performance gap between piston-engined & electric-motor vehicles has narrowed. The weight of the battery packs can impact overall performance raising 1/4 mile times.

In the drag motorcycle class, 48 volt NEDRA division, current world record is 7.800 seconds over 1/8 mile, set on 16 June 2010 by Silver Giant II at Mosten, Denmark. Finish line speed was 80.20 mph (129 km/h). The lithium-ion polymer battery provides 48 volts and 600 amperes to each of four 24 volt motors for a combined power of around 100kW, although less than half that power reaches the rear wheel, because a large part is lost as heat in the motors. Dry ice is used to cool the motors to 5 °C between races. It has two gears, and the shift occurs automatically at 65 km/h (40 mph) using CO₂-pneumatics. It is built and raced by Danish Team True Cousins, who holds the record for the 24 volt division at 8.677 seconds.

The current quickest electric vehicle in the world as of May 4, 2012 is the "Rocket Bike", a motorcycle owned by Shawn Lawless and piloted by Larry "Spiderman" McBride with a time of 6.940 seconds ET in the quarter mile at 201.37 MPH for a new NEDRA World Record. Besides being the first rider to break 200 MPH in the quarter mile Mr. McBride was also the first to break into the 6 seconds bracket with an electric vehicle. Larry "Spiderman" McBride is also the first to break into the 5 second bracket on a fuel powered motorcycle. This bike currently holds the NEDRA World Record in class DC3/MC in the National Electric Drag Racing Association.

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