Battery boat busts record

New world and United Kingdom national records of 142.6km/h have been set by a Jaguar Vector Racing V20E battery-powered boat.

That beat the previous electric best of 123.59km/h set in 2008 by almost 20km/h.

The record setting 142.6km/h average speed was recorded across two legs of the kilometre-long course on Coniston Water, England.

Formula E electric car racing technology was used by Jaguar Racing’s technical partner Williams Advanced Engineering for the boat.

Jaguar Vector co-founder and technical director Peter Dredge piloted the V20E.

Further world and national record attempts are planned during the next 18 months as part of a major initiative to push the boundaries of performance and to showcase British engineering.

“It is a great honour for the Vector team to follow in the footsteps of Donald Campbell CBE and to set a world record on the historic Coniston Water,” Jaguar Vector Racing chief executive officer Malcolm Crease says.

Preparations took a year and Crease says it’s a great first step in bringing the power and versatility of electrification to the marine industry.

“Our experience from powering the entire Formula E grid for the past four seasons of racing and our ongoing partnership with Jaguar in the ABB FIA Formula E championship provided the technical and operational platform required to achieve this fantastic result,” Williams Advanced Engineering managing director Craig Wilson says.