Video: Tesla-powered ‘Lakester’ aims for EV speed record

A Tesla-powered Lakester will aim to break the Electric Vehicle E2 Class land speed record at this year’s Speed Week event at the Bonneville salt flats in the US from August 8-14.

The “Electraliner Project”, a collaboration between EV West and Hickey Speed, built the Lakester from scratch and incorporated a Tesla motor and many batteries, CleanTechnica reports.

More details about the Lakester are expected to be revealed after Speed Week.

Jalopnik

says a small solar array will be used on the salt flats to charge three swappable racks of batteries between runs.

The E2 class record for electric streamliners between 498.95kg (1100 pounds) and 997.9kg (2200 pounds) was set in 1997 with Ed Rannberg doing the two-run-average record at 342.79km/h in the Lightning Rod, CleanTechnica says.

EVs and Beyond has frequently featured Kiwi streamline racer Eva Hakansson who has transitioned from her three-wheel Killajoule to Green Envy and is planning to set land speed records in Australia.