Nemesis sets new UK electric land speed record

Ecotricity’s Nemesis isn’t new – it’s a specially modified all-electric Lotus Exige we first encountered back in 2010 – but it has just set a brand new UK electric land speed record.

Timed in York last week, it managed two runs in opposite direction within an hour at an average of 151mph, beating the previous record of 137mph by a 14mph margin.

On Bing: see images of the Ecotricity Nemesis

Mercedes-Benz SLS Electric Drive at Paris 2012

Described as the brainchild of Ecotricity founder, Dale Vince OBE, the Nemesis is based on a Lotus Exige but powered by a pair of 125kW electric motors.

They deliver the equivalent of 330hp and 442lb ft of torque – the latter figure being available as soon as you press the accelerator pedal, it’s also capable of 0-100mph in just 8.5 seconds.

It took 18 months to develop, and is said to have cost in the region of £1 million. It has a range of between 100 and 150 miles (depending on driving style), and its battery pack can be charged in as little as 30 minutes.

And as if that wasn’t already impressive enough, Ecotricity is an electricity company that generates its juice using wind power exclusively – thus charged, the Nemesis can be driven totally and utterly CO2 emissions free.

The record-breaking pilot was 21-year-old Nick Ponting, a racing driver from Gloucestershire – where Ecotricity is based. The new record was set at Elvington Airfield, near York, and was verified by the Motor Sport Association.

Speaking after the successful record attempt, Dale Vince:

“This is brilliant. We built the Nemesis to smash the stereotype of electric cars as something Noddy would drive – slow, boring, not cool – and I think we’ve done exactly that today.”

“What we’ve demonstrated is that wind-powered cars are not just feasible, but can be a load of fun.”

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On Bing: see images of the Ecotricity Nemesis

Mercedes-Benz SLS Electric Drive at Paris 2012