And Speaking of Batteries…

by Glenn Swanson

Published: August 10th, 2007

An experimental Japanese electric car has set a new speed record: 105.95 kmph (65.8 mph). And you can forget all that lithium-ion stuff. According to NewCarNet, the four-wheeled record holder was powered by common AA household batteries. Albeit lot’s of ‘em. In fact, the Panasonic Oxyride needed 192 of the diminutive batteries to get its freak on. The experimental vehicle was not radio controlled, did contain a [small, reclining] human and weighed-in at less than 84 pounds (38 kgs.) The automobile's accelerative accomplishment comes hard on the heels of a Japanese aircraft powered by 160 AA batteries that recently took wing. While the craft only achieved five meters altitude for less than a minute, it was "the world's first manned flight powered by dry-cell batteries." We can't wait for the 356-battery flying car.

Glenn Swanson

Glenn is a baby-boomer, born in 1954. Along with his wife, he makes his home in Connecticut. Employed in the public sector as an Information Tedchnology Specialist, Glenn has long been a car fan. Past rides have included heavy iron such as a 1967 GTO, to a V8 T-Bird. In between those high-horsepower cars, he's owned a pair of BMW 320i's. Now, with a daily commute of 40 miles, his concession to MPG dictates the ownership of a 2006 Honda Civic coupe which, while fun to drive, is a modest car for a pistonhead. As an avid reader, Glenn enjoys TTAC, along with many other auto-realated sites, and the occasional good book. As an avid electronic junkie, Glenn holds an Advanced Class amateur ("ham") radio license, and is into many things electronic. From a satellite radio and portable GPS unit in the cars, to a modest home theater system and radio-intercom in his home, if it's run by the movement of electrons, he's interested. :-)

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3 comments

Shaker on Aug 10, 2007

Damn! I'll bet the Energizer Bunny dropped a couple of pellets on that news! It is an accomplishment (of sorts) that speaks more to electric motor technology than battery technology; yet dry cells have come a long way in the past 20 years.

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Z31 on Aug 10, 2007

A record for what? AA batteries? The Buckeye Bullet holds the land speed record for an electric car at hair under 315mph.

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Glenn Swanson on Aug 10, 2007

Appears to be for dry-cell batteries. The Buckeye Bullet 2 is powered by hydrogen and oxygen. And the Buckeye Bullet 1 was powered by 31 lead acid batteries.

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