NEDRA News

Current Eliminator Surpasses Record with new Lithium Batteries

By Jim Ludiker

NEDRA NEWS, December 16 - On Saturday Dec 15th at Speed World Drag Strip in AZ, Altairnano batteries powered Dennis Berube's dragster "Current Eliminator 5 " to a new NEDRA record. Starting with the first run of the day at about 30% power the car ran 10.047 ET @ 128.71 MPH.

Second run was 9.957 ET @ 129 MPH.

Third run we turned the Zilla up to 40%. Dennis staged the car, came off the line strong and when he put his foot in it, the car made a violent left turn and spun out and rolled backwards down the drag strip, he didn't hit anything and the car was untouched, the crowd went wild, a fantastic job of driving. He then drove back to the starting line and back to the pits so we could check the car out thoroughly. The only thing we found was a dirty spot in the drivers seat.

The problem with running a high powered vehicle this time of year is a cold track surface. Early morning it was only 45 degrees, very cold to the touch and at the end of the day it was only 63 degrees, still very cold and very hard to get traction.

Forth run, after a very large burn out to get some heat in the tires, Dennis rolled to the starting line and made a perfect run of 8.84 @ 144 MPH.

Fifth run, turn the Zilla up a little bit, do giant burn out and roll to starting line, and as soon as Dennis hits the peddle the car doesn't move aninch and the tires go up in smoke. Now it's passed mid day and the track is starting to cool down so we have to try something else.

Sixth run, giant burn out all the way past the starting line about 50 feet, push the car back to the line in the exact hot/sticky tire prints for a run of 8.40 @148 MPH. A new record for Dennis, but of coarse he wants more so back to the pits to get ice for the Zilla and another 12 minute charge for this awesome battery pack.

Seventh run, bump the Zilla up another 5% and do it again 8.23 @ 150 MPH.

By this time everyone in the stands and all the track personal are going crazy, to make this many runs and chop time off EVry run is extremely rare. But Dennis gets a bright idea, on the eight and last run he follows a supercharged alcohol dragster to the starting line, as soon as the supercharged car left the line Dennis rolled up in his big wide hot tire marks and blasts an awesome 8.10 @ 153 MPH.

After 8 hard runs and quick turn arounds the motor never got over 85 degrees, the commutater looked like new and the brushes we picture perfect. Dennis says this motor has over 150 runs on it with no signs of wear or arcing since he built it. With bigger tires, warmer conditions he is looking for some serious 7 second runs. We had no idea this car was going to have this much power, we were only using 55% of the energy on board, the car will be getting bigger wider tires for the next time out So to answer any questions about Altairnano Lithium batteries, yes they are VERY REAL.

Jim Ludiker
NEDRA Vice President Elect