Short Bytes: In 2015, VBB-3 recorded 288mph (463km/h) as the top speed. While on the final run, it was continuously accelerating to almost 300mph (482km/h) which led to the breakdown of VBB-3 coolant on the extremely bumpy track resulting in a punctured coolant tank. This year with so much modification, it is expected that VBB-3 will touch 400 mph.
There is a pair of electric motors, each with the capacity of 1,500 HP. This power comes from eight large lithium-ion battery packs. Earlier VBBs set records in 2009 and 2010, but last summer terrible salt conditions prevented VBB-3 from running a proper test program to 400mph and beyond.
This will not be the first time when VBBs will set a speed record. Earlier in 2009 and 2010, VBBs have already set speed records. Last summer, due to unfortunate salt conditions, VBB-3 was prevented from running a proper test program to 400mph and beyond.
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Each axle of this car is powered by its own electric motor. Two lithium-ion battery packs are packed together and fed into each inverter. Each of these inverters converts DC from the batteries into the AC needed by the motors.
To cool the motors on long runs, these motors will have cooling oil jackets and oil will be pumped over these magnets to keep them cool in the best possible way. Radiators would mean vents or intakes. VBB-3 has closed-loop cooling systems. A closed-loop cooling circulates fluids around the engine area which have the higher chances of heat dissipation.
For this machine, there is a water tank which is filled as closely as possible. This year, the VBB-3 team has also come up with an off-board cooling loop for the motors along with an ATF [automatic transmission fluid] oil chilling circuit that circulates around the motors. Motors and inverters are brought down to 0 degrees Celsius before the start of a run, and they hit the operating temperature in just around 60 seconds.
This year with so much modification, it is expected that VBB-3 will touch 400 mph. Let’s see what happens in the next run.
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