The dragster: Enough grunt to power a suburb.
Camera IconThe dragster: Enough grunt to power a suburb. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Top EV Racing’s electric dragster has energy of “18kg of TNT”

Staff WriterWanneroo Times

IT’S a groundbreaking dragster built to pack four million watts and a top speed of more than 600km/h all with the power of electricity.

Wangara-based Top EV Racing’s quest to produce the world’s “fastest accelerating wheel-driven vehicle” is nearing completion. Engineers are hoping to build a solar-charged electric car capable of outracing its fuel-powered rivals.

Driver and company director Michael Fragomeni recently described the vehicle’s muscle to newatlas.com like this:

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

“We’re talking about enough potential power, mounted within a foot behind my head, to run a whole suburb of houses with lights and appliances switched on. The electro-chemical energy density of the battery pack is equivalent to more than 18kg of TNT.”

The team hopes to claim the top drag racing and land speed records, and to feature in the Guinness Book of World Records for fastest accelerating electric vehicle and fastest accelerating wheel-driven vehicle outright.

The project has attracted the attention of the Discovery Channel Canada, which is producing a documentary on the teams’ lofty ambitions.

Fragomeni will present an update on the dragster to Innovation and Science Minister Dave Kelly on Friday.

He will also announce new electric vehicle and clean technologies.