Lucid Air has completed the second round of high-speed testing of its Alpha Speed Car – and achieved a top speed of 235mph. For maximum safety, the prototype was fitted with a roll cage in preparation for the tests, which were conducted at the Transportation Research Center (TRC) in Ohio.
Initial high-speed test runs were conducted early this year in April and exceeded expectations. The driver exited the banked oval at over 200mph. For additional safety the car was given aerodynamic aids and a parachute to slow the vehicle abruptly in case the straights didn’t prove long enough to reach desired speeds and slow down sufficiently for the next turn. The car hit the speed limiter less than a quarter of the way down the straight, leaving plenty of space to slow down without the use of the parachute.
Following the test, Lucid engineers made a number of adjustments to the vehicle. After completing a series of other tests, the team was ready to run the oval. When the team woke at 5am, it was pouring rain and tests were nearly canceled, however when they arrived at the track the rain had stopped. The road rapidly dried, thanks to TRC’s jet dryer truck.
This time the Air Alpha came off the banking at 215mph and reached an ultimate GPS confirmed speed of just over 235mph.Vehicle dynamics, air suspension and thermal performance were all as expected.
July 13, 2017
