Electric Powered Beetle Rips Across the Drag Strip
The Black Current III, as it’s called in the United Kingdom, first entered into the publics attention when it showed up to the Santapod Raceway. Appearing up at the starting line in a modified 1965 VW Beetle chassis and frame, it looked very similar to other Beetle dragsters which had been making a resurgence. The original 1965 Volkswagen Beetle was made from the floor up to be an economy car ideal for commuting. Though its engineers at Volkswagen would claim it was made for sustained high speeds on the autobahn, most markets had no need at that time for a European competitor to the muscle car. Plus, in its small, compact package size – it was far ahead of the trend of compacts as racing vehicles.
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Initial Successes on the Racetrack
When the classic Beetle first stepped onto the racetrack in 1951, it was equipped with a 1.3 L diesel engine. Not at all turbocharged, it still managed to turn heads at Nürburgring when it made it from 0-60 mph in 60 seconds. While that’s a yawn-able feat by the 1960s, it did show that a resilient, smaller form factor could still get up and go – which was ideal for the marketplace Volkswagen was looking to gain international renown.
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By the time 1965 rolled around, the Volkswagen Beetle was built with an engine that could displace much larger volumes. It’s new engine had the equivalent of 50 hp and 78 lb ft of torque at 4,200 rpm. When compared to present day mopeds, the Beetle was right on track. Beetles really didn’t get teeth until 1975 when Volkswagen began experimenting with fuel injection systems. The Bosch L-Jetronic became the first air-cooled fuel injection system used on the Beetles and gave it considerably more power. However, because the VW Beetle had great rearward weight distribution, it started to be a pet project car for drag racing enthusiasts, off-roading competitors, and European rallycross.
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Taking out the classic Type III engine and fuel injection system and rebuilding from the frame up, the team that built it was looking to break previously held drag racing records
Enter the Black Current III
Taking out the classic Type III engine and fuel injection system and rebuilding from the frame up, the team that built it was looking to break previously held drag racing records in two categories: quarter mile time and best-in-class electric. That’s no small feat considering the 1965 Volkswagen Beetle is very unaccommodating for advanced wiring harnesses and new technology. Still, the team engineers, in 2011, managed to break previous records when the Black Current III broke the 9.51 second mark on the quarter-mile. Achieving a top speed of 135 mph and an acceleration of 0-60 mph in just 1.6 seconds, it definitely proved that Volkswagen held a rightful place on the drag strip. This notable achievement was really the focus of learning from previous lessons in Black Current 1 & II. One of the biggest lessons was the mistake of using repurposed motorcycle batteries to power the dragster. Everything in drag racing comes down to minuscule details such as weight ratios, mass, and – especially in the case of electric vehicles – capacitance. This Beetle can only use the electricity made available to it on a near instantaneous rate. The second that power dips dramatically due to acceleration or overloads the system, the car is toast. So, to avoid those issues, Black Current III’s team used ultra-lightweight lithium cobalt oxide batteries. This new battery system provided up to 680 kW of power for the drive train. Facilitating this electric transfer is a Zilla 2K-HV controller. It helps ensure every Watt of power is quickly transferred from capacitance to the engine.
What the Black Current III Means for Racing
Electric vehicles aren’t about to overtake the world of muscle automotives and dragsters any time soon. One of the main factor is the development and customization of the materials necessary to get these dragsters up and rolling. With the Black Current III, significant modifications had to be made to the frame and chassis to both handle the load of its battery systems and improve aerodynamic performance. The other major downfall, for the time being, is the rate of discharge of its batteries. Equipped with the optimal power storage to complete the quarter mile, it wouldn’t have a chance in a longer run race. At present, there’s no easy way to switching out battery packs like heavy duty cars are able to simply replace fluids. And with long races such as the Baja 1000, the Black Current III simply couldn’t withstand the impact of off-road conditions. This doesn’t mean the Volkswagen Beetle chassis isn’t a beloved starter base for everything from off-road racing to dune buggy hopping. The great advantage of this chassis is it can be modified easily to accommodate a variety of engines and transmission types – ideal for racers who continue to innovate on the road. While it may be some time before we see electric powered Baja racers hitting the scene, the Black Current III certainly sets the precedent that races can be won with a purely electric vehicle. So, at present, Black Current III’s team can stand proud that they indeed broke world records with their electric powered 1965 Volkswagen Beetle. It’s one brave step for the world of electric vehicles and certainly another little hop forward in the world of drag racing.
