Edna Extends to ¼ Mile

Last month we shared a video of Edna during a routine test session in Crows Landing, California. That session was primarily focused on 0-60 mph and ⅛ mile performance. In Round 1 of these tests Edna was able to post a best 0-60 mph time of 3.08 seconds, and a ⅛ mile time of 7.3 seconds @ 97.5 mph. More importantly, we were able to capture large quantities of data that allows us to further improve the performance of the Atieva powertrain system.

Since the last test we have been poring over the data looking for ways to further enhance low-end acceleration. We have also been working on the motor control strategy at higher motor speeds. AC induction motors, which are currently installed in Edna, require fine tuning at all motor speeds in order to extract maximum performance. Until this month the team had been focused primarily on the low-end, but with the performance now approaching maximum potential we are extending this tuning beyond 100 mph.

The test session began with a few exploratory runs to confirm that the adjustments to the algorithms were having the desired effect. After some additional tuning and a top-off charge it was time to begin instrumented runs. The results?

0-60 mph: 2.94 seconds
1/8 mile: 7.2 seconds @ 99 mph
1/4 mile: 11.3 @ 117 mph

We were thrilled by the improvement in the 0-60 mph time from the last test, but the team was most excited by the results of our first ¼ mile test. We believe there is still more performance available in Edna and we are looking forward to the next test session. The recent tests also bode well for our sedan’s performance potential, particularly given the significant weight reduction compared to Edna.

 

After a successful day of testing acceleration in the 100+ degree sun Edna wasn’t yet finished. With the battery partially depleted from multiple ¼ mile runs, we drove her 90 miles home to Menlo Park, with plenty of charge to spare.

For the next test session we would like to give you an opportunity to test your car against Edna. We will select three winners to test with us in Crows Landing, CA. A ride in Edna is obviously included :). If you would like to participate, please complete the application form. We will reach out to a few of you to confirm dates and times. Charging is available at the track if you decide to bring an electric car.

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