FSU Electrical Powered Car Takes Laps At DIS

Student Alvin Lim, left, and FSU President T.K. Wetherell touring the 2.5-mile tri-oval of Daytona International Speedway

DAYTONA BEACH , Fla. (April 27, 2009) – Students from the High Performance Material Institute of Florida State University and school president T.K. Wetherell took laps around historic Daytona International Speedway on Monday in an all-black, electrical-powered composite car.

            The students, led by principal designer Alvin Lim, designed and built the car in four months. Taking laps around “The World Center of Racing” was an idea of Wetherell, who is a graduate of nearby Mainland High School.

“We had to take it to Daytona,” Wetherell said. “This is Daytona. If you want to showcase it, you have to take it to Daytona.”

            Wetherell and principal designer Alvin Lim toured the 2.5-mile tri-oval in just over seven minutes. The car is powered by nine 12-volt batteries and reached a top speed of 30 mph.

            Tickets for the upcoming Coke Zero 400 Weekend Powered By Coca-Cola are available online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.