NHRA - National Hot Rod Association

BUY TICKETS

Electric Cobra Jet sets world record at Winternationals with seven-second blast

Ford’s Cobra Jet 1800 made electric-racecar history Friday at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals, clocking a sizzling run of 7.759 seconds at 180.14 mph at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip, breaking its own mark of 8.12, 171.97 set back in 2021.
23 Mar 2024
Posted by NHRA.com staff
News
Cobra Jet

Ford’s Cobra Jet 1800 made electric-racecar history Friday at the Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals, clocking a sizzling run of 7.759 seconds at 180.14 mph at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip, breaking its own mark of 8.12, 171.97 set back in 2021.

The record was the culmination of tireless innovation, from slashing the battery system's weight by over 40% to fine-tuning the suspension geometry to perfection. As driver Pat McCue notes, the Super Cobra Jet 1800 stands as a testament to the untapped potential of EVs in motorsport.

The Super Cobra Jet 1800's journey from concept to record-breaker involved significant upgrades over the previous 1,400-hp version. Among these were a custom control strategy and a cutting-edge lightweight battery system, born from the collaboration between Ford Performance and MLe Racecars. This beast of a machine runs on a powerhouse setup featuring four PN250DZR inverters and two double-stacked DS-250-115 motor pairings, all optimized for unprecedented launches and performance.

The transformation didn't stop at the hardware. The dedication to innovation extended to a "blank page" redesign of the battery system, achieving a staggering 30 percent power increase. This leap forward wasn't just about setting records; it was about reimagining the potential of electric power in motorsports.