Clean Air Car Race - 1970

LONGEST EVER ELECTRIC CAR RACE -- THROUGH
 U.S.A. AND CANADA

EFP ELECTRIC VEHICLES TAKE FIRST AND SECOND PLACES IN
3,600 MILE RACE THROUGH TWO COUNTRIES
 

The 1970 Intercollegiate Clean Air Car Race, featured 50 zero to low emission vehicles from 40 colleges and universities all over America. Electric Cars, Hybrid Electric Cars, Steam Cars, Propane Cars, and Turbine Cars were placed in five separate race divisions. The race started at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, Massachusetts on August 24, 1970, and ended at California Institute of Technology (CALTECH) in Pasadena, California on September 2, 1970. At Niagara Falls, the cars crossed the U.S.A. border and headed for Toronto, Canada, -- and from there to Detroit , Michigan - on to San Diego, California -- and finally to the finish line in Pasadena, California.

In the Pure Electric Car Division, 16 cars registered for the race including 2 vehicles produced by Electric Fuel Propulsion Inc. (EFP), a 1970 Electric Hornet driven by students from Cornell University and a 1970 MARS Van driven by students from Stevens Institute of Technology. Only 12 of the 16 electric cars passed the pre-race qualification tests and were allowed to enter the race.

During the race, 6 cars dropped out before crossing the Massachusetts border, 7 more cars dropped out in Michigan and the Georgia Tech car dropped out at the Mississippi River.

The 2 EFP vehicles crossed the finish line at CALTECH, the Lead Cobalt Batteries having been operated at high, fast charge currents, up to 250 amps, and high operating currents, up to 300 amps with 600 amp surges, 24-hours a day for 9-days. As in the 1968 Great Transcontinental Electric Car Race, the vehicles operated on Interstate Highways and passed through several climate changes. Deserts and mountains were crossed. The vehicles proved to be more dependable than the drivers who were nearly exhausted at the end of the race.