A British team's second attempt at the official land speed record for an electric vehicle has been foiled by an "electrical gremlin".

The team's first go at the 394km/h (245mph) record in Nevada, US, had to be aborted on Thursday because of gusty winds and battery problems.  The bright orange, 10m-long (32ft) ABB e=motion car is powered by variable speed drives and two 37kW motors.

ABB Emotion

The official record was set by the US White Lightning vehicle in 1999.  E=motion also aims to be the first car of its kind to break the 483km/h (300mph) barrier.  "It's an electrical gremlin. It could be related to cold, damp temperatures in the Nevada desert," said design engineer Colin Fallows.  "It's just one of those things - never get involved in cars," added driver and fellow car developer, Mark Newby.

The torpedo-shaped e=motion vehicle has been developed by the two British engineers. Thursday's first attempt was frustrated because auxiliary batteries for the car's electronic controls lost their full charge, said Mr Newby, a former pilot from Oxfordshire.  Strong cross winds which could have knocked the car off course whipped up while the batteries were being recharged, making the team wait a further day.

The team will now prepare for a final attempt at the closed-off highway it is using on Saturday.  A streetcar racing team is due to use the highway on Sunday, and the British team says it may not be able to financially afford to extend its stay.

Unofficial speeds

The record attempt will be monitored and verified by Fia (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) officials.  The car has to complete two recorded runs at more than 394km/h over a distance of one kilometre (0.622 miles), within an hour. The batteries will be replaced after the first attempt then the car plans to make its second run.

Replacing the car's 52 batteries

The variable speed driver technology converts the 600V DC (direct current) which the batteries generate into AC (alternating current) power for the two motors.

The two motors have a ventilation system which uses a series of fans to ensure they do not overheat during the attempt. The motors' maximum operating temperature is 180ºC (356ºF).

Special sensors fitted on to the motors will also provide the team with real-time information about how hot they are getting. Electric cars have obvious environmental benefits. The drive technology used in e=motion is employed in a range of settings worldwide, from water pumps to steel mills. ABB claims it cuts carbon dioxide emissions by 68 million tonnes annually.

A two-man British team has abandoned an attempt at the world land speed record for an electric car after they were unsuccessful three times.

A series of technical glitches at a test track in Nevada put an end to Colin Fallows and Mike Newby's dream.  Designer Mr Fallows, from Northampton, had hoped his torpedo-shaped ABB e=motion car would smash the current record of 245mph by at least 55mph.

But a scheduled attempt on Saturday failed after the car would not fire up.

Saturday was the last chance to attempt the record before insurance and a three-day permit to use the stretch of Route 93A near the city of West Wendover expired.

The 54-year-old Mr Fallows and driver Mr Newby, from Oxfordshire, hope to return next year with their bright orange, 10m-long (32ft) car to repeat their attempt. The car has 52 batteries and no mechanical gears.

'Extremely disappointed'

Mr Newby's wife Wendy said: "The car's just not working. Mark said it wasn't the batteries but the components from them.  "They have fired the batteries up but the car's not starting.  "Mark is extremely disappointed after all the work he has put in, getting sponsorship and putting so much time into it.

"He has been working for this for so long, but he will do it some way or another."

Two previous attempts on Thursday and Friday were abandoned due to winds and electrical problems.  The attempts were monitored and verified by Fia (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) officials.