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Solectria Vehicle Wins EV Tour de Sol

May 06, 1999 by Jeff Shepard

Solectria Corp. (Wilmington, MA) announced that a Solectria Force electric sedan powered by GP Nickel Metal Hydride batteries captured first place overall in the 11th annual Northeast Sustainable Energy Association's week-long American Tour de Sol ("NESEA Tour") electric vehicle (EV) championship. This marks the 11th year Solectria has come in first.The winning car, sponsored by GP Batteries International Ltd., EVermont (the Vermont Electric Vehicle Program), the Northeast Alternative Vehicle Consortium (NAVC), and Solectria, demonstrated a driving range of 142 miles on one charge and also won recognition for its efficiency, reliability, acceleration, handling, and consumer acceptability.Second place was awarded to a Solectria Force equipped with Ovonic Nickel Metal Hydride batteries entered by the Ovonic Battery Company of Troy, Michigan. Third went to a Solectria Force with SAFT Nickel Cadmium (NiCad) batteries entered by the Rideshare Company of Windsor, Connecticut and the Connecticut Department of Transportation.The Ethel Walker School of Simsbury, Connecticut won fifth place and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation took eighth place, each team driving a Solectria Force powered by lead acid batteries. "As in past years, we are again thrilled with the success of so many of our customers. Time and again, they have demonstrated that Solectria electric cars and trucks work great in real-world driving conditions," commented Solectria CEO James Worden.