Venturi VBB-3 341mph Electric Land Speed Record
The Venturi VBB-3 did hit 341 mph (549 km/h) during a 2016 run at the Bonneville Salt Flats, but it did not become the official electric land speed record because the FIA requires two runs in opposite directions within one hour, and the team completed only one qualifying pass. The single run was faster than the existing record at the time, yet the official record remained with the Buckeye Bullet team until they later raised it to 358 mph.
The VBB-3 Project and Its Purpose
The Venturi VBB-3 is a joint project between the Monegasque company Venturi Automobiles and Ohio State University’s Center for Automotive Research. It was built specifically to break the electric land speed record, not to be a production car. The car is a streamliner, meaning it is long, narrow, and shaped purely to minimize aerodynamic drag. Its body is made of carbon fiber, and it rides on solid aluminum wheels with no tires—just machined rings that contact the salt.
The project’s goal was to push electric powertrains beyond 400 mph eventually, but practical challenges at Bonneville—salt conditions, weather, and vehicle stability—kept the team below that target. The VBB-3’s record attempts were also a testbed for battery and motor technology that could later influence road cars.
What Makes the VBB-3 Fast: Powertrain and Design
The VBB-3 uses four electric motors, one per wheel, producing a combined output of around 2,200 kW (about 3,000 horsepower). Power comes from a 1,500-volt lithium-ion battery pack developed by Venturi. The high voltage reduces current for a given power, which cuts resistive losses and allows thinner, lighter cables.
The car’s aerodynamics are extreme: a drag coefficient estimated below 0.15, a frontal area of roughly 0.5 square meters, and a length of about 11 meters. It also uses a movable rear wing and active suspension to keep the body stable at speed. The driver sits in a central cockpit with a canopy that is nearly flush with the body, and the car has no rearview mirrors—the driver relies on cameras and radio communication.
The 2016 Record Run: What Actually Happened
On September 21, 2016, driver Roger Schroer piloted the VBB-3 to a one-way speed of 341.4 mph (549.4 km/h) on the Bonneville Salt Flats. That run was faster than the existing official record of 307.7 mph set by the Buckeye Bullet 2.5 in 2010.
However, the FIA rules for land speed records require two runs in opposite directions within one hour, and the average of the two speeds becomes the record. The VBB-3 team attempted the return run, but a mechanical issue—likely related to the high-voltage system or a wheel bearing—forced them to abort. Without the second run, the 341 mph speed remained unofficial.
Later in the same year, the Buckeye Bullet team (also from Ohio State) returned to Bonneville and set an official two-run average of 358.6 mph, which became the electric land speed record. The VBB-3’s 341 mph run was faster than the previous record but not faster than the new one, and it never made a complete two-run attempt.
How the Electric Land Speed Record Is Officially Measured
The FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) and the FIM (for motorcycles) govern land speed records. For a wheel-driven vehicle, the rules require:
- Two runs in opposite directions over a measured mile or kilometer, with the runs completed within one hour.
- The average speed of the two runs is the official record.
- The vehicle must be inspected before and after the runs for compliance with the class rules (e.g., electric powertrain, wheel-driven).
- Timing is done by official FIA equipment, not the team’s own GPS.
This two-run rule exists to cancel the effect of wind and slight slopes. A tailwind on the first run could inflate the speed, so the opposite direction run must be done to prove the car can achieve similar speed against the wind.
Comparison with Other Land Speed Record Cars
The VBB-3 is often compared to two other notable streamliners:
- Buckeye Bullet 2.5 – The car that held the official electric record before and after the VBB-3’s attempt. It also uses electric motors and a battery pack, but with a different motor configuration (two motors, not four).
- Bloodhound LSR – A jet- and rocket-powered car aiming for 1,000 mph, not electric. It uses a hybrid powertrain with a jet engine and a rocket, and it is not wheel-driven—so it competes in a different class.
- Thrust SSC – The current world land speed record holder at 763 mph, also jet-powered, not electric.
The VBB-3’s 341 mph is far below the absolute record, but it is significant because it demonstrated that electric powertrains can compete with internal combustion in the streamliner class.
Challenges of Running on the Bonneville Salt Flats
Bonneville is a dry lakebed, but it is not a smooth, flat surface. The salt is often rough, with cracks and soft patches. The VBB-3 team faced several issues:
- Salt spray and corrosion – The salt gets into every crevice, damaging electrical connections and bearings.
- Wheel vibration – At over 300 mph, even tiny imbalances in the solid aluminum wheels can cause severe vibration.
- Weather and wind – The runs must happen early in the morning when the air is cool and dense, but wind can change quickly.
- Battery cooling – The battery pack generates enormous heat during a full-power run, and the car has limited time to cool it before the return run.
These challenges are why many record attempts end with only one successful run, as happened with the VBB-3.
Safety and Driver Considerations
Driving a streamliner at 341 mph is extremely dangerous. The driver wears a fire suit, helmet, and a HANS device. The cockpit is sealed, but not pressurized, so the driver must breathe filtered air. The car has a parachute system for braking, plus carbon-ceramic disc brakes on the rear wheels. In an emergency, the driver can deploy both parachutes, but at high speed, steering is extremely sensitive—a small correction can cause a spin.
The team also uses a remote telemetry system to monitor battery temperature, motor speed, and wheel slip in real time. If any parameter goes out of range, the driver is told to abort the run. The VBB-3’s abort during the return run was likely due to such a safety system, not a crash.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why didn’t the VBB-3’s 341 mph count as a record?
Because the FIA requires two runs in opposite directions within one hour, and the average of the two speeds is the record. The VBB-3 completed only one run at 341 mph; the return run was aborted due to a mechanical issue. Without the second run, there is no official average.
What is the current official electric land speed record?
As of the last official FIA record, the Buckeye Bullet team holds the electric land speed record at 358.6 mph (577.1 km/h), set in 2016. This record may have been surpassed since then, but no later official record has been widely confirmed.
Is the VBB-3 street legal?
No. The VBB-3 is a purpose-built land speed record car. It has no lights, no turn signals, no mirrors, and no suspension travel suitable for roads. It cannot be registered or driven on public roads.
How much does the VBB-3 cost?
The exact cost has not been publicly disclosed, but land speed record streamliners typically cost several million dollars, including development, testing, and logistics. The battery pack alone is a custom, high-voltage unit that is very expensive.
Could the VBB-3 go faster than 341 mph?
Possibly. The team designed the car for speeds above 400 mph, but they never achieved that due to technical issues and track conditions. The 341 mph run was likely not the car’s absolute limit, but without a successful return run, it remains the fastest one-way speed recorded for the VBB-3.
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