BRAILLE BATTERY TO DEBUTE “HOT ROD HYBRID” RACE CAR IN NISSAN NORTH AMERICA SEMA BOOTH # 36215

Las Vegas – Nov 4th – Braille Battery revealed today an exciting collaboration with Nissan North America to create a “Hot Rod Hybrid” that will utilize the Nissan Altima Hybrid. This Hybrid race car is for use in the newly formed Hybrid/electric class in the Redline Time Attack Series and the Cannonball Run/One Lap of America race in April 2009. The car was built in partnership with Universal Technical Institute (UTI) and was painted in eco friendly DuPont paint by East Ridge High School located in Clermont, FL. It utilizes forward thinking products including no-waste ECO 2009 Sparco racing seats, Power Film flexible solar panels, Braille hybrid racing battery and energy conserving Yokohama tires and Stillen aero body paneling.

“We were very honored that Nissan North America chose to select our battery company to build and power this forward thinking race car”, said Brand Manager Ray Ferriera for Braille Battery. “Braille has established a history of providing batteries to start race cars. This project will start a new category of race car that has so many exciting possibilities. The Braille Battery Nissan Altima Hot Rod Hybrid embodies all the concepts that are built into every one of our batteries from lightweight reliable engineering to conserving and recycling materials. We partnered with many aftermarket manufacturers to inspire them to think about the future of racing and our impact on the environment. Many companies have stepped forward already and are represented on the vehicle and many more are showing positive interest here at the SEMA show to get involved. Braille is very aware that to have a future in racing you must first have a future.”

Braille’s past racing projects have led to the development of their lightweight carbon fiber racing batteries for competition and consumer sales. Braille supplies batteries for teams in NASCAR, American Le Mans, Formula Drift, Open Wheel, Drag Racing, and many others. Braille’s patented carbon fiber batteries are becoming the new trend for original equipment usage in performance production vehicles. Blake Fuller, the driver of the Hot Rod Hybrid and owner of Braille Battery continues this thought, “Throughout history, racing has resulted in the development of new technology of future passenger cars. The success of this collaborative project will help to launch a revolution in Hybrid technology and the way Hybrids are perceived by consumers and aftermarket parts manufacturers. We hope to provide the best solution not just in starting batteries, but also in the Hybrid and Electric Vehicle industries.”

Specifications and Performance

Nissan Altima Hybrid – Braille Battery “Hot Rod Hybrid” Race Car
Weight 2970.5 pounds (3485 stock)
“Hot Rod Hybrid” System: 2.5 Liter Inline 4 Cylinder – Ethanol E85 Fuel Permanent Magnet AC Synchronous – Braille Battery Powered
“Hot Rod Hybrid” Horsepower* 440 HP
Modifications – Ethanol E85* Vortech Electric Supercharger DCHSEO-P1
Modifications – Electric Drive* Braille Battery Carbon Racing Pack – Phase 1 Experimental
Horsepower Peak – Ethanol E85* 270 HP @ Crank / 270 @ Crank - Estimated
Torque – Electric* 240 lb/ft @ 0 – 1500 rpm, Voltage 650 Volt Max
Battery Charging Regeneration Technology, Solar Panel Charging System
Transmission Electronically Controlled Continuously Variable Transmission
Chassis Unitized body construction with TIG Welded 6 Point Racing Cage
Suspension BC Racing Aluminum Coil Over Suspension, Stillen Sway Bar
Brakes Wilwood Lightweight Vented Disk w 4-channel ABS
Seats Sparco “ECO2009” Made from waste materials, FIA Approved
Steering Wheel Sparco 360 Suede Wheel
Wheels Front/Rear: 18 x 9 Enkei Lightweight LF-10 Rims
Tires Front/Rear: 255/40 18” Yokohama Low Rolling Resistance Neova High Performance Tires
Acceleration Quarter Mile* 12.9 sec. @ 109.2 mph estimated
Lateral Acceleration* 1.02 g
Braking: 60-0* 97 feet
Racing Fuel Economy* 35 laps at Sebring vs. 20 Laps at Sebring for Non-Hybrid
* Unverified Data. Information Calculated on Individual Manufacturers Specifications

Project Partners

APR Performance Carbon Fiber Splitter
BC Suspension Coil Over Suspension
Braille Battery Design & Production of Altima Braille B106C Battery, Braille Hybrid Carbon Battery Pack
Composite Envisions Complete Carbon Fiber Composite Supply
DuPont Low VOC Paint – Environmentally Safer
DCW Race Fabrication Vehicle Race Preperation - Special Leaf Design Exhaust
East Ridge High School Auto Body Students Painted Vehicle
Enkei Lightweight Racing Wheels LF-10 Model
Ethanol / Epic KL Energy Corp Ethanol Racing Fuel
Nissan North America Altima Hybrid Vehicle
Power Film Solar Flexible High Rate Power Solar Panels
Sparco USA Special Edition “Eco2009” - Made From Excess Production Materials
Stillen Aerodynamic Body Kit, Rear Sway Bar Upgrade
Universal Technical Institute Student Education Involvement for Build of Vehicle
Vortech Electric Supercharger System
VIS Racing Lightweight Carbon Fiber Hood
Wilwood Brakes Lightweight Racing Rotors and Calipers
Xpel Headlight Treatment
Yokohama Tires Neova High Performance Tires – Low Rolling Rate