Electric car sets new 204.9 miles-per-hour world land speed record

An electric car built by students at Brigham Young University has reportedly set a new land speed record breaking the former 200 miles-per-hour record for cars in its class. The car named 'Electric Blue' averaged a mind-blowing 204.9 miles-per-hour over two runs at the Bonneville Salt Flats this month, beating its own previous record from 2011 by nearly 50 miles-per-hour.

Kelly Hales, an electrical engineering student at the university and captain of the car's design team, said in a written statement that when they set the record three years ago they felt like they left a lot on the table, adding that on paper they thought they could get 200 miles-per-hour but they never had the conditions just right; until now, Huffington Post reported. Electric Blue competes in the 'E1' racing class, since it's electrically powered and weighs less than 1,100 pounds.

The sleek blue-and-white streamliner is made of lightweight carbon fiber and powered by lithium iron phosphate batteries. Its spaceship-like design has been modified by dozens of students over the course of 10 years. Following the record-setting run, the car has been retired, according to the design team. Dr Mike Miles, a manufacturing professor at the university who worked as an advisor on the project, said in a statement that this was kind of the last hurrah, adding that they wanted to give them one final shot