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Heavy rain halts electric car race

Heavy rain has interrupted the first ever electric car race on Mount Panorama at Bathurst in central-west New South Wales.

Six battery-powered vehicles had been due to clock up as many laps as possible around the circuit as part of a display of the technology.

There was no time limit on the race, rather it was the car that was still crawling around the circuit after the others have lost power that would be named the winner.

But the organisers have decided to stop the endurance challenge because of the weather.

Organiser Liz Bastion says there is still one clear winner.

"We've decided to stop it earlier because it is very, very heavy rain and the wonderful thing here today is that it's a bit of a win-win. We've decided that all up it's a win-win for the environment," she said.

"The rain's coming down and we're thrilled out here and it's a win-win with all these cars because they've proven that they're brilliant."

Each of the quiet electric cars can travel around 100 kilometres on a single charge.

- ABC

© ABC 2010

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