Panasonic's EVOLTA Completes the "World's Longest Distance Railway Track Run" Challenge

The vehicle created by high school students covered 22.615km and set a new Guinness World Record(TM)

Akita, Japan - As a demonstration of the long-lasting power of its dry cell batteries, "EVOLTA," the Panasonic Corporation attempted to set a new Guinness World Record(TM) for the longest distance traveled by a vehicle powered by D size EVOLTA dry cell batteries. And on November 3, 2015 (Tue), with a distance of 22.615km(*1) a new Guinness World Record was successfully set.

Guinness World Record (*1)

Name of record: Longest distance traveled by a vehicle on a railway track powered by dry cell batteries
Distance traveled: 22.615km (Chokai Sanroku Line, Yuri Kogen Railway Company, Akita Prefecture)
Date challenged: November 3, 2015 (Tue)

Vehicle used

Key rules that applied to this new Guinness World Record challenge

This challenge was undertaken in cooperation with the students of the Kawagoe Technical High School from Tachikawa, Saitama Prefecture. Thirteen students from the "train team" of the school's electrical department spent 6 months designing and creating the vehicle, and the exterior appearance was designed by the school's students in the design department. The theme of the design is the "Power to keep moving forward" and expresses their aspirations to set a new Guinness World Record.

The vehicle left the Chokai Sanroku Line, Maego Station at 12:32 on November 3, 2015. Four students from the "train team" took turns driving the vehicle, and at 13:57, they reached Yashima Station, the halfway point. Thereafter, they continued to keep their speed and at 14:59, the vehicle passed the 20km point, the minimum distance necessary to set the new Guinness World Record(*1). With the support of the residents of the area and many others, they returned to Maego once again at 15:19.

At the arrival ceremony organized at Maego Station, the Guinness World Records' official adjudicator, Gulnaz Ukassova presented the official certificate to one of the students. The leader of the "train team," Takumi Tsukizawa stated, "It was really hard work, but I'm very happy that all of us here today were able to set a new record." Ms. Ukassova also praised the team for their achievement.

Comments from Yousuke Asayama who was in charge of this challenge at Panasonic Corporation

"This challenge, which was undertaken with the vehicle developed by high school students, seemed more difficult than the past EVOLTA challenges. But the EVOLTA dry cell batteries continued to supply power to the students until the very end."

Comments from Sakae Kimishima, a teacher at the Kawagoe Technical High School

"I was worried about their safe return to Maego Station until the vehicle climbed the last hill and I saw them with my own eyes. Frankly, it was very tough, but I am so happy we took on this challenge. The students did an excellent job."

About the "EVOLTA" batteries used

Since being introduced to the market in 2008, the line-up of batteries ranging from D to AAA has been a long seller in 80 countries worldwide. Boasting long-lasting performance and power, they can be effectively used for high and low currents alike. As of August 2015, more than 1.7 billion units have been sold. The dry cell batteries used for this challenge were manufactured in Moriguchi City, Osaka Prefecture.

The "train team" from the Kawagoe Technical High School

Nicknamed the "Kawako Railway," the third year students of the Kawagoe Technical High School train team have been creating trains since 2011. The train they created in 2014 was highly praised for being "authentic," having the same width as existing lines, and for drawing power from the overhead lines using pantographs. It received media attention on both TV and newspapers, and a demonstration run was organized at the Railway Museum (in Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture). In the past, the team had tested the train on the school's 40m track, but it was their first attempt at covering a long distance of more than 20km on a real railway track.

*1: Set the "Longest distance traveled by a vehicle on a railway track powered by dry cell batteries" on November 3. Record: 22.615km. This is a newly established Guinness World Record.