Inventor breaks record for world's fastest electric ice cream van

There's something deeply nostalgic about the familiar sound of an ice cream van as it slowly winds its way down your street on a hot summer's day.

Speed, when it comes to the musical meander of that moving treat dispenser, is never of the essence. Well, until now, that is.

British inventor Edd China has broken the Guinness World Record title for fastest electric ice cream van after reaching speeds of 73.921 mph. Mr Whippy won't know what's hit him.

China broke the record with his Whitby Morrison "Amalfi" ice cream van over a standing mile at Elvington Airfield in Yorkshire, UK. For those used to driving on UK motorways, you'll know that the record also surpasses the motorway speed limit — hence why the record was likely completed off road.

I'll have a 99 Flake, please. Credit: Paul Michael Hughes/GWR

Two years prior to breaking the record, China started to modify his ice cream van to "electrify" it. In the Spring of 2018, the van ran on a Mercedes Sprinter diesel engine, which he then replaced with an electric engine.

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When China found out that some ice cream vans had been banned by London councils due to worries over air pollution, he decided to do something about it. China created a conversion kit for ice cream vans so they can change over from diesel to electric. He plans to roll out the kit globally in the future.

This isn't China's first Guinness World Record rodeo. He's already broken seven records involving fast motorised vehicles — including "world's largest motorised shopping trolley".

Too fast for the motorway. Credit: Paul Michael Hughes/GWR

China's achievement will be featured in the 2021 edition of the Guinness World Records book. Craig Glenday, Editor-in-Chief of Guinness World Records, said that it's been an unusual year for record breaking. "This year's incredible edition has been compiled in the most extraordinary of circumstances," he said. "Halfway through writing it, the world was turned upside down by COVID-19, but despite lockdowns and quarantines, it's not prevented amazing characters like Edd from breaking records."

Maybe next time, he can try for 99 miles per hour.

GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS 2021 (£20) is available for purchase in stores and online from 17th September 2020.