Volt Motorcycles team member preparing their bike, photo by David Herron
Related Articles
At the Infineon Raceway this weekend is the AMA Pro motorcycle race. While the event includes several kinds of motorcycle races, this time something incredibly new and wonderful is here. Tucked into the middle of the action is the inaugural race of the TTXGP electric motorcycle racing series. The TTXGP is the brainchild of Azhar Hussain, a British entrepreneur with a vision of clean zero emission motorcycles so that we no longer have to burn things in order to have fun. The 2010 TTXGP is a series of 13 races in North America, Italy, the UK, and ending in a Grand Finale race in Spain.
There are 7-8 racing teams in the electric motorcycle paddock. These teams are vying for their place in history, and have an eye on the prize of the grand finale race at Albacete Spain in October. The teams came from as far away as Ohio and have a diverse background. Some are engineers, others are electric motorcycle manufacturers, and others are hobbyist enthusiasts. All of them are united in an excitement for electric vehicles, electric motorcycles, and the opening we have to demonstrate them.
These are not your grandfathers electric motorcycle. Advances in battery technology, motors and controllers, have made todays electric motorcycles far better than ones which could have been built even a couple years ago. This writer built an electric motorcycle in 2006 with then state of the art equipment, that bike will reach 45 miles/hr (barely) and will go 10-15 miles (depending on speed). The bikes on the track this weekend are doing speeds in excess of 100 miles/hr and are competing in an 11 lap race (about 20 miles). The difference is primarily Lithium-ION batteries due to higher power and energy density, the newfangled battery packs both deliver power at higher rates and carry more power, enabling faster bikes which can ride for longer distance.
On Friday there were two practice sessions, and on Saturday there will be two qualifying rounds. The qualifying bikes will then compete in a race on Sunday morning.
In Friday's practice sessions a three motorcycles stood out as the bikes to beat. Zero Motorcycles brought a large contingent to support two race bikes. One of them is a modified Zero DS, while the other is a Mavizen supplied motorcycle containing Zero's battery pack technology. Both of these went around the track very well, very fast, and looked like solid competitors. The other is the Lightning Motorcycles bike built by Richard Hatfield which set a 166 miles/hr speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats last fall. With several more months of refinement this bike appears to be a top tier competitor, and it made an impressive showing on the track. But this is a race and anything can (and will) happen.
Subscribe via: Facebook, Friend Feed, Twitter, E-Mail
Comments
does anyone know the entrants list for the race?
I just posted two further articles giving info about the teams
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!