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Watch Chip Yates blow away electric motorcycle record at Pikes Peak

Autoblog Staff — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 15:30:00 EST

Chip Yates crosses finish at Pikes Peak - Click above to watch video after the jump

This past weekend, Chip Yates checked off "make an amazing run up Pikes Peak" from his list of things to do to demonstrate the potential of electric-powered transportation. Coming second in the Exhibition Powersport class, his time of 12:50.094 bests the first-ever electric motorcycle effort made last year by over four minutes.

The run would no doubt have been more impressive had it not been for the 2.6-mile stretch of unpaved road. The bike went from hanging with the top ten to dropping just inside the top 100 on the dirt section. Overall, Yates finished in 30th place.

One thing is for sure, the 240-horsepower bike has crazy acceleration when it has clean pavement beneath it, and Chip says he's gunning for a top 10 or better result when he gives it a go on next year's completely paved surface. Hit the jump for the full run and enjoy the sound of the UQM motor's sweet electric music winding out up the mountain.

Continue reading Watch Chip Yates blow away electric motorcycle record at Pikes Peak

Watch Chip Yates blow away electric motorcycle record at Pikes Peak originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mission Motors reveals race-ready Mission R

Autoblog Staff — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 11:31:00 EST

Filed under: Motorcycle, Electric, MISC

Mission Motors Mission R - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Mission R cut a seductive silhouette in a teaser shot from Mission Motors that presaged its arrival. Now, with its public debut scheduled for later today at the Long Beach International Motorcycle Show, the lights have come up and the bike is rather awe-inspiring. As we take it in details, from its front Brembo brakes to its rear single-sided swingarm, we are indeed smitten.

Newly developed MissionEVT components have been intelligently integrated into a compact James Parker-conceived chassis, then dressed in a design of grace and aggression by Tim Prentice of Motonium. The result is an electric race bike that's smaller than a typical 600cc MotoGP machine, yet it holds a massive 14.4 kWh battery beneath its carbon fiber skin. You might not guess this creature weighs a significant 545 pounds (247.2 kg), and though we've yet to see it dance through the esses, we're hoping its movements will conceal this fact as well.

To push the package along, the liquid-cooled AC motor pumps out 141 horses with 115 pound-feet of twist on tap from 0 to 6500 RPM. Top speed hasn't been determined yet (it will only visit the track sometime after the calender flips to 2011), but the company expects it will easily see 160 miles per hour.

We will have the opportunity to see how the Mission R compares with its peers later in the new year when it competes in the TTXGP North American Championship. The factory team has a lot to prove after sitting out the 2010 season, but this certainly looks promising. The official press release and complete specifications await past the break.

Gallery: Mission Motors Mission R

[Source: Mission Motors]

Continue reading Mission Motors reveals race-ready Mission R

Mission Motors reveals race-ready Mission R originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FIM e-Power 2010: Last lap lead change at Mazda Raceway

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 16:29:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Motorcycle, Electric, Racing

Michael Czysz at the FIM e-Power International Championship at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

In racing, planning is everything. This point was proven once again as the bright yellow (Flying Banana, if you will) race machine from Lightning Motors held the lead of the e-Power International Championship until the very last few hundred feet. And then ran out of juice.

Sadly, for Lightning Motors at least, this slight miscalculation allowed the Flying Banana to be passed literally just feet ahead of the finish line by Michael Czysz, who took the win mounted on his own MotoCzysz E1pc electric race bike. For those keeping track, Czysz was 6.7 seconds behind at the start of the last lap.

Michael Barnes took second place on the Lightning Motors machine, followed by Thijs de Ridder aboard the Crystalite bike. Our congratulations to all of the riders!

Gallery: e-Power International Championship at Mazda Raceway

FIM e-Power 2010: Last lap lead change at Mazda Raceway originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 Jul 2010 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mark Miller wins TT Zero on awesome MotoCzysz E1pc [w/videos]

Autoblog Staff — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 18:20:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Motorcycle, Electric

MotoCzysz E1pc wins the TT Zero - Click above to watch video after the jump

After a day-long weather delay, eight all-electric motorcycles took to the starting grid to compete in the Isle of Man TT Zero yesterday. The game was much the same as last year when TTXGP began what will likely be a longstanding annual affair - one 37.73-mile lap around the Snaefell Mountain Course, no gas.

For the American MotoCzysz team that had put in an impressive performance in practice, it was time to put up or shut up. They damn well put up. Rider Mark Miller didn't allow himself to be baited into a scrap andstuck to a game plan that called for a steady twisting of the throttle. In the end, he finished in the top spot with a time that was a massive two minutes and 51 seconds quicker than last year's winner. The E1pc, which easily looks as good parked as it does in a 140-mile-per-hour blur, averaged 96.820 mph around the famed circuit, just missing a £10,000 ($14,700 USD) prize had it broken the century mark. Miller shrugged off that shortfall with an easygoing, "It's all good, dude" in the post-race interview.

Last year's winner, Rob Barber, who again crouched in the saddle for Agni Racing, also beat his time from last year. The fierce competitor was astride a newly constructed Agni Z1, looking for all the world like a throwback to the '40s with a dustbin fairing mounted in place of a modern cowl. Although happy with the gains achieved by the aerodynamic package, "The Bullet" was obviously frustrated with the result, convinced he could have somehow gotten the best of the MotoCyzsz had there only been a bit more energy in the battery pack. As it was, he just managed to cross the finish line after employing a strategy that had him pushing hard from the get go.

After a long battle with another Agni Z1 piloted by Jenny Tinmouth - who, by the way, had not a mile of seat time before the green flag dropped - third place on the podium was claimed by James McBride on a converted Ducati for Ramsey-based ManTTX Racing. Check out the gallery of the winner below and hit the jump for the official TT Zero report and post-race video interviews as well as a bit of bonus footage of the bikes blasting by.

Gallery: MotosCzysz E1pc at the Isle of Man TT Zero

[Source: TT Zero | Images: AmadeusPhotography.com]

Continue reading Mark Miller wins TT Zero on awesome MotoCzysz E1pc [w/videos]

Mark Miller wins TT Zero on awesome MotoCzysz E1pc [w/videos] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Jun 2010 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Writing on the Wall: Yamaha raising funds for alternative engine development

Devon Brozek — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Earnings/Financials, Motorcycle, Electric

Yamaha Gen-Ryu concept bike

In traditional Yamaha fashion, the company announced a move that may finally allow it to stake a claim as the first big player in the breakout electric motorcycle category. By putting the For Sale Sign on 63.25 million corporate stock shares, the tuning fork company hopes to raise an impressive 812 million dollars that it will dedicate to a highly charged electric and hybrid engine development plan across both their two-wheeled (motorcycle and electric bicycle) as well as aquatic (boat and outboard motor) product lines. We have seen many concepts and indications of Yamaha's intent, but very little follow through up to this point.

The plan seems to be part of a healing process following 2009 in which the company posted losses north of $2.3 billion. Yes folks, we said billion... ouch! Yamaha, a company that traditionally has been eager to carve its own path in the powersports segment, hopes new fuel efficient and electric designs will lead to increased popularity in developing markets that have an ever-growing importance to manufacturers industry wide. We are left holding our breaths as to when these developments will make their way into the U.S. That will, no doubt, be largely dependent upon our buying trends. In addition, the company has also pledged to make all of its offerings more competitive throughout its lineup.

Most importantly, this means we will see some much needed diversity in the development of electric motorcycles. This from the company that brought us the fist modern four-stroke motocross bikes, as well as snowmobiles. We will eagerly look forward to Yamaha's new offerings, and the following jolt that it could mean for the company as a whole. Now, to figure out how to commute in the bicycle lane on our shiny new Yamaha electric motorcycle.

[Source: Reuters]

Writing on the Wall: Yamaha raising funds for alternative engine development originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Apr 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Roehr announces electric superbike, plans to contest US TTXGP *UPDATE

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Motorcycle, Electric, Racing

It seems that the promise of recognition through electric motorcycle racing is bringing out an increasing number of unlikely competitors to the racing fray. Add newly-born American motorcycle manufacturer Roehr to that growing list as the company has just announced its intentions to offer both racing and street versions of the eRoehr electric motorcycle.

Roehr's first motorcycle, the 1250sc, offers up 180 horsepower via a modified and supercharged Harley-Davidson Revolution engine. That's plenty of power, but electric motors have a reputation for being major torque-monsters, and the AC induction unit specified for the Roehr eSuperbike is no exception. How does 96 hp and 210 pound-feet of torque sound?

A 10 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery pack will provide the power for that machine, which Roehr plans to enter in the U.S. TTXGP Series later this year. A second version with a similar motor offering 48 hp and 105 lb-ft paired with a 6kWh battery will reportedly have enough juice to hit 100 miles per hour.

What we don't yet know are expected base prices, the performance expectations of the higher-spec eSuperbike or the range of either machine. In other words, stay tuned, and feel free to read the press release pasted after the break.

*UPDATE: Asphalt & Rubber reports that the higher-spec eSuperbike will cost about $30,000 and the eSupersport is targeted at $15,000.

[Source: Roehr]

Continue reading Roehr announces electric superbike, plans to contest US TTXGP *UPDATE

Roehr announces electric superbike, plans to contest US TTXGP *UPDATE originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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