Built by LiFeBatt, in conjunction with Kingston University’s motorcycle engineering course, the machine has already competed at the US Santa Pod AE (Alternative Energy) drag race, where it won the clean emission race.
Commenting on the electric competitor Trevor Duckworth, the organiser of the event, said: “The LiFeBATT entry into the Relentless Ramsey Sprint is a very welcome edition to the exciting line up of bikes we attract each year. Although we’ve never previously had an electric bike involved, the success of the event is very much based on the diversity of bikes that enter the race. With the LiFeBATT bike already achieving respectable ¼ mile times, I very much anticipate electric bikes will become increasingly prevalent in drag racing over the coming years.”
LiFeBATT have previously been responsible for supplying high-performance battery packs to teams entering the TTXGP, a zero carbon eGrand Prix event.
“Due to the progress we have made with the TTXGP bike we decided to get involved with another zero emissions project – this time developing a drag racing bike,” commented Paul Brandon, director of motorcycle engineering course. “Working to a timescale of six weeks, we managed to develop a bike that covered a quarter mile in less than 15 seconds. We know we can greatly improve on this time with recent modifications to the gear system so we very much look forward to competing at the Relentless Ramsey Sprint.”
Driving forward
Meet our Role Models involved with designing vehicles.
You’ve read it. Now review it.
Date Published: May 22, 2009
More by this source
|
Print
|
Send to a friend
|
Rate & Comment
|
Keep up to date
If you found this item fun or informative, please let others know. Simply send to a friend or recommend it to even more people - on any of the following sites:
Latest Science News | reddit | digg.com | del.icio.us | rollyo | stumbleupon
More on motorcycles...
Greener motorcycles nearly ready
Motorcycle tanks which meet the stringent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) targets for emissions are on their way.
Is it OK ... to ride a motorbike?
It seems funny to think now that the world's first petrol-powered motorbike - the Daimler-Maybach "riding car" built in 1885 - had a set of small stabiliser wheels to reassure nervy riders. Manufacturers today would have a job persuading anyone to even contemplate such an accessory, however much they might need it. Stabilisers and leathers simply don't mix: what would motorcycling icons such as Barry Sheen, Steve McQueen or Marlon Brando have thought?
In praise of ... hydrogen bikes
Environmentally-friendly transport is many things but it is hardly sexy. Worthy, yes, but not pulse-racing. That will change when Intelligent Energy's ENV bike hits the roads. The world's first production motorcycle powered by a hydrogen fuel cell, the ENV (pronounced "envy", the perfect thing to go green with) has just picked up a gold award at the prestigious Industrial Design Excellence Awards (Ideas) in the US, putting the va-va-voom into green motoring.
