World's Fastest Electric Motorcycle Sets New Record

By Stuart Fox Posted 09.15.2009 at 1:15 pm 4 Comments

The World's Fastest Electric Motorcycle "... in quiet solitude, or blasting across the alkali-flats in a jet-powered, monkey-navigated... and it goes on like this" via Fast Company

In a high-velocity demonstration that proves green and badass can coexist in the same vehicle, Mission Motors has set a new speed record for electric motorcycles.

Topping out at 161 mph, the Mission One motorcycle beat out 70 percent of the gasoline-burning bikes during a recent event at the Bonneville Speedway in Utah.

Announced at the last TED conference, the bike was deliberately designed to become the fastest electric bike of all time. Now, the bike has not only won that title, but also gilded the lily by pulling a wheelie at 80 mph. The Mission One has a range of 150 miles, down from the 200-mile range proposed at the TED conference.

The Mission One bike that broke the record is a production model, so customers will receive the exact same level of eco-friendly horsepower. The initial run will produce around 300 bikes, which will become available next year.

Looks Great, But How's His Curveball? : via Fast Company

The Mission One now joins the Tesla Roadster as part of the first class of high-performance electric vehicles. To see the bike in action, check out the video below.

[via Fast Company]

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4 Comments

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Jivaii

09/15/09 at 5:18 pm

How and where do I buy one?

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scott_t

09/16/09 at 8:48 am

Killacycle can go 174mph

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billdale

from Los Angeles, CA

09/21/09 at 2:43 pm

scott_t:

Not to take anything away from the KillaCycle, but it's not a STREET bike, as Stuart Fox should have noted -- it's a very expensive, specialized drag bike. Unlike the KillaCycle, the Mission One is a bike all of us will be able to buy (next year)... and that qualifies it for a record in its own right.

The TED conference was mentioned but not explained-- it stands for TECHNOLOGY, ENTERTAINMENT, DESIGN, and is an annual event of converging technologies.

Electric propulsion is in its extreme infancy-- furious development of batteries, motors and electronics will eventually make any form of fuel-driven land vehicles obsolete, whether you're talking about motorcycles, cars or trucks, whether for commuting, transport, or any form of racing.

The top race drivers in land speed records, drag racing, motocross, etc., realize that to continue breaking records they will have to begin making use of the torque characteristics of electric motors. Electric Louie of Long Beach, Calif., DC Propulsion of San Dimas, Calif, and Cafe Electric of Corvallis, Oregon, etc., are designing motors and electronic drive packages especially for electric vehicles-- for record challenges, high-performance race cars, dragsters, and engine-powered street vehicles converted to battery power.

It was only a couple of years ago that all major car makers insisted that EVs would never be part of their product line, but all of them now have very aggressive programs to include EVs and hybrids. With major battery breakthroughs due to hit the market within 2-3 years, your next new car may be an EV that can cover 300 miles or more between charges, can be recharged in less than 10 minutes... and will be AFFORDABLE.

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hedge

09/27/09 at 4:00 pm

Wow... it may usefull for police department hehe

Regards,

Hedge