Isle of Man TT and electric bikes

[Pat Conlon]

At the end of the month, the Isle of Man TT will have some cool electric bikes.
I recall they just started a special race for the electrics four years back, and the progress of electric bike development has been nothing short of amazing. 40 years of advancement (ave. lap speed) in 4 years.
http://www.gizmag.com/iom-tt-zero/27754/

Here's one example which will be racing:
http://www.gizmag.com/sarolea-sp7-electric-superbike-tt-zero/31923/

400nm of torque? 295 ft.lbs...are you kidding me?

The above linked article predicts that it's just a matter of time before the electrics surpass the petrols...

Interesting times indeed.  

Jon Cain (who will be attending) I will want a full report.....

[Tiger]

Hey Pat, they have come a long way.

My brother loaned me a DVD with the IOM Electric bike races a few weeks back. There where a few of the old die hards complaining about "not being real men's bikes" etc. ..but the vast majority of the public enjoyed them.

John.

[Pat Conlon]

Yea John, I remember the first year...they were hard pressed to even finish the circuit...
The average lap speed increases are encouraging, although they are still way down on the top speed generated by the petrol bikes....but the torque, wow...that's what makes me sit up and notice.

[Pat Conlon]

I remember when NHRA was chasing the elusive 200mph in the quarter...(yes I am that old)

I believe Big Daddy was the first.....looks like he is chasing the 200mph goal again..
https://autos.yahoo.com/news/2-000-horsepower-electric-dragster-sets-drag-record-160009835.html

Bless his heart. What a guy. The nicest, most humble man you could meet.

[rktmanfj]

I remember when NHRA was chasing the elusive 200mph in the quarter...(yes I am that old)

I believe Big Daddy was the first.....looks like he is chasing the 200mph goal again..
https://autos.yahoo.com/news/2-000-horsepower-electric-dragster-sets-drag-record-160009835.html

Bless his heart. What a guy. The nicest, most humble man you could meet.

True that... I met him out at Raceway Park once.  Really nice guy.

[gumby302ho]

 Electric motors, nothing like having maximum torque at zero rpm!!!

[andyb]

Electric motors are incredible in some applications.

I'm thinking that Harley is missing the boat here.  Low rpm, enough range to get to the next bar but not enough power to do it quickly, recharge times so horrible that they gives you an excuse to have another drink because you'll have time to sober up....

C'mon, think about it.  All they need to do now is make a horrible noise.

[JCainFJ]

John McGuinness won the 0E race, 152mph on the Solby Stright and 117.366mph average. These bikes are very cool! As soon as you see them there is a big WOOSH and they are gone! It will only be a few years untill they will be as fast as the gasoline powered bikes.

[pete m]

It used to be funny sat at Guthries watching the electric bikes almost crawl up to the mountain mile, some riders even paddling there feet on the ground but now these bikes are getting serious. The way McPint came past us he could have been on a 600 supersport machine.

Sadly, I think the class will die a death as the initial support seems to have waned and the grid number has diminished too. I do hope that isn't the case as it brings something different to my TT which I welcome wholeheartedly.

[JPaganel]

Fast isn't the problem with electric vehicles.

The problem is batteries - long charge time, short range, heavy weight. Charge times aren't a big deal in racing, but in actual use...

We need a radical breakthrough in energy storage for electric bikes to become anything more than a cute toy.

[pete m]

Fast isn't the problem with electric vehicles.

The problem is batteries - long charge time, short range, heavy weight. Charge times aren't a big deal in racing, but in actual use...

We need a radical breakthrough in energy storage for electric bikes to become anything more than a cute toy.

It is when you're racing them on the island in the TT Zero, if they ain't fast, they don't win!

[the fan]

A good friend of mine,(and rally attendee) Rob Hancock has raced an electric bike a few times for Virginia Tech and will be doing a few events later this year. Rob won his class at the Laguna Seca round (same weekend as MotoGP) and had a ball riding the bike.

In the past few years not only have the batteries improved, but all of the electronics have as well. The bike he road had trottle control based on speed and essentially delivered full power as soon as he opened the throttle. Needless to say it created a few interesting moments that weekend. The newer bikes have the throttle control based on torque and from what I understand it is far easier to ride.

I think the improved controls as well as more efficient batteries and moors have really improved the bikes dramatically over the past few years. Based on Rob's experiences it probably won't be too long before we see a lot of real world improvements.

[JPaganel]

Based on Rob's experiences it probably won't be too long before we see a lot of real world improvements.

Bet you won't see any huge improvements in charge times. Range, maybe, but that's not because batteries will get better, it's because the other stuff will get more efficient. The current batteries are about as good as can be, barring a completely new technology, or a major science breakthrough.  And charge time is the #1 thing (aside from cost) that would keep me from an electric vehicle of any kind.

[Burns]

I'm thinkin' the charge-time issue will/could be resolved by standardizing the batteries and their mounts and have "swap stations" where you simply exchange low charged batteries for fully charged ones.  Shouldn't take any more time than a conventional fill-up.  There are plenty of business models that would work with such a system.

If "The 5 Sisters" want to continue their near monopoly on transportation energy they would be wise to phase into such a technology and out of fossil fuel.

Fat chance.

[Burns]

Electric motors are incredible in some applications.

I'm thinking that Harley is missing the boat here.  Low rpm, enough range to get to the next bar but not enough power to do it quickly, recharge times so horrible that they gives you an excuse to have another drink because you'll have time to sober up....

C'mon, think about it.  All they need to do now is make a horrible noise.

"V" is for Voltage!