The Rise of the E-Bike: A Conversion (Bike, and Rider)

FUN stuff!  I just ushered a new EVangelist into the world!

I can’t show much, since it’s for a story for Home Power due out in a month or so, but I just put a DIY on converting an bike to an e-bike, and did the conversion for my friend Peg.  Here’s a peek:

…pretty li’l thing, ain’t it?  Well, just saw this on her FB page:

“Well today was the beginning of a new era. A greener less fossil fuel based way of traveling for short trips and fun and exercise. E bikes: the future is here. And I’m a tired happy Ebiker.”

This thing ain’t nothin’ but fun.  I could hardly get off of it to give it to her, and everybody who rode it was giggling.  Maybe there’s something to this e-bike thing, you think?

KillaCycle Aims for Land Speed Record (Motorcycle) Final Prep

It’s coming down to the wire, and the KillaCycle team is tidying up some details in their bid for LSR.  See their updates here, on their Facebook page.  REALLY pretty bodywork this year, and it seems like they’ve kicked the effort to another level…

It sounds like the salt is a little rough, and vibration and such is a big problem for everybody.  (Yates apparently lost a bit of control and hit a pylon at 198mph.)  “Did some tweaking with tire pressure, firmed up the adjustable shocks and added some more padding inside the roll cage. Took it out for a new test run behind the pits and it worked much better. Head is still shaking, but not banging like before.”

Check out their galleries for some great shots…  including this shot of John Rennwick, streamliner sidecar builder and rider from UK, with (hopefully tight-lipped) co-pilot Bonnie V. Flats.

BEST WISHES and GO FAST!

Dept of Holy Crap! Killacycle Joins Mavizen as CTO(s?)

(photo: Michael Cooper)

Just got this from Azhar:

Electric motorsport legend joins Mavizen as CTO and aims to break a combustion engine land speed record with electric

We are proud to announce that the world-class team of Bill Dube’ and Eva Håkansson of Killacycle Racing have joined Mavizen as partners and participants in building the next generation of motorsports.

Bill Dube and Eva Håkansson have carved reputations in the electric vehicle motorsport having pioneered many of the systems and methods that are being used in motorsports today.

Bill Dube electric motorsport career spans almost 20 years and includes:

-       First electric drag bike to go 150+

-       First electric motorbike to go 0-60 in under 1 sec

-       National Technical Director; for the National Electric Drag Racing Association (NEDRA) for over 10 years

-       Wrote the technical rules book on electric drag racing (now used by the FIM)

-       Designed the battery pack for a leading TTXGP Championship winning team

-       Leading consultant for electric racing teams across the world

Eva Håkansson has rapidly created an impact on the sport as both a rider and an engineer.

-       She was the first rider to conquer Pikes Peak on an electric motorcycle she built

-       Published author of “The Hybrid Car – the Future is Here”

-       Eva is a consultant to Govt and Industry on electric vehicle policy and technology

-       Build the first electric land speed streamliner motorcycle

Together they bring to Mavizen world leading knowledge and experience built from motorsport and applicable beyond the track. They will oversee product development and key technology partnerships as well as customer support; and forming essential members of the TTXGP motorsport eco system.

Commenting on the role Dube said,

“Being an early pioneer is never easy, but I feel with Mavizen we have the opportunity to really help companies who want to be at the cutting edge of EV technology

Eva and I can design and build practically anything electric-powered, and with Mavizen we have a credible outlet to bring the best and safest products to the market. I have learnt a lot about battery technology and electric power trains over many years; constantly pushing technology to the limits, and am really looking forward to using this experience to helping motorsport teams across the globe.

We are very proud that Bill and Eva have joined Mavizen. They bring a wealth of unique experience; talent and energy to our mission to be part of the next generation of motorsport.”

“We are charged that Bill and Eva have joined the team. They will help us build a world leading business and remain at the forefront of innovation support TTXGP and beyond.  Given their expertise in A123 technology and our distribution relationship, we have already felt the enormous contribution these dynamic individuals can make in a short period of time and am looking forward to working with them for many years to come” commented founder and CEO of Mavizen, Azhar Hussain.

Bill and Eva are about to take part in the FIM/AMA BUB Speed Trials with the Killajoule. The KillaJoule will attempt to exceed the overall land speed record with a motorcycle plus sidecar.  If successful, this will be the first time in over a century that electric has taken the overall land speed world record in a vehicle category.   The Trials take part at Bonneville Aug/26 through to Sept 1. The drive train from the speed trials will be available to TTXGP teams for the 2012 season.

For more information please contact press@mavizen.com

About Mavizen:

Mavizen is a premier technology supplier to the electric motorsport industry.  It supplies motorsport, marine and premium lifestyle electric power train components and consultancy.

Mavizen also supports the TTXGP World Championship in having access to the very best technology and expertise.  Mavizen has already set its self apart as an industry leader having launched the world’s first Supersports electric bike, the TTX02. Mavizen is a leading distributor and system integrator of A123 Systems Inc.

LIGHTNING MOTORCYCLE SETS NEW LAND SPEED RECORD AT 215.960 MPH

The official Press Release:

San Carlos, Calif. – Lightning Motorcycle has set a new land speed record by becoming the first electric motorcycle manufacturer to exceed 200 mph during the Bonneville Salt Flats Speed Week, Aug. 13-19, 2011.

The production Lightning Electric SuperBike achieved an average speed of 215.960 mph with a best speed of 218.637 mph – more than 40 miles-per-hour faster than the previous record of 173 mph, also held by Lightning Motorcycle. Lightning Motorcycle’s record is recognized by the Southern California Timing Association/Bonneville Nationals Inc. (SCTA/BNI).

Driven by Paul Thede, principal of Race Tech and the developer of the Lightning SuperBike’s suspension system, the SuperBike made a run of 214.209 mph, followed by a return run of 217.712 mph.

This new land speed record maintains the manufacturer’s position as the fastest electric bike in the world in its class, and also makes the Lighting SuperBike the fastest motorcycle available for sale in North America.

“Our team was confident and excited to participate at the Bonneville Salt Flats, which is the ultimate proving ground to validate the performance of our Lightning SuperBike,” said Richard Hatfeld, CEO of Lightning Motorcycle. “We not only succeeded in shattering our previous record, but we confirmed that electric motorcycles will be an important part of our industry’s future.”

The Lightning Electric SuperBike features a Remy HVH250TM electric propulsion motor, an Ener1 battery pack and additional enhancements. It is factory equipped with track mapping data acquisition. The SuperBike, which is equally suited to track days, weekend rides on your favorite back roads or record runs at Bonneville, has a usable freeway speed range of over 100 miles and a combined city/highway EPA range of over 150 miles.

Interested buyers can purchase the SuperBike by visiting http://www.lightingmotorcycle.com.

About Lighting Motorcycle

Lightning Motorcycle is dedicated to the belief that world class performance is compatible with clean tech transportation. The company believes that choosing to ride an electric motorcycle should not be a compromise, and the team has honed its understanding of vehicle development as lifetime racers, using competition to refine their technology. In addition to the SuperBike, Lightning Motorcycle is producing prototypes of electric commuter bikes, scooters and ATVs. For more information, visit http://www.lightingmotorcycle.com.

(Source: Lighting Motorcycles)

XBox 360 PowerBrick Hack Supply for Turnigy Charger (FTW)

Simple as pie.  XBox 360 PowerBrick from eBay- $14.  Cut connector, jump the red and blue wires (turns on the power supply), and your black and yellow wires deliver 12.5VDC at around 16amps.

Final Shots- R5e

Here it is, in it’s “lightweight configuration”:

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Lightning Hits 217.712 mph, Aims for 220

It ain’t over.  See Jensen’s story here (Asphalt and Rubber).

“Paul Thede had to once again back up the team’s accomplishment with another wicked fast run today, in order to get into the record books. Battling gusty cross-breezes, Thede put in an astonishing palindromic 217.712 mph time to set another LSR for Lightning, which officially comes in at 215.907 mph in the APS-Ω class.”

First.  “wicked fast”?  Please, Jensen.  You’re not from Boston.  You can’t say stuff like that.

Second.  “gusty cross breeze”?  Holy crap, I guess at over 200mph a 6mph breeze ain’t nuthin to sneeze at.

Third.  Them are some damn ugly fingers.

Lightning Hits 214.216 mph at Bonneville

According to a lone little tweet from Asphalt and Rubber, Lightning hit 214.216 yesterday.  You think I can find any more news about it though?  Nope.  Not a word.

Stay tuned, I’ll update as I get more info.  (update: confirmed, and all the details are at this post on A&R) I suspect they weren’t able to make the necessary second run to set a new record, beating their own from Sunday, but that’s just a guess.  Not even an educated one.

(Funny.  Chip Yates says, re a story about the Lightning record: “Nice preview of my upcoming attempts to reassert some dominance in this space!”  Sorry Chip.  The race is on, yeah, but there’s only one who can be first to bust 200! …and it ain’t you!)

We Came, We Saw, We Kicked ASS! (R5e takes “Best Yamaha”)

Braving wind and weather remotecontact and I packed up and rolled off to the Larz Anderson Auto Museum Japanese Car and Motorcycle Day…  and both came back with awards!  Me, Best Yamaha, RC, Best Kawasaki!  WOOHOO!

The LiPo Project- Wrapup

Here are the harnesses- each one is crimped in the middle, paralleling the four packs in each module, then series connected to the next module:

There’s one connector that’s flagged for the charger in/out for each module in yellow.

Here it is on the bike:

The charging connections, including the balance tabs that are paralleled within the modules, are bundled to avoid any confusion when charging.

Preliminary results of running it around the neighborhood?  SICK!