Boeing 787 Dreamliner uses high-energy lithium cobalt batteries, which are more susceptible to thermal problems.

EVI Walkin Van manufactured in Stockton, California.

Motive Kestrel EV concept computer rendering.

NEWS

WED

14-Nov-2012

PHOTO CAPTION: Lightning Motorcycle with solar array.

Lightning Motorcycle Sets New Speed Record

189.086 mph speed gives the company the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) record for production motorcycles – electric or gas-powered – for El Mirage dry lake bed.

Lightning Motorcycles is no stranger to setting land speed records. It laid down a 173.388 mile-per-hour marker for electric motorcycles in 2010 on the Bonneville Salt Flats, and then upped the ante significantly in 2011 with a 215.960 mph performance on that same crystalline stage.

For 2012, however, it's switched venues and brought its superbike to the 1.3-mile course that runs downs the El Mirage dry lake bed. Now, that's a lot less real estate than the five-mile stretch available at Bonneville, but the team still managed to achieve something special.

In an effort sponsored by solar technology company SMA, and with LSR veteran Jim Hoogerhyde gripping the handlebars (tightly, we imagine), Lightning flashed down the dusty trail at 189.086 mph. That speed gives the company the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA) record for production motorcycles – electric or gas-powered – for that venue.

Article Views: 1275

READ COMPLETE ARTICLE >>

IMPORTANT NOTICE: To read this Autoblog Green news story, click the READ COMPLETE ARTICLE link above. This will launch a separate window to the original news source. To comment on this story use the Reader's Comment form below.

RELATED NEWS ITEMS

Lightning Motorcycle Takes Win At Infineon TTXGP 2012

Electric Lightning GT Could Be the Next Ferrari

Lightning Motorcycles Taking to the Streets

READER COMMENTS

ADD YOUR COMMENTS BELOW

Posting comments is restricted to our FREE and PREMIUM subscribers. Once you log in, allowing us to implant a security cookie on your browser, the comment form will appear. To become a free BASIC subscriber, sign up here. We will not spam you or sell your email, and you'll receive our Weekly Brief email newsletter. You then will be permitted to post comments.