World’s Fastest Electric Superbike Unveiled

The world’s fastest electric superbike was unveiled at the 2008 NEC Bike Show in the UK last week and it looks pretty rad, to say the least. The zero-emissions electric bike can do 0-60 in 3.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 125 mph. The $30,000 bike may well have quite a waiting list by the time a limited number are released at the end of 2009. Designed by British engineers, the bike was commissioned by the organizers of the world’s first emissions-free grand prix for motorbikes, to be held on the Isle of Man next June.

From Treehugger:

Based on the chassis of a Suzuki GSX750, the TTX01 uses two 43 bhp Agni Lynch electric motors: equivalent to the peak power of a 600cc gasoline powered motorcycle. What’s more, the TTX01 has a an additional motor on the front wheel creating a 2WD motorcycle which gives the bike “achieve significant improvements to handling and roadholding, particularly in wet conditions.”

Currently the TTX01 has 14 kWh battery packs, but the goal is to have hot swappable 20 kWh batteries which will power the bike at normal road speeds for about 50 miles. Recharge time for the batteries should be under two hours.

Around 50 teams will compete in the race next year, including bikes developed and backed by professional racing teams, universities, vehicle manufacturers, tech companies and amateurs.

The one drawback, according to Azhar Hussain, organizer of the race: it’s deadly silent. He told The Guardian, “Either we start making noise, which is quite an inefficient way of moving forward, or we start training people that these bikes will be silent so you need to start looking both ways before crossing the road.”

Link [Treehugger] + [The Guardian]

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