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MotoCzysz e-motorbike crackles past 100MPH at TT Zero for $15,000 prize
Jitters over wet track conditions didn't stop MotoCzysz's Michael Rutter from becoming the first electric motorcycle rider at the Isle of Man's TT Zero to hit 100MPH -- aka the fabled "ton". He also snapped up the £10,000 ($15,400) prize offered by the island's government for the achievement, although two other riders also managed to zap the milestone. Being the first to do it was all that counted, though, and after coming close last year, it looks like MotoCzysz's recent doubling up on horsepower seemed to do the trick. Thanks to the boost, Rutter easily cruised past the mark at 104.056MPH. At this rate, a day at the races could become a pretty serene experience. [Thanks, John]
2012 MotoCzysz E1pc may set an e-motorbike speed record, our hearts afire
Our first peek at the MotoCzysz E1pc was at the 2010 Isle of Man TT, where the fearsome-looking e-motorbike smashed potential speed limits, even if it didn't completely rock the two-wheeled establishment. Improvements were made in 2011, but the new 2012 model is the one that's really poised to upset the cart. The updated E1pc's most conspicuous changes are on the outside: it tackles the problem of wind resistance at high speeds by bringing on aerodynamic ducts and fins. Inside, torque looks to be down to 162 foot-pounds, but the equivalent to 200 horsepower (twice what we saw in 2010) should more than compensate -- and a much upgraded battery cooling system should keep MotoCzysz' creation running at full bore for considerably longer before rider Michael Rutter has to back off the throttle. That consistent speed may be even more important to MotoCzysz and Rutter than actually winning at the TT Zero race, practice for which starts June 2nd. The Isle of Man very nearly handed over a £10,000 ($15,369) prize to the team for breaking a 100MPH average speed barrier for electric bikes last year, and the substantial tweaks could make all the difference. [Image credit: Asphalt and Rubber]
MotoCzysz E1pc claims to be the world's most advanced electric motorcycle, we don't argue
We've seen quite a few electric motorcycles, and even driven some ourselves, but none quite like the MotoCzysz E1pc, which is touted to be the "world's most advanced." As Popular Science discovered in an exclusive look at the bike, there seems to be little doubt about that fact -- for starters, the bike packs ten times the battery capacity of a Toyota Prius and two and half times the torque of a Ducati 119 motorcycle and, well, look at it. Other standout features include ten 19.5 pound lithium polymer batteries that don't have wires so they can be swapped out easily, an oil-cooled electric motor that's been "developed from the ground up to win races," and a top speed (so far) of 140 MPH -- nearly 40 MPH better than its nearest competitor. Most impressively, however, is the simple fact that the E1pc is indeed built for racing -- it'll take on the Isle of Man TT tomorrow, which is described as the "toughest motorcycle race in the world." Dare we say it might now also be the most electric?
