Kate Ingber rode an Electrobike into the land-speed record books this month, averaging 68.4 mph
Electrobike established a new land
speed record for electric motorcycles on the Bonneville Salt Flats September 6-8, as rider Kate Ingber averaged 68.4 mph over two runs in soaring heat on the Electrobike Pi-E model. Sponsors included Spring Ventures, Olive Works, and Metromint Water.
Electrobike Pi-E is normally powered by 48-volt LiION batteries, but an
electronics snafu required use of lead-acid batteries sourced from a
local Wendover, Utah, auto parts store. While Electrobike founder Marcus
Hays and team were happy to leave with the record, Marcus believes the
production propulsion system is capable of significantly greater speed.
“We’re planning to run at El Mirage Dry Lake in November, and fully
expect by that time to have our LiION battery issues sorted out. Because
our motor, controller and electronics package never really got pushed at
Bonneville by the lead-acid batteries, with the higher performance
chemistry in place and depending on conditions, significantly higher
speeds are certainly possible.”
Electrobike was founded in 1995 by Marcus Levison-Hays. Based in San
Francisco and Sausalito, California, Electrobikes are manufactured in the
U.S.A. Since inception, they have been producing market leading electric
and electric-hybrid powered drivetrains. Their most recent design to date, Electrobike Pi, is destined to be the most important electric
bicycle of the century.
Pi is currently available for retail purchase
via the Electrobike Web site, www.electrobike.com, or 415-339-9013.
(This post originally appeared in the September 27, 2007, issue of the Hemmings eWeekly Newsletter.)