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Electric Motorcycles Closing Gap on Speed

Brit creates all-battery bike for the racetrack

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 28, 2009 5:45 PM CST
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(Newser) – An English entrepreneur is developing an all-electric motorcycle he says can compete on the racetrack, Wired reports. Well, in the near future. His prototype—the bike is expected to be for sale next year and will be legal for street use—can go from 0 to 60 in 3.8 seconds and tops out at 135mph. That falls short of gas bikes, but Azhar Hussain says his TTX can lead the way in the "next generation of the sport."

“As far as we know, this is the fastest road-legal electric bike in the world,” he said. Currently, the bike can go 20 to 40 miles on a charge, depending on speed. To better adapt it to the racing world, Hussain is working on quick-change batteries and an energy regeneration system like that used on hybrids. With a price tag of $30,000, it’s much more expensive than electric commuter scooters—but a heck of a lot faster.

The electric-powered Vectrix VX-2 is a long-range commuter scooter.
The electric-powered Vectrix VX-2 is a long-range commuter scooter.   (AP Photo)
A high-speed bike race.
A high-speed bike race.   (AP Photo)
A Zero X Motorcycle is slower, cheaper, and goes further, if that's your style.
A Zero X Motorcycle is slower, cheaper, and goes further, if that's your style.   (AP Photo)
The NYPD will soon adopt the Vectrix electric motor scooter.
The NYPD will soon adopt the Vectrix electric motor scooter.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
riffran
Jan 29, 2009 12:25 AM CST
awsome....now if they can just get the distance up to about a hundred 100 miles or so -vs-20-40...it could be do-able

An electric bike for the less adventurous
Treehugger

MIT coughs up more eco-friendly scooters
New York Times

Big boys, like Honda, enter the mix
autobloggreen

 
alternative energy • scooters • auto racing • Britain • alternative fuels • electric motorcycle • performance

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