MÜNCH Racing Team Wins 2010 TTXGP World Championship
MÜNCH Racing Team and rider Matthias Himmelmann won the 2010 TTXGP World Championship today in Abacete, Spain. MÜNCH has a history of going big and doing things differently and their reincarnation in electric racing has paid off. Building on the 2009 TTXGP second place finishing XXL Racing bike, MÜNCH finished first. Alessandro Brannetti of CRP Racing took second and Jenny Tinmouth of Team Agni taking third. New comers / wild cards Team Zongshen and Chi-Fung Ho took fourth and look to have a promising 2011 ahead.
Congratulations to MÜNCH, TTXGP and all the TTXGP race teams!
See the TTXGP Press Release after the break.
In: Racing, TTXGP · Tagged with: CRP Racing, Jenny Tinmouth, Matthias Himmelmann, Muench, MUNCH, MÜNCH TTE1.2, Team Agni
Rieju Goes Electric With The Mius Scooter
Spanish powersports manufacturer Rieju will throw its hat in the low emission vehicle ring with an electric scooter it calls the Mius. Rieju, known for its sharp-looking small-displacement enduros and street bikes, worked with the University of Barcelona on the big wheeled electric scooter. Details beyond the pictures are scarce but we know it uses a DC motor and lithium ion batteries sourced from Germany.
Unlike most electric scooters including Yamaha’s planned EC-03 which use hub motors, the Rieju Mius has its DC motor mounted in the frame. A lack of chain, belt or any obvious shaft drive system going to the rear wheel leaves me scratching my head.
Barcelona appears to be a European hotspot for electric drive two wheeler development. Rieju’s Spanish neighbor, Derbi, is experimenting with an electric sportbike and the 2010 TTXGP final is being held this weekend approximately 350 miles south of Barcelona in Albacete, Spain. We may have to wait for EICMA which runs November 2 – 7th before we can learn any more details on the Mius. I will post any updates I find here so please check back.
Source: Motorcycle Market Watch – Thanks for the news tip Michael.
In: Rieju · Tagged with: electric scooter, LEV, Rieju, Rieju Mius, Spain, Spanish Manufacturers
Enertia Range Doubles For 2011 With Enertia Plus
For 2011 the Brammo Enertia will see significant improvements including a range anxiety easing 80 mile range and a name change to the Enertia +. (see press release below) The range improvement alone is impressive but the most exciting part for the electric motorcycle world is that the capacity of the 3 kWh battery pack doubled without adding any weight to the 324 pound 2010 machine. With these two accomplishments, Brammo continues to deliver its vision of electric motorcycle technology improving at a rate similar to consumer electronics. The retail price will go up $1000 to $8995 and existing Enertia owners will get a $2500 check to facilitate an upgrade.
With the sporty Empulse joining the lineup in 2011, Brammo appears to be shifting the bias of the Enertia even more toward urban commuting duty. The handlebars have been moved back 1 inch for a more upright seating position, the turning radius was tightened and the 60+ mph top speed stays intact. A center stand and Givi hard bags will be options.
Video and press release after the break.
In: Brammo, News · Tagged with: 2011 Enertia Plus, 6 kWh pack, 80 mile range, battery pack improvements, Brammo, Brammo Power, Brammo Power Battery Pack, Enertia, Enertia Plus, LA92, LA92 drive cycle, Video
Mavizen TTX03 Unveiled At Intermot Will Travel The Globe
Almost a year ago Azhar Hussain and Mavizen mentioned the TTX03 was on the drawing board. Originally, it was planned to be based on an MX bike. It seems plans have changed, as yesterday at Intermot 2010, Mavizen unveiled a work-in-progress electric adventure bike based on the KTM 990 Adventure rolling chassis.
Norwegen long distance motorcyclist Tormad Amlien and the Electric Epic team plans to ride the Mavizen TTX03 around the world in four months. The team’s web site states the TTX03 will be ready to ride some time after this Christmas with production versions available in a year or two.
The TTX03 will have a liquid-cooled AC motor mounted inside the chassis instead of the opposed and exposed twin DC, air-cooled Agni 95Rs of the TTX02 electric race bike.
Electric Epic joins the short list of groups attempting a long distance journey on an electric motorcycle. As far as I know this would be the first around the world trip on an electric motorcycle. Shocking Barack proved the quest for an electrical socket to be as much of an adventure as the natural obstacles found on the road. Electric Epic will add 3rd world countries and rough roads to the equation and will do it on a bike they admit will be a work in progress during the journey. Here’s to hoping they remember to charge the phone so they can keep us in the loop with their twitter and facebook account.
Source: Electric Epic Via: Everyone’s favorite Norwegian journalist
In: Mavizen · Tagged with: adventure bike, electric adventure bike, Electric Epic, Intermot 2010, Mavizen, Mavizen TTX03, Tormad Amlien
Zero Motorcycles Marketing VP Scott Harden On Pit Pass Radio
Zero Motorcycles recently signed on motorsports industry veteran Scott Harden as Vice President of Marketing. Harden is not the first guy with big motorcycle brand experience to go to an electric motorcycle manufacturer. He joins former Bueller Abe Askenazi who Zero brought on in February to be VP of Engineering. Another notable ICE veteran to go electric is former American Suzuki VP Mel Harris who joined Quantya this summer. (No press release was issued but I confirmed with Quantya USA)
Scott Harden will be on Pit Pass Radio tonight 9/14. If you miss the live interview grab the recording from iTunes or look in the Pit Pass Radio Archives.
Hit the break for the Zero press release to learn more about Scott Harden.
In: Industry, News · Tagged with: interview, Mel Harris, Quantya, Scott Harden, VP of Marketing, Zero
Hollywood Electrics Is The Place To Be Thursday 9/16
This Thursday 9/16, Hollywood Electrics will give electric motorcycle enthusiasts another reason to wish they lived in California. Harlan Flagg and Adam Berkowitz will be hosting the LA launch of the ROEHR eSuperSport and the Mavizen TTX02. TTXGP founder Azhar Hussain will be there along with Werkstatt Racing’s team leader and TTX02 rider Jennifer Brome.
If you have not had a chance to chat with these folks, getting the chance would be reason enough to show up to the party. On top of that, the ROEHR eSupersport has not been seen in real life by too many people. Hollywood Electrics has one of the few that exist along with almost all electric motorcycles you can buy today.
Azhar and Jennifer will also be at Intel HQ on 9/14 speaking about the TTXGP elecrtic race series. Visit eGrandPrix.com for more information.
Check out the Hollywood Electrics press release after the break.
In: Roehr, Uncategorized · Tagged with: Adam Berkowitz, Azhar Hussain, dealer, electric motorcycle dealer, Harlan Flagg, Hollywood Electrics, Jennifer Brome, Mavizen TTX02, ROEHR eSuperSport
The Electric Motorcycle Community Mourns The Loss Of Matthew Dieckmann
Matt Dieckmann (light blue shirt) in the TTXGP Infineon Winners Circle
Matthew Dieckmann, founder of Electric Race Bikes passed away yesterday as a result of traffic accident while riding his electric motorcycle.
Many in the electric motorcycle community knew Matt through his TTXGP and e-Power race efforts and notable successes. His Electric Race Bikes team took 3rd place at the TTXGP season opener at Infineon Raceway and continued to impress through out the season with acts of good will, strong determination and solid performances. There is a great tribute to Matthew on eGrandPrix.com including some great pics of Matt and his bike.
Matt’s presence in the electric motorcycle world will be greatly missed. RIP Matt. Our thoughts go out to the Electric Race Bikes team and Matt’s family and friends.
A fund for Matt‘s funeral expenses has been set up if you would like to give financial help to Matt’s family.
In: People · Tagged with: Electric Race Bikes, Matthew Dieckmann, RIP
Chip Yates Will Unveil The SWIGZ.com Electric Superbike At The Battery Show
After some tough breaks in 2010, the SWIGZ.com Pro Racing team will unveil their Electric Superbike at The Battery Show in San Jose in October. Chip Yates and team will have prime real estate at the show with a centrally located 400 square foot booth. On display will be their state of the art battery torture rack known as the SWIGZ.com Pro Racing Electric Superbike. Chip will also be speaking at the conference along with many big names in the EV world including Gene Banman of Zero Motorcycles, J.B. Staubel of Tesla Motors and Paul Beach of Quallion just to name a few.
Many electric motorcycle race fans may think the unveiling of the SWIGZ.com bike is not a big deal. After all, the bike was at the first TTXGP race at Infineon this year. The thing is, at that point the SWIGZ bike had a stock GSXR front end which was not KERS equipped. As many, including myself speculated, the KERS must be collected by the front wheel as most braking on a motorcycle happens on the front end. No one outside Chip’s team and the patent attorney know what this energy collecting front wheel looks like and how it works. Everyone will find out at The Battery Show.
The KERS system is major part of why battery makers want the SWIGZ.com bike at their show. Batteries are currently the weak link in electric drive platforms and KERS (aka “regenerative braking”) can maximize an EV battery pack’s usable range by recharging it with energy created while braking. The problem is, many batteries are capable of high discharge rates but very few can charge at more than 3C. Rapidly discharging and then charging at high currents is even more difficult to achieve. Chip’s bike can generate 10 C of regen.
The other attraction to battery suiters is the data acquisition system in place to collect the high volume of data generated by all parts electronic components of the bike. As the SWIGZ bike drains energy out of the batteries and then slams it back in at cell torching rates the data acquisition system will keep track of what is happening for analysis. These things allow Chip to claim ownership of the “The World’s Most Technically Advanced Electric Superbike”
SWIGZ.com Pro Racing’s high profile spot at The Battery Show and all the media blasts that will come with it, will not only bring visibility to Yate’s team but will also bring more industry attention to electric motorcycle racing. Chip refused to compromise his performance goals and as a result will not make the TTXGP or e-Power grid this year. However, aiming high equipped his team with what might be the industry’s best real world test of battery performance in an EV application. His bike will put any battery technology on the “ragged edge” (as Chip calls it) of real-world battery use. If any battery company is looking to develop and test a battery that can handle EV applications SWIGZ.com appears to haves the ideal machine to put it through the wringer.
If you at the show stop by booth 2600 to see the bike and get your free SWIGZ water bottle.
In: News, Uncategorized · Tagged with: Chip Yates, conventions, discharge rate, high charge rate, KERS, regen, SWIGZ.COM Pro Racing, The Battery Show
TTXGP North American Series Final And FIM Makeup?
This weekend is the final race of the North American TTXGP series and rumor has it the turnout at VIR will be strong. If Michael Barnes and the Lightning Motors team can keep the bike running strong they should take the series win. Zoe Rem and Team Agni could tie Lightning for first if they pull off a win. Unless Arvind and Cedric have found some extra go fast for the Agni bike their best chance is a mechanical failure in the EV1 powered Lightning Motors rocket. It has happened to Lightning before. Have a look at TTXGP’s summary of the VIR grid. It is a thorough post and I don’t want to bore you with a complete rehash.
TTXGP is close to wrapping up its first full race season and I would say it has exceeded my expectations just like the 2009 TTXGP at Isle of Man TT. Azhar Hussain’s ability to bring teams to the grid and build support from fans and the industry has been impressive. There are more volunteers behind the scenes of TTXGP than you would believe working for the cause and to grab a place in history. You can even watch the races on TV in the UK and on Speed 2 in the USA. I honestly did not think that would happen this year. Nice!
TTXGP and FIM Makeup?
Over the last few weeks there have been whispers of TTXGP and the FIM making amends and working together for 2011 electric race season. The original plan for 2010 was to have TTXGP running the events with the support and blessing of the FIM. That all fell apart for one reason or another and FIM started e-Power while TTXGP continued on its own.
Check out the great article written by Ivar Kvadsheim on why the FIM and TTXGP should make amends. The comments are worth reading too. Azhar chimes in and sounds very open to working with the FIM again. Please add your 2 cents for or against, I already did. Word on the streets is the comments are being watched closely by decision makers. The FIM and TTXGP have complimentary strengths that could take electric racing to the next level. Having all the electric bikes at all the races would be great for the sport, no doubt. Can this partnership between to vastly different organizations work?
If you’re in Boston, be sure to go see Azhar speak at TiE “Speed for Green: electrifying motorsport to drive the change on our roads” on August 16th, 2010 at 6:30 pm. See the TTXGP site for more information.
In: TTXGP · Tagged with: 2010 TTXGP, FIM, Makeup, Speed Channel, TTXGP, TV, VIR, Virgina International Raceway
Who Won The MO Electric Motorcycle Shootout?
Zero S vs. Brammo Enertia vs. Native S Dyno Run - Image Credit: Motorcycle.com
Last week Motorcycle.com published a shootout review of the Native S, Brammo Enertia and Zero S testing their abilities in a commuter setting. Ah, you lucky dogs who can just take a ride over to Hollywood Electrics. Based on their criteria for the test they chose the right winner in the Brammo Enertia. However, a few details leave the Zero S with a very nice second place that will probably sell them a lot of bikes.
First off, the dyno run graphic comparing hoursepower of the Agni 95 powered Zero S vs. Enertia and Native S is tough to ignore. This is the first dyno comparison I have seen between the three bikes. Add to that the video showing the Zero S pulling away from the other bikes (jump to 3:30 into the video) is even more persuasive. Could I live with poor brakes and suspension for the extra power? Currently none of my friends ride electric motorcycles but if they did it would be a no-brainer. My ego is simply not strong enough to see friends gap me like that at the expense of $2000. Of course, commuters don’t care about that kind of stuff …right?
I don’t want to take anything away from the Brammo Enertia, it deserved to win the shootout. At the same time charts and video showing “fastest” are really tough to ignore.
Hit the jump to see the video.
In: Brammo, Electric Motorsport, Zero Motorcycles · Tagged with: Brammo Enertia, Brammo Enertia dyno, Brammo vs. Zero, dyno, electric motorcycle comparison, electric motorcycle dyno, Electric Motorsport GPRS dyno, Fastest Electric Motorcycle, Native S, Native S dyno, Zero S, Zero S dyno chart
