Electric Motorcycle Update -Brammo Wins Kickoff To Championship

May 16, 2010 : Yes, an Electric Motorcycle is now closing the speed gap on internal combustion bikes.

Brammo won the kickoff to this year’s TTXGP North American Championship series Sunday, clocking the fastest-ever lap speed at Infineon Raceway for an electric motorcycle.  With its Empulse RR, the Brammo is showing the quick evolution of a sport that didn’t even exist until 2009.

 An electric motorcycle is essentially a conventional bicycle that has been fitted with an electric motor. Converting an existing bicycle by retrofitting it with a “conversion kit” is the simplest and least expensive electric vehicle conversion option. Most often electric bicycles or “e-bikes” are powered by rechargeable batteries however some experimental electric bicycles run directly on or recharge their batteries via solar panels, fuel cells, gas generators or other alternative energy sources. Some experimenters have even used super capacitors to store energy.

Brammo’s fastest lap time at the Sonoma raceway was 1:55.150, almost two seconds faster than last year’s winning electric bike on the 2.5-mile track. Its average lap speed was within 20 seconds of the fastest qualifying lap time of a 1,000cc internal combustion superbike on the same track.

“We’re definitely knocking on the door here” said Brian Wismann, director of product development for Brammo Inc. based in Ashland Ore. Brammo was among the first electric motorcycle manufacturers to compete in the original TTXGP on the Isle of Man in 2009.  The Brammo Empulse RR is powered with an AC induction motor and 12.5-kilowatt-hour lithium ion battery pack.

Electric motorcycle fever is on the rise and Brammo is leading the way.