Land Speed Record

Nice work.

toddshotrods said:

Sweet - congrats to the #80 team!

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Thanks to the few that care about such things. I am amazed at the lack of interest. Make a record in electric drag racing and you get tons of comments and controversy. Set a LSR and 3 guys pat you on the back. Go figure

Anyway, that's not why I did it. It's a personal thing with me. I just thought I'd share, which isn't really my style either. But I'm gettin' older and softenin' up.

I guess these following thoughts go for the road race circuit (TTXGP & FIM) as well as LSR. These are the good old days. There are pretty much no rules. Yeah, the AMA and FIM scrutineers look the bike over, check the brakes and safety wire, and maybe weigh it, but that's it. Oh yeah, they check the rider's suit and helmet. Win, and maybe they weigh you again, but it is basically straight to the podium or record book. This makes it damn hard to cheat Just kidding. My priorities are always: 1) Safety 2) Rules 3) Winning.

But without a bunch of RULES, there exists tremendous opportunity for innovation.

The Lightning bike set the world Land Speed Record (LSR) for electric motorcycles in the 300kg class at 173 and change. I am proud to have been a part of that effort. I cannot foresee history. I have no idea whether this record will stand for 1 week or 20 years. The Lightning team considered it a success, topping the previous 150 mph, but nevertheless, felt defeated by the salt at the end of the session because we felt we could have done better. We really wanted to push on Mr. 200's door.

My point here is to tell you to get off your butts and try something exciting. There were three electric motorcycles on the Flats last week. Yeah, the Lightning topped MotoCzysz, but the other guy was Ben and his father-in-law from Indiana with a sidecar MC. Just a 48V PM motor and Lithium battery. Did like 67 mph. But got the record for the class. Nothing wrong with that Two guys in a van willing to drive 26 hours and have some fun go home with a LSR record.

Build something and race it

major

JRP3 said:

He could, but he won't Can't give the competition any secrets you know.

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Yeah, the boss got on my case about it at the first race. I'm just the tuner, sometimes called crew chief, sometimes I am the crew. The bike is based out of the bay area in California. I'm in Ohio. We have a few sponsors for in-kind (equipment or parts) and expertise, but really no funding source except for our pockets. So travel is a considerable burden.

Back to the bike. It is a custom designed chassis around the motor and battery primarily. These are the two largest package issues. The motor is a salvaged Delphi (GM) EV1 motor circa 1997. Water cooled cast-in jacket with oil lubed/cooled bearings. In the EV1 ran with a 312 (Pb-Acid) or 343V (NiMH) battery and carried a 100 kW rating. Our voltage is nearly the same. We can run it to 12,000 RPM. We have a direct drive, no shifting, double reduction, cog belt primary, chain to the wheel system which can give us various ratios from like about 3 to 6 : 1.

Controller is a flux vector IGBT drive adapted with the help of Balqon. It is water cooled and maybe about half the size of the EV1 controller but we push it hard, so well above half of that rating, maybe nearing full rating. We do use regen off the twist throttle but not too heavy as not to break the rear loose. Gives similar torque as engine braking.

Battery is A123 pouch cells, 216 of them in 2P/108S packaged in three boxes to fit frame of bike. Cells are 16 Ahr. Elithion BMS.

Makes for a big, but fast bike. Just a hair over 600 lbs.

Want to know more, come to a race and see it. All the events so far have open paddock and spectators are welcome to talk to the crews.

Thanks for the interest,

major

I like this photo.



Our rider is Paul Thede of Race Tech. Good opportunity for me to thank him publicly. Great job, Paul. And thanks for thrashing on the bike inbetween runs. Remember the "long hose".