E-bike sets speed record

If we are to encourage people to adopt electric power, we must also show them it isn’t just a boring alternative. The KillaCycle folks are both testing the limits of electric mobility while also evangelizing the technology to the public.

The design team posing with KillaCycle

After recently breaking the quarter-mile drag world record for an electric vehicle (EV) at the All Harley Drag Racing Association (AHDRA) meet in Chandler, AZ, at the Firebird Speedway, the KillaCycle Team attributes a major portion of their success to A123 Systems’ nanophosphate technology in the lithium-ion battery cells used to power the bike. The new time wiped out the long-standing EV record (held by a traditional dragster) that lasted for more than six years.

Using a custom-made battery pack of M1 cells to power the KillaCycle, Dubè and his team easily broke the previous quarter-mile electric vehicle record, finishing the run at 8.168 s at a speed of 155.78 mph (more than 0.6 s faster than the previous record). During the time trials, KillaCycle’s power output topped out over 350 hp, and the team was able to draw 1,575 A from the 375-V 7.5-kWh M1 battery pack. At a weight of just over 160 lbs, the light, durable, and high-powered M1 cells certainly had a hand in the KillaCycle team’s record-breaking feat.

Hopefully one day electricycles will be the norm instead of the exception. Until then the KillaCycle team is doing its part in proselytizing the concept to the public.

Alix L. Paultre

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