Electric vehicles did not win the Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb outright this year, but their overall showing was an indicator of how much progress designers have made in the last five years. Everyone’s a Winner! In 2011, Chip Yates rode his UQM-powered motorcycle to a record 12:50.094 time. Part of the 12.42-mile course was dirt road then, adding to the thrills, but slowing overall times. “I felt bad for the fans that watched me through the dirt section. They saw an electric superbike going 1 mph around the hairpins in the dirt.” He added this declaration, “We got a 12:51 time, I’ll take it, it’s plenty good for a rookie, and it’s plenty good for a home-made bike made by three volunteers.” He removed the motor from the bike and powered a modified Long-Eze aircraft to set several world records. Astonishingly, all but five of this year’s 78 finishers (out of 97 starters) had better times than Chip’s …
Three Races Going Electric – or at Least Hybrid
Three major automobile and motorcycle races are adapting electric or hybrid power, and seeing winners in all categories. The three take place in the month of June every year, making the month a showtime for innovation and a demonstration of incredible driving skills. Isle of Man Perhaps the most dangerous of all events, the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy motorcycle race covers 37 miles on public roads running through countryside and villages. Over 200 riders have been killed on the course since the first race in 1910. This doesn’t discourage over 100 riders from qualifying every year and hitting top speeds near 200 mph. The winning gasoline-powered superbike this year averaged 128.749 during its six laps around the island. By comparison the winning electric bikes in the TT Zero race do only one lap around the course, limited by the current state of battery development. This year’s winner, John McGuinness riding a Honda/Mugen electric, averaged 119.279 mph, edging into superbike …