By winning June’s 37.7-mile Isle of Man TT Zero—the electric-vehicle
class of the world’s toughest motorcycle race—and setting an average
speed record of 96 mph, the 2010 MotoCzysz E1pc officially became the
fastest electric bike yet. Built by Portland, Oregon–based designer and
engineer Michael Czysz, the E1pc has 10 times the battery capacity of a
Toyota Prius and 2.5 times the torque of a Ducati 1198. Czysz wants the
E1pc to be a testbed for technologies, such as oil-cooled motors and
swappable batteries, that could make it into electric cars. He says he’s
talking to several companies about licensing or co-developing
technologies and that he’s working on a joint-development project with
the Indian auto giant Bajaj.
E1pc Specs
Hot-Swap Batteries
Storing 12.5 kilowatt-hours of electricity (compare that with the
Chevrolet Volt’s 16), the E1pc’s batteries can and have turned an errant
wrench to molten metal. So Czysz had to design a wireless carriage that
allows the individual battery modules to be swapped out in seconds
while making the bike safe to work on.
Advanced Aerodynamics
On straightaways, the rider scoots back onto a secondary seat and
flattens his back to minimize wind resistance. Small winglets direct air
into ducts on the frame, reducing aerodynamic drag.
Oil-Cooled Motor
The oil-cooling system that MotoCzysz has installed on the E1pc’s
electric motor allows it to create peak torque longer than more-common
air-cooled motors, most of which overheat after a few seconds at peak
power. In the E1pc’s case, peak power is 250 pound-feet of torque.
Direct Drive
On the E1pc, there’s no transmission, just a fixed gear. The result isn’t quite 1 percent throttle to 1 percent torque, but it’s close—and this on a bike that hit 141 mph during the Isle of Man race using only 40 percent of that throttle. When decelerating, the motor applies resistance to the gear, providing regenerative braking.
On the E1pc, there’s no transmission, just a fixed gear. The result isn’t quite 1 percent throttle to 1 percent torque, but it’s close—and this on a bike that hit 141 mph during the Isle of Man race using only 40 percent of that throttle. When decelerating, the motor applies resistance to the gear, providing regenerative braking.
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