FIM announced recently the launch of the e-Power International Series, to compete with the TTXGP. Mission Motors has contractually committed to exclusively race with TTXGP, however.

TTXGP North America Director Jeremy Burne said, “With teams of this calibre, we can really look forward to a 2010 series which will not only test riders and machines to their utmost but also position TTXGP as a world leader in the promotion of electric motorsports.” The gloves are off.

Mission Motors was one of the original competitors of the Isle of Mann TTXGP in June, 2009. They offered the first production electric super bike –only 50 will be made– of the Mission One. Based on the fourth place finisher of the TTXGP and holder of the electric land speed record, the Mission One’s jaw-dropping gas-powered like performance is rivaled only by its uber-exclusive price tag of $69,000.

Read the complete article at:
Mission Motors Commits To Motorcycle Green Grand Prix

The Tork India team, consisting of five engineering students, without a sponsor, earned a third place podium finish in one of the world’s most notorious circuits — that of the Isle of Man Time trials, during the first ever zero emissions TTXGP.

They’re already preparing for next year.

According to the new set of regulations, the Tork India team needs to have a bike that will not only clock over 100 miles an hour but also be able to race on professional circuits for longer time durations. Kapil Shelke, team leader says, “The total budget for the entire race season next year is Rs four crore. We need to have extra packs of batteries, which alone cost more than 50 lakhs. In addition to that we need to develop a new chassis, transmission systems, and upgrade the electronic systems of the bike, which will cost a lot as most of the materials have to be imported from America or from Europe.”

Read the complete article at Express India.

The MotoCzysz E1pc electric superbike, which uses an iPhone for all its instrumentation, ran in The Isle of Man Time Trials last week.

The E1pc was a part of the TTXGP, the world’s first zero emissions road race. Enabling it to be a part of the race and a contender are 10 battery packs and three motors. The bike can reach 120 mph in seven or eight seconds.

Brian Wismann, team manager for Brammo Inc., created the concept behind the company’s new electric racing motorcycle. Wismann said the bike will have a top speed of at least 100 mph.

In June, representatives from two Ashland electric vehicle companies will travel to the Isle of Man, midway between England and Ireland, to race against each other — and about 20 other competitors.

Brammo Inc. and Barefoot Motors each are developing an electric motorcycle they plan to race in the Time Trials Xtreme Grand Prix, scheduled for June 12. Only clean-emission motorcycles will be allowed to race in the TTXGP, the world’s first carbon-free grand prix.

Brammo engineers are developing a motorcycle based on the company’s Enertia model. Adjustments to the motorcycle’s battery pack, motor and bodywork will allow the new model to go about twice as fast — hitting speeds of at least 100 mph, said Brian Wismann, Brammo’s team manager for the race.

Barefoot Motors, which makes electric all-terrain vehicles, is creating a motorcycle for the race by updating the technology it uses to make its four-wheeled vehicles. The company doesn’t plan to start manufacturing motorcycles, however.

The Isle of Man course, a 37.7-mile route with more than 200 turns, is notoriously dangerous. More than 200 people have died during races or practices on the course since 1911, when it first was used for competition.

Brammo has hired semiprofessional rider Roy Richardson, who has competed on the course before.

Barefoot Motors has hired professional rider Chris Petty, who also has raced on the Isle of Man before. Schless, a licensed American Motorcycle Association rider, has created the company’s bike to be as safe as possible, said Bob Acheson, finance manager for the company.

Both companies will post updates from team members before and after the race on their Web sites, brammo.com and barefootmotors.com.

Although Brammo and Barefoot Motors are practically neighbors, both companies are planning to travel thousands of miles to essentially spy on — and compete against — each other and similar companies.

“This is only one solution to building a bike for this race,” Wismann said. “One of the reasons we’re going is to see what our competitors are up to.”

Since both companies hail from Ashland, the competition between the two will be especially intense, Bieschin said.

Source: Mailtribune

Kingston electric TT bike nears completion

The Isle of Man hosts the most famous road race for motorcycles in the world. Indeed, teams from all over the world compete in Time Trials Grand Prix, or TTXGP as it is known.

The 2009 version, to be held on June 12, is being hailed as the first “zero emissions” Grand Prix. The motorcycles involved will be electric, not gasoline powered.

A team of six final-year students, currently studying for a BEng in Motorcycle Engineering Design at Kingston University (England), are developing their own entry.

The design specification is for a motorcycle that will average 80mph around the 38 mile track. That’s thirty-eight miles with the cycles going at top speeds.

The Kingston group currently are working with a ‘mule’ bike, from which they are evaluating the innovative design solutions and theoretical calculations they’ve made for their offering.

The “fastest woman around the Isle of Man circuit,” Maria Costello has signed up to ride their bike, as she intends to be the one to win this landmark race!

The Isle of Man Time Trials Extreme Grand Prix (TTXGP) will be held on June 12, 2009. (Rules and regulations together with team registration details can be found at www.ttxgp.com) The Grand Prix, a little over 33 miles in length, takes place on public roads. It is the oldest motor-cycle racing circuit still in use.

Among the participants this year is American company Mission Motors. Their Mission One electric motorcycle is claimed to be the fastest on the market, with a top speed of 150mph, a range of 150 miles and a recharge time of only two hours.

The Mission One has a high energy lithium-ion battery pack, adjustable regenerative braking (this recoups energy which otherwise is wasted during deceleration) and a wireless computer link which provides ride data.

Mission Motors hopes that with an excellent performance at the TTXGP, they will be able to sell 50 limited-edition Mission One bikes, with upgraded equipment, for delivery in 2010, followed by 250 lower-spec Mission One bikes, also in 2010.