Lightning Motorcycles switched to using Ener1’s PHEV lithium-ion battery solutions earlier this year to help it achieve better performance on the racing circuit with their Lightning SuperBike. That decision paid off several times this past week as Lightning set several land-speed records (see previous post) for an electric motorcycle. After achieving a record of 206.079 mph early in the week, the team later set a new electric motorcycle land-speed record of 215.90 mph during Bonneville SpeedWeek.
To achieve the record, the Southern California Timing Association/Bonneville Nationals, Inc. (SCTA/BNI) takes the average of two runs. The Lightning SuperBike achieved an average speed of 215.960 mph with a best speed of 218.637 mph - more than 40 miles-per-hour faster than Lightning’s previous record of 173 mph. During the slower of the two runs, Paul Thede, who actually drove the bike to its new record, strapped a camera to his helmet to document the bike surpassing the 200-mph mark. Make sure you turn up the sound when you watch the video.
