World's Fastest Electric Superbike Bonneville 2011 [video]

Run 6 of 6 for Lightning Motorcycles @ Bonneville en-route to becoming the fastest electric bike in the world in its class. This was a "video run" as the camera was right in front of the riders face. There was some side wind (notice the bike is leaning) but the camera was angled a bit so it looks worse than it was.

The previous run was faster at 218.6 mph and is the first electric motorcycle to go over 200 mph. Check out the black and orange markers on the sides of the track. They are 1/4 mile apart.

By the way, only $0.18 worth of electricity was used on this run.

Toyota unveil EV racing prototype

Toyota Motorsport GmbH (TMG) has revealed further details of its plan to make Nürburgring history on 29 August by setting a new electric vehicle (EV) lap record on the demanding 20.832km Nordschleife.

TMG's high-performance electric powertrain will power the car as it aims to significantly improve on the current lap EV record of 9min 1.338secs. Based on unofficial testing and depending on weather conditions, TMG expects to hit lap-record pace immediately, with additional days scheduled as back-up.

The TMG electric powertrain uses two electric motors to deliver peak power of 280kW and a top speed of 260km/h with zero emissions. That makes it ideal to power any future single-make electric motorsport series and TMG will begin commercial sales of its electric powertrain technology in 2012.

Total weight of the two-seater sports car is just 970kg, including the lithium-ceramic battery which allows for nimble handling around the demanding Nordschleife, essential for setting a competitive lap record.

TMG General Manager Electric & Electronics Ludwig Zeller said: "We want to demonstrate the high level of performance which can now be reached with an electric powertrain, not only in motorsport terms but as part of TMG's existing development work on road car EV technology. There is no more evocative place to illustrate this performance than on the Nordschleife. Our target is to beat the existing record by more than just a few seconds because that will demonstrate just how far our technology has developed since TMG began working on KERS systems in 2007. Many people are still dreaming of an electric future for motorsport; at TMG we believe this is much closer than some think and we intend to show what can be achieved with a high-performance electric powertrain."

TMG today revealed the first images of its electric vehicle, with a modern, dynamic livery from Aguti which captures a sense of electrifying speed. These images can be seen by clicking here.

TMG is also proud to announce its partners in this lap record attempt, all of whom enjoy visible branding on the electric vehicle. Aguti created and implemented the livery concept while rational motion integrated the electric powertrain, traction battery and control strategies. EVO Electric motor technology delivers the power and Yokohama is the tyre supplier.

Official timers will be present to authenticate the lap record while video and a photography crew will record a milestone achievement in EV development. These materials will be made available to all media immediately after any successful record attempts.

Remy Powered Lightning Motorcycle Breaks 200mph @ Bonneville

Using a Remy propulsion electric motor, Lightning Motorcycles, LLC. blasts through the land speed record for production electric bikes by 30mph to be crowned the first electric bike in the world to exceed 200mph. In an August 14 SCTA*-sanctioned run at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, Lightning -- the 2010 land speed record holder -- achieved 206.079 mph, topping its 2010 speed of 176mph.

Lightning retains its claim as the fastest electric bike in the world in its class and will eternally own the achievement of being the first electric motorcycle to break 200mph in its class. The bike was ridden by Paul Thede, principal of Race Tech and the developer of the Lightning suspension system.

This record speed win coincides with the signing of a long term supply agreement in which Remy International, Inc. will provide Lightning Motorcycles with the Remy HVH250™ electric propulsion motor for use in Lightning Motorcycles' commercial electric motorcycles and its professional racing Lightning Superbikes.

Lightning Motorcycles is a California-based motorcycle engineering firm using competition to spur innovation. In addition to its commercial bikes now sold in North America, Asia and Europe, Lightning is already manufacturing their winning Superbikes with a Remy HVH250 motor for sale.

"Lightning Motorcycles has the drive and talent to keep pushing the electric bike land speed record higher with the Remy HVH250 electric motor. We are very proud to be a part of Lightning's amazing record at Bonneville," said Remy Electric Motors, LLC VP and General Manager Kevin Quinn. "The Remy HVH250 motor is the best on the market. Our team works hard to give our customers the competitive power advantage they need; it is dazzling to see it in triumphant action like this," added Quinn.

"Switching to a Remy electric motor made a powerful difference in our design and performance. Coupled with our experienced team, we knew we had a record-breaking bike on the Salt Flats. Remy has been a tremendous partner in our efforts. We look forward to working with them and their motor on both our racing and commercial bikes," said Lightning Motorcycle CEO Richard Hatfield.
The compact size and light weight of the Remy HVH250 electric motor is a perfect match for the Lightning Superbike.

The Remy HVH250 provides the superior power density and performance required by Lightning Motorcycles while fitting into the limited space of this small but powerful application. Efficiency and range are also gained through the reduced weight of the lighter Remy electric motor, which decreases overall application weight with no sacrifice in power or durability.

Toyota shooting for Nurburgring EV Lap record on August 29

Toyota has reportedly announced it will attempt to smash the existing electric vehicle lap record at the famed Nürburgring Nordschleife on August 29.

The current electric vehicle lap record at the 'Ring stands at 9 minutes and 1.338 seconds, a time that Toyota says it has already beaten during informal testing. On August 29, Toyota will hit the track with a battery-powered two-seater that soars to a claimed top speed of 162 miles per hours, rips from 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds and is loosely based on the radical Alpha-1 SRF, a vehicle developed by Toyota Motorsport GmbH for German firm e-Wolf.

Rob Leupen, Toyota Motorsport's director of business operations, told the Charging Point, "We are extremely confident we can break the record by some distance, which is an indication of how electric vehicle performance is continuously improving." Only time we tell if Toyota's attempt to tame the 'Ring blows a hole through the existing record, which is held by the spectalur Peugeot EX1.

Source: The Charging Point

Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid to make Monterey Le Mans Series debut

Porsche’s 911 GT3 R Hybrid will make a return to North American racing as Porsche Motorsport announced today the entry of the 911 GT3 R Hybrid Version 2.0 in the ModSpace American Le Mans Series Monterey presented by Patrón. The six-hour race on September 17 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is the eighth round of the 2011 American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón.

“The Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid represents one of the best examples ever of technology transfer between race track and showroom,” said Scott Atherton, President and CEO of the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón. “It brought an entirely new level of relevance to our platform during its North American debut at Petit Le Mans last year; certainly it stands to do the same during its maiden appearance on the West Coast. Porsche is using its involvement in the ALMS to demonstrate that high performance and fuel efficiency are not mutually exclusive achievements. The benefits of this revolutionary development program will no doubt lead to numerous advancements that will be applied to future Porsche road cars. We are proud that our position as the Global Leader of Green Racing enables such technologies to be put to the ultimate endurance test and actively developed in front of our fans.”

Two Porsche works pilots Romain Dumas (France) and Richard Lietz (Austria) will share the cockpit of the orange and white racer from Weissach. Dumas already has driven the world’s most innovative GT vehicle last year at Road Atlanta’s Petit Le Mans. Lietz piloted the 911 Hybrid at the 24-hour races on the Nuerburgring in 2010 and 2011 as well as at various other long-distance races.

“I’m so looking forward to demonstrating the capabilities of this very special car at race speed to the spectators in California,” said Dumas, a two-time ALMS champion in LMP2 for Porsche. “Many Porsche fans live on the west coast of America, and some of them have already discovered the advantages of the hybrid system at the wheel of a Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid. I’m very excited because Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is one of the most challenging race tracks on earth. Its layout with a series of up and downhill passages should actually suit our 911 GT3 R Hybrid.”

The outing of Porsche’s hybrid racer at the 24 Hours of Nuerburgring last month was more than heartening. The innovative race car achieved the same quick lap times as its top rivals yet used considerably less fuel. Just two broken transmission flanges and a collision thwarted a potential podium spot.

The Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid 2.0 - with two 75-kilowatt electric motors on the front axle supplementing the 465 hp four-liter, six-cylinder power unit at the rear - particularly embodies the philosophy of “Porsche Intelligent Performance”: The electric energy is generated during braking and stored in an electric flywheel. During acceleration, this energy is automatically delivered to the front wheels supporting the combustion engine. This leads to a reduction in fuel consumption and increases the cruising range on the circuit.

Moreover, drivers can manually use the stored energy with a boost-paddle on the steering wheel for overtaking. The 911 GT3 R Hybrid has undergone further development since 2010; compared to its predecessor, its weight was reduced from 1,350 kilograms (2,970 pounds) to 1,300 kilograms (2,860 pounds).

This weekend, the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón is at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge. The fifth round of the 2011 ALMS championship is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, August 6 with ESPN2 airing the race starting at 10 p.m. ET on Sunday, August 7. Live video coverage on race day will be available at 3:15 p.m. ET on ESPN3.com in the US, and americanlemans.com for international viewers. Canadian fans may also watch live coverage on Rogers Sportsnet. Worldwide radio coverage will be available on American Le Mans Radio at americanlemans.com.

No electric motors in F1 pits, Ecclestone says

From 2014 the Formula 1 race cars have to move in the pit lane just using the KERS electric motor. But Bernie Ecclestone, a self admitted climate change denier, believes it is too dangerous.

According to the regulations submitted to the FIA, the energy accumulated on the braking, shall actuate the motor during the movement of the pit lane.

"To go on the electric motor on pit lane would be dangerous, because people who are there will not hear the machine – says Bernie. – Also, the absence of sound affect the interest of viewers. Now, as soon as the GP3 race starts, where the sound of the engine is almost inaudible, the stands begin to thin out. Electric motors have no place in Formula 1. "

2012 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

Porsche has releases photos and specifications for the 2012 911 GT3 Cup.

The 2012-spec Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is based on the lightweight 911 GT3 RS (997) street sports car. The power unit is largely identical to the production engine of the 911 GT3 RS with the same output of 450bhp and the same maximum engine torque of 8,500rpm.

The 2012 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup comes equipped with a controlled catalytic converter, flared wheel arches, 9.5Jx18 rims with 25/64-18 Michelin race tires at the front and 12Jx18 wheels with 30/68-18 tires at the rear. Porsche also fitted the 2012 911 GT3 Cup with adjustable blade-type anti-roll bars at the front and rear, PCCB Ceramic Composite brakes, and a special steering wheel with six switches for controlling various settings of the car.

The new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup will be delivered to teams around the world from September and will be run in this specification for the 2012 and 2013 race seasons in selected one-make cup series. The price is 161,750 Euro plus value-added tax of the respective countries.





Press Release

Most successful race car now suitable for wider range of motorsport

Stuttgart. It is the most successful race car on earth: The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. With over 2,200 units sold, it is the undisputed number one amongst customer racing teams all over the world. Now, the new 911 GT3 Cup features a 100-litre FT3 safety fuel tank, which is filled via an opening in the front bonnet. Compared to its predecessor, the vehicle is now suitable for an even wider range of endurance racing. Moreover, the new fuel tank contributes to a further improvement of the high safety standards.

The 2012-spec Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is based on the lightweight 911 GT3 RS (997) street sports car. The power unit is largely identical to the production engine of the 911 GT3 RS with the same output of 450 bhp and the same maximum engine speed of 8,500 rpm. A race exhaust system with a controlled catalytic converter keeps emissions to a minimum.

The flared wheel arches at the front axle accommodate light alloy rims measuring 9.5Jx18 with 25/64-18 Michelin race tyres. The light alloy rims at the rear measure 12Jx18 with 30/68-18 tyres. Depending on the type of racing, the new 911 GT3 Cup features different rim specifications. The blade-type anti-roll bars at the front and rear are adjustable in seven positions allowing an extremely precise set-up for each race track. Exclusive to the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup which runs as support to Formula 1 is the PCCB Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake. This is also available for Porsche's road models. Compared to the composite cast brakes in the Carrera Cups and the GT3 Cup Challenges, PCCB reduces the weight of the car by around 20 kilograms.

The cockpit of the new 911 GT3 Cup caters for the needs of the driver. The controls for the info display are positioned on the steering wheel which houses six switches. As in the production car, the reach and height of the steering wheel can be adjusted.

The new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup will be delivered to teams around the world from September and will be run in this specification for the 2012 and 2013 race seasons in selected one-make cup series. The price is 161,750 Euro plus value-added tax of the respective countries.

Currently, the 911 GT3 Cup competes in 19 Porsche brand trophy series worldwide. Moreover, it is run in various GT race series and at long distance events. The 911 GT3 Cup is the basis model of Porsche's racing vehicle range. Additionally, Porsche Motorsport offers the 911 GT3 R for championships complying with GT3 regulations and the 911 GT3 RSR built according to GT2 rules.

HaloIPT and Drayson to Bring 'Wireless Charging' to Electric Motorsport

HaloIPT today announces a new strategic partnership with Drayson Racing Technologies, the green R&D racing organisation founded by Lord Drayson, former UK Minister for Science and Innovation. The partnership will use HaloIPT's unique wireless charging technology to power high-performance cars as they race around the track.

The partnership with Drayson Racing, which develops and races green motorsport technology, including electric vehicles, aims to pioneer the deployment of dynamic (in-motion) charging of zero emission electric vehicles. The racing cars, fitted with HaloIPT technology, will pick up power wirelessly from transmitters buried under the surface of the road or race track; transferring power directly to the vehicle's electric battery, ensuring that the vehicle receives constant charging on the move.

This innovation is made possible because HaloIPT's tried and tested technology provides a significant tolerance to misalignment over the transmitter pads, automatically adjusting for changing vertical gap. The system has the ability to intelligently distribute power: ensuring a consistent delivery of power at speed.

HaloIPT and Drayson Racing will work together on the development of electric drive-train packages and trackside-charging systems to replace the internal combustion engine and fuel pit stops.

Lord Paul Drayson, co-founder of Drayson Racing said: "Dynamic wireless charging will be a real game-changer, enabling zero emission electric vehicles to race over long periods without the need for heavy batteries. This is a milestone innovation that will have a dramatic effect not just on racing but on the mainstream auto industry. We're looking forward to putting this technology through its paces as it charges electric race cars at speeds of up to 200 mph."

Dr Anthony Thomson, CEO of HaloIPT, said: "HaloIPT's technology has a proven heritage in dynamic charging and we are excited to be transferring this expertise to the electric vehicle market. The deal with Drayson Racing demonstrates the appetite for technology that makes driving an electric car more convenient, and this is certainly the case in the motorsport sector - nothing could be more convenient than a race car that re-fuels itself on the track."

Renault F1 alarmed by electric pit running from 2014

Renault team boss Eric Boullier is among a number of Formula One personalities to express fears that plans to make cars run electrically in the pits from 2014 is too dangerous.

The proposal that "the car must be run in electric mode (no ignition and no fuel supply to the engine) at all times when being driven in the pit lane" was included in the governing FIA's new 2014 regulations published last week.

Other environmentally-friendly ideas were also adopted but some teams feel they were not adequately consulted on the changes by the governing body.

"The concept is intriguing but... the cars would not make noise and that could be very dangerous," Boullier told reporters at the German Grand Prix.

"I think there are aspects of the rules published by the FIA which should be looked at again."

Formula One is due to switch to a new 1.6 litre turbo V6 engine with energy recovery systems from 2014. The sport currently uses V8 units.

Boullier is also keen on an extra practice session rather than just two on a Friday from 2012 while teams continue to talk with the FIA about a return to some form of in-season testing from next year.

Ferrari 458 Italia Grand Am

Ferrari has unveiled its new 458 Italia Grand Am race car which will roll out on July 26 and 27 for a private session at Daytona International Speedway in Florida.

The 458 Grand Am features a 500 horsepower V8 with a 48-mm restrictor plate and rev limiter, rollover bar, new brakes tuned for the car's lack of ABS and traction control and Continental hard-compound racing tires. 






Press Release

The 458 Italian Grand Am launched at Fiorano circuit

Maranello, 18 July - the 458 Italia Grand Am was given its track baptism today at the Fiorano circuit. The car has been developed in conjunction with Michelotto Automobili, based on the GT3 version of the V8 Ferrari berlinetta, with the aim of racing in the famous North American series.

The 458 Grand Am is built to match the American regulations and is therefore different to the European car, especially in that it develops 500 horsepower and has less efficient aerodynamics than the GT version. It is also fitted with a 48 mm restrictor and maximum revs are 8000. Significant modifications have been made to the braking system, as the car has neither ABS nor traction control. Other differences to the GT3 include the roll-over bar which gives greater lateral protection to increase safety in a series in which collisions are rather more frequent. The car is fitted with tyres from Continental, the sole supplier to the series, featuring a very hard compound, again to conform with the series regulations. On its shakedown today, it completed a good number of trouble-free laps, 45 to be precise in the hands of Maurizio Mediani and Jaime Melo, as they took turns at the wheel.

Prototype version of the electric McRae 4×2 Dakar Buggy Revealed [video]

Following long preparations, Tim Coronel today presented the first electric Dakar Buggy in spectacular fashion to press and business associates. In the premises of partner All Green Vehicles (AGV) in Oosterhout,Coronel unveiled the prototype version of the electric McRae 4×2 Buggy, thereby providing a world first. The Netherlands’ first astronaut, Wubbo Ockels, drove the first few metres in the electric Dakar Buggy and Glennis Grace opened the afternoon with a spectacular performance.

The buggy presented is the version Tim used to win the solo category for the second time
together with Prodakar in 2011, and is fitted with a 90KW electric engine. Over the coming
months the prototype will be used in extensive testing in order ultimately to come up with the
definitive version for Le Dakar 2012.

After Coronel intimated a few months ago that he wanted to conquer the toughest rally in
the world using an electric buggy, a lot of people thought he was out of his mind, but a small
group of experts were willing to take up the challenge. The adventure started at Novolectriq
and All Green Vehicles and, through Wubbo Ockels, was given a home at Delft University of
Technology where a team of 10 students spent 10 weeks (4000 hours) labouring away at the
numbers.

Delft University of Technology was primarily occupied with calculating the energy
requirements, air resistance and minimum weight of the Buggy so as to produce optimum
results. After the students had finished calculating, it was down to AGV and Prodakar to fit the
specially prepared electric engine into the existing McRae 4×2 Buggy and prepare it for the
first tests. Following months of hard work by the various parties, today the initial results are
manifest and phase two of the Dakar Electric project can be set in motion.

Phase two will chiefly consist in testing the Buggy under a variety of conditions and kinds of
weather. In particular, the extreme heat in the Atacama desert during Le Dakar will play a
significant role in the project’s success (or failure).

To this end the different working groups have drawn up a comprehensive testing programme which will be carried out in countries such as the Netherlands, France, Spain and Morocco. The definitive version of the electric Dakar Buggy will be designed on the basis of this test data.