Electrobike breaks AMA land speed record

On the Bonneville Salt Flats, UT, Elecrtrobike establishes a new land speed record for electric motorcycles. Rider Kate Ingber, averaged 68.4 miles per hour over two runs in soaring heat on the Electrobike Pi-E model. Sponsors included Spring Ventures, Olive Works, and Metromint Water.

Electrobike Pi-E is normally powered by 48 volt LiION batteries but an electronics snafu required use of lead acid batteries sourced from a local Wendover, Utah auto parts store. While Electrobike founder Marcus Hays and team were happy to leave with the record, Marcus believes the production propulsion system is capable of significantly greater speed.

"We're planning to run at El Mirage Dry Lake in November and fully expect by that time to have our LiION battery issues sorted out. Because our motor, controller and electronics package never really got pushed at Bonneville by the lead acid batteries, with the higher performance chemistry in place and depending on conditions, significantly higher speeds are certainly possible."