Electric motorcycle takes charge at Pikes Peak race, shames even gas-powered rivals

By Bill Roberson Published July 2, 2013

carlin-dunne-pikes-peak-international-hill-climb-lightning-motorcycles-jensen-beeler — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Need more evidence that electrically-powered cars and motorcycles will eventually supplant their gas-powered forebearers?

How about this: According to Ashpalt and Rubber, at this years Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado, an electrically-powered sportbike from Lightning Motorcycles (above) took home the gold for fastest motorcycle up the hill with a time just an eyelash over 10 minutes. Lightning’s bike wasn’t just the fastest electric motorcycle on the course, it was the fastest motorcycle period, besting the next bike – a no-joke gas-powered Ducati Multistrada S – by a solid 20 seconds.

Recommended Videos

And had the weather been better, it’s not a stretch to say Lightning’s entry could have grabbed the overall all-time motorcycle record of 9:52 or even given the overall record for any vehicle a run for its money. But rain-slicked pavement and even some snow at the top of the peak obviously meant Lightning rider Carlin Dunne had more interest in self-preservation than crushing more records on the truly treacherous 12.42 mile course. Good for him and congrats to the Lightning team.

While the all-time record of 8:13 for any vehicle (cars included) traversing the now fully-paved road to Pikes Peak’s 14,115-foot summit seems like a distant goal, it’s not as far off as many might think. With the instant-on torque, car-crushing acceleration rates and ever-increasing output of electric motorcycles, it won’t be long until a skilled rider on a well-set up bike riding in good conditions dispatches that record as well.

While gas-powered cars and bikes continue to thrill and fascinate owners (self included), the Pike’s Peak win by Lightning Motorcycles is yet another trophy for electric vehicles.

With the Tesla Model S dispatching gas-powered rivals in numerous straight-line races, it’s only a matter of time, maturing battery technology and figuring out charging infrastructure issues before more riders and drivers understand what real “power” is and recognize the future of racing success may measured in kilowatts and not in cubic centimeters.

Photo: © 2013 Jensen Beeler / Creative Commons – Attribution 3.0

Here’s a quick promo video for this year’s race which shows the dangers and types of vehicles that enter the race.

Here’s another video detailing a harrowing crash on the course in 2012 and how the men in the car survived.

Video Producer / Photographer

I focus on producing Digital Trends' 'DT Daily' video news program along with photographing items we get in for review. I…

Cars

Plug-in hybrids are becoming more popular. Why? And will it continue?

Kia Niro EV Charging Port

There's a lot of talk about the idea that the growth in electric car sales has kind of slowed a little. It's not all that surprising -- EVs are still expensive, early adopters all have one by now, and they're still new enough to where there aren't too many ultra-affordable used EVs available. But plenty of people still want a greener vehicle, and that has given rise to an explosion in hybrid vehicle sales.

That's especially true of plug-in hybrid vehicles, which can be charged like an EV and driven in all-electric mode for short distances, and have a gas engine as a backup for longer distances or to be used in combination with electric mode for more efficient driving.

Cars

EV drivers are not going back to gas cars, global survey says

ev drivers are not going back to gas cars global survey says screenshot

Nearly all current owners of electric vehicles (EVs) are either satisfied or very satisfied with the experience, and 92% of them plan to buy another EV, according to a survey by the Global EV Drivers Alliance.

The survey of 23,000 EV drivers worldwide found that only 1% would return to a petrol or diesel car, while 4% would opt for a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) if they had to replace their car.

Cars

Trump team in sync with Tesla on ending crash-reporting requirements, report says

Beta of Tesla's FSD in a car.

The transition team of President-elect Donald Trump is planning to end existing car-crash reporting requirements to safety regulators, according to a Reuters report.

The report cites a document obtained by Reuters that lays out the transition team’s 100-day strategy for automotive policy. In the document, the team says the crash-reporting requirement leads to “excessive” data collection, Reuters says.