KillaCycle, an electric motorcycle that can reach 174 mph, may be the fastest on earth. (Courtesy of Bill Dube)
The drag-racing world is getting a serious wake-up call from what, on the surface, seems like an unlikely source: gas-free vehicles powered by batteries and electric motors.
A new crop of grassroots racers are stretching traditional notions of the best automotive technology for racing by building electric cars and motorcycles at home on shoestring budgets.
See them in action
- KillaCycle and White Zombie are scheduled to race at the Wayland Invitational at the Portland International Raceway this summer.
- KillaCycle
- Power: More than 500 horsepower
- Batteries: Powered by 1,210 lithium ion nanophosphate cells developed by A123 Systems
- Battery weight: 200 pounds
- Recharge time: less than four minutes per run
- Online: killacycle.com
- White Zombie
- Power: More than 400 horsepower
- Batteries: Powered by 192 ultra-high-power Kokam lithium polymer cells
- Battery weight: 345 pounds
- Recharge time: Two hours for a 35-mile range
- Online: plasmaboyracing.com
Bill Dube, builder of the drag bike KillaCycle, claims it is the quickest electric motorcycle on the planet: It can cover a quarter-mile track in less than eight seconds. Zero to 60? Less than a second.
If the term "electric bike" conjures up images of scooters, think again. The KillaCycle can flat-out fly -- to the tune of 174 mph.
"Electric vehicles are no longer 'nerd-mobiles' or traveling science projects," says Dube, of Wheat Ridge, Colo. "The present generation of battery technology has changed all that."
The batteries used in the KillaCycle were developed by A123Systems and are similar to those found in DeWalt power tools. "The KillaCycle is just a giant cordless drill with wheels," says Dube.
The bike uses less than seven cents' worth of electricity for each run down the drag strip, and it's silent aside from some chain and tire noise.
"The next generation of muscle cars will be electric. It's a fact," Dube says. "You will be able to get insane horsepower with the fuel economy of a Prius."
Based in Portland, Ore., White Zombie has been gaining its own cult following in the electric vehicle and drag racing worlds.
Owner John Wayland's rechargeable, white 1972 Datsun 1200 is capable of hitting speeds of 114 mph and can cover a quarter-mile in 11.46 seconds.
White Zombie frequently takes down BMWs, Corvettes and police cruisers in head-to-head races, leaving them in its zero-emission dust.
White Zombie, an all-electric Datsun 1200, can hit 114 mph. (Courtesy of John Wayland)
The secret to EV-racing success is in the torque, says Wayland: "An electric car's motor makes full torque instantly, compared to the gas car's internal-combustion engine that has very little torque until you rev it up." And electric drag cars don't need a transmission, flywheel or clutch to multiply torque, he says.
Electric-racing speeds are expected to climb even higher as smaller, more powerful batteries become available. This will allow muscle cars and drag racers to see huge power gains with less weight.
In 2007, Wayland upgraded White Zombie's battery pack from lead acid to lithium ion for a test race. He instantly gained 100 horsepower and dropped more than 700 pounds of weight.
Wayland has been tinkering with new Kokam battery packs, which he expects will give his car the power to push it into the 10-second range when racing begins this spring.
6 Comments
By John Wayland on February 21, 2010 8:08 AM
Thanks for the positive report on electric drag racing. A correction though. The Zombie's 5.7 kWh, 852 lb. lead acid battery pack gave 35 miles range at lower city speeds, but the new 22.7 kWh, 345 lb. lithium pack will give much more - Recharge time with the car's 11 kW charger is: Two hours for 110-120 miles of range at freeway speeds.
By Robert Fagliano on February 21, 2010 9:45 AM
This time of year is always exciting and I can't wait until John Wayland completes the creation of his new White Zombie Lithium Ion battery pack to electrify the fans at PIR.
Looking forward to new records and excitement at this years racing season.
By Roderick Wilde on February 21, 2010 10:23 AM
This is a great teaser article! It could have been much more in depth taking into account all the hot electrics here. It would seem appropriate considering that most of the quickest electric cars in the world are from the Northwest. For further information check out NEDRA, the National Electric Drag Racing Association, www.nedra.com. Also check out my FOAT page for the "Maniac Mazda" which when built over a decade ago was quicker than any production gas car in the world at the time. I will be racing a Mig-21 in Europe this summer. Both John Wayland and Bill Dube have been invited to attend the World's First International Electric Drag Race. You can see my car here: www.thefoat.com/wildman
Roderick Wilde
Suck Amps EV Racing
By Steven Lough on February 21, 2010 3:28 PM
NWautos Seattle Times
THE NORTHWEST'S (not so) COMPLETE AUTO RESOURCE
Dear Sara Kennedy:
Please forward this to Jeff Layton as well.
We appreciate your auto section and reporter Jeff Layton's story in this Sundays Times on Electric Drag Racing.. ( 2/21/2010)
However what is a READER to do if he/she would like to follow UP on this information ? Find local folks, contact John, or Bill, etc.
NEDRA ( National Electric Drag Racing Association) www.nedra.org
SEVA ( Seattle EV Asssociation ) www.seattleeva.org
EAA ( Electric Auto Association ) www.eaaev.org
One had a wonderful opportunity to pass on this information. However now your readers are left with no where to turn... IMHO
--
Steven S. Lough, Pres.
Seattle EV Association
By Ted Karson on February 25, 2010 2:26 PM
I concur with my EV friends above comments and I find it even more amazing that this article left out the highly successful Tesla Roadster which does 0-60 in 3.7 seconds and a quarter mile in the mid 12 second range right out of the showroom. The Tesla EV has also passed up 300 miles on a charge and is advertised to get about 250 miles per fast charge.
There are also many other EV drag racers that one can learn about on NEDRA www.nedra.org
Thanks for your article and I ask you how about doing an encore article?
By Lascauxcaveman on February 26, 2010 6:11 PM
Here are a few photos I shot at the Wayland Invitational in Portland, July 2007. A little more "under the hood" stuff than the article gives you.
Enjoy!
http://s227.photobucket.com/albums/dd271/lascauxcaveman/EVs%20at%202007%20Wayland%20Invitational/