http://green.autoblog.com/2011/01/21/en ... acing-big/
Australia's Team Catavolt have lofted their slouch hats into the eFX / TTXGP electric motorcycle road racing ring in an intriguing announcement. Not only is the move a radical change from their usual land-speed-records-on-salt-flats activity, the EnerTrac Corp. motor for this new racing machine is somewhat radically located in the hub of the back wheel.
Electric wheel hub motors have most successfully been integrated into bicycles and the tech worked well enough for Vectrix to use in their maxi-scooter, but an electric race bike? While we're sure there are no end to naysayers – not enough top end speed, handling deficit due to unsprung mass, etcetera – signed up for three races, the team will certainly have ample opportunity to answer critics with results. Hopefully good ones.
The bike chassis they seem to be adapting (if clues left on their FaceBook page are to be believed) is the Korean steel-framed Daelim VJF250. Of course, with no motor in the way, the team should have plenty of space to hold a battery pack and controller. The motor in its stock configuration quietly (very quietly) boasts 10 kW of continuous power with a 30 kW peak and has seen customer's conversions reach speeds of 84.5 miles per hour (136 km/h). The example in the Catavolt entry is likely to be beefed up a bit.
Even without wins, the eFX / TTXGP participation seems a no-lose proposition for EnerTrac, giving their DIY conversion product world-wide exposure. Besides this race bike, the motor has found its way into motocross bikes, a batteried bobber and a tilting tricycle.
