Lightning Motorcycle
has launched the world’s fastest production motorcycle – an electric – against the current crop of conventional 200hp+ sportsbikes such as the supercharged Kawasaki’s Ninja H2, Ducati’s bigger 1299 Panigale and Yamaha’s hi-tech R1.
The Californian company is claiming its LS-218 electric motorcycle is the the fastest production bike in the world. And the keys have been handed over to their first customer who put down $US38,888 (about $41,500) for the bike.
The LS-218 is an electric motorcycle that has a tested top speed of 350km/h (218mph), has a 149kW (200hp) engine, weighs about 224kg (495lbs) and has battery range of 160km (100m), although not when running at top speed!
The first customer is Troy Helming, CEO of renewable energy project development company Pristine Sun.
Lightning Motorcycle marketing manager Jojo Chang says winning races and setting records is their “proving grounds”. “The biggest and most important competition is in the marketplace,” he says. “We are dedicated to winning and promoting no-compromise clean-tech transportation.”
Since 2006, Lightning Motorcycle has been researching and manufacturing vehicles such as fuel cell hybrid electric buses, hybrid cars, electric motorcycles, electric ATV, electric yard trucks for ferrying shipping containers and professional ocean racing yachts.
The San Carlos, California, manufacturer is no stranger to performance with its electric superbike winning last year’s Pikes Peak Hill Climb. It not only won its category but also beat all the fuel-powered vehicles by a whopping margin of 20 seconds. Lightning also holds the land speed record for fastest production electric motorcycle in the world at 215mph with a fast run of 346km/h (218mph) at the Bonneville Salt Flats.
The Lightning LS-218 is a direct street legal version of the same bike with the company claiming range of 160km and a quick-charge time of 30 minutes. Options include a fully programmable Android display, carbonfibre swingarm and frame, titanium fasteners, custom graphic wrap and seating.
Lightning Motorcycle president Richard Hatfield says they plan to develop a full range of electric motorcycles.
“We are looking for dealers in various countries, including Australia to distribute LS-218,” Jojo says.