Lightning LS-218

Lightning LS-218
ManufacturerLightning Motorcycle
Production2014–
ClassElectric sportbike
EngineLiquid-cooled 150 kW electric motor
Top speed218 mph (351 km/h)[1]
Power200 hp (150 kW)[1]
Torque168 lb⋅ft (228 N⋅m)[1]
TransmissionDirect drive
Weight496 lb (225 kg)[citation needed] (wet)

The Lightning LS-218 is an electric motorcycle engineered, designed and produced in America by Lightning Motorcycle, that has been in production since 2014.[2] It has held the title of the world's fastest street-legal production electric motorcycle since 2014.[1]

With a top speed of 218 mph (351 km/h), the production LS-218 is faster than any other street-legal electric motorcycle, and tops the list of fastest production motorcycles.[3][4] While the 218 mph top speed of the LS-218 was arrived at through calculations of power and wind resistance, the speed was proven at Bonneville Speedway using an LS-218 modified from street-legal form, using "high speed gearing and fairing".[5]

A race-modified LS-218 won the 2013 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in open competition against both gasoline and electric motorcycles, ridden by professional racer Carlin Dunne.[6] The Pikes Peak victory was historic as the first time an electric motorcycle beat internal-combustion rivals in a professional road race. The Lightning team's Pikes Peak race was conducted entirely off-grid, and relied on solar panels to charge the LS-218 racer, making it the first vehicle of any type to win a professional road race using solar power.[7]

The LS-218's standard battery pack's capacity is 12 kWh (43 MJ).[3] Adding a 20 kWh battery pack gives a range of 160–180 mi (260–290 km).[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Avant, Jason. "World's Fastest Production Electric Motorcycle". Ride Apart. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  2. ^ "Lightning Delivers 1st LS-218 Electric Superbike", Motorcycle USA, November 13, 2014
  3. ^ a b Blain, Loz (20 May 2014). "Too fast, too strong, too scary: Electric Lightning LS-218 will be the fastest production bike on the planet". Gizmag. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  4. ^ Keeshin, Ben (13 November 2014). "WHO CARES THAT LIGHTNING'S LS-218 IS ELECTRIC? IT'S THE FASTEST MOTORCYCLE MONEY CAN BUY". Maxim Tech. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  5. ^ "Greased Frightening – Lightning Motorcycle's Scary-fast LS-218: MD Riding Impression", Motorcycle Daily, June 8, 2015
  6. ^ Lavrinc, Damon. "Lightning's Electric Motorcycle Dominates Pikes Peak". Wired. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  7. ^ "Lightning Beats the World Best Gas Motorcycles at PPIHC | Lightning Motorcycles".

See also


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