Lightning LS-218

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Side view
Presentation at the 2015 Superbike World Championship
Front view

The Lightning LS-218, named after the English word Blitz, is a motorcycle from the US manufacturer Lightning Motorcycle and is purely electrically powered. After the pre-production models had already set some electro-specific records, the machine is currently (as of May 2019) with 218  mph  - which corresponds to about 350  km / h - the world's fastest production motorcycle with street legal.

Development and Background

Richard Hatfield founded in 2006 in San Carlos , the company Lightning Motorcycle to build electric motorcycles. Hatfield had previously imported solar panels to the USA. He was able to poach other employees from electric racing. First, a Yamaha YZF-R 1 was converted into an electric motorcycle in the new company . From 2008 the development of a completely own vehicle began. In 2010 a first version of the LS-218 competed against MotoCzysz at the US offshoot of the TTXGP on the Bonneville Salt Flats, beat this favored team and set a record for this type of race at 173.388 miles per hour (around 279 km / h) Motorcycle on. The production version presented at the 2013 hill climb Pikes Peak International Hill Climb at 10: 00.694 minutes another record for vehicles in this class. A small series was then launched.

150 copies per year of the motorcycle have been handcrafted in series since 2016. The distribution takes place predominantly over the Internet. In order to compensate for the high weight of the batteries , many parts are made of lightweight construction. In the basic version, the purchase price at market launch was $ 38,800 (about 35,000 euros). What is unusual for a motorcycle with so much power is the lack of electronic traction control and ABS . However, the power is dosed via the throttle cable: The first 50% of the turning movement only activate about 30% of the maximum torque, which is supposed to increase drivability in everyday life. Batteries based on lithium-manganese-nickel-cobalt oxide, which are produced in Korea, are used as energy storage devices. The manufacturer developed the controller and the electric motor itself. The aluminum monocoque frame and the composite material cladding were also developed in-house and manufactured in-house. Other parts such as the aluminum rims from Marchesini or the brake system from Brembo are bought in from Italy. The motorcycle was designed for the US market with the local standard for charging systems according to the SAE J1772 standard, which prevents it from being spread outside of North America, for example in Europe. Buyers have to find out about adapters or other ways of charging themselves. The range is around 250 km with a moderate driving style.

Model Lightning LS-218
engine three-phase oil-cooled motor
tension 380 volts
Max. power 150 kW (201 hp)
Max. Torque 228 Nm
Front wheel mount 43mm upside-down fork
Rear wheel mount Monoshock strut
Front rims 3.50 × 17
Rear rims 6.00 × 17
Front tires 120 / 70-17
Rear tires 200 / 50-17
Brakes in front 2 × 320 mm discs , screwed radially
Rear brakes 1 × 245 mm disc
drive Chain
wheelbase 1420 mm
trailing 105 mm
Battery capacity 12, 15 or 20 kWh
Loading time 40 minutes to 8 hours
Dry weight 226 kg

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Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Fastest production motorcycle in the world: Lightning LS-218. In: speedweek.com. December 23, 2018, accessed May 21, 2019 .
  2. ^ Electric Yamaha R1 - Lightning. In: thekneeslider.com. July 3, 2007, accessed May 21, 2019 .
  3. ↑ Lightning Motors Sets Land Speed ​​Record. In: motorcycle.com. September 8, 2010, accessed May 21, 2019 .
  4. ↑ Lightning's Electric Motorcycle Dominates Pikes Peak. In: wired.com. January 7, 2013, accessed May 21, 2019 .