Popular Mechanics: Top 7 Electric Motorcycles at the TTX GP

2009-06-14

The Lowdown

This was the one bike that had everyone talking. The MotoCzysz E1pc was the most stunning creation on the grid. The race came just too early for the team, which struggled with teething problems. Still, the tech behind the MotoCzysz (pronounced "Sizz") was nothing short of incredible. "How exciting is it to get on a bike that has the equivalent of 30 hp and does 60 to 70 mph? It's not. I wouldn't buy one, so why would I want to build one?" says Michael Czysz, the mind behind MotoCzysz. Instead, his bike uses three low-slung Agni-style brushed pancake motors powered by an undisclosed number of lithium-ion cells. It's been reported that this bike could hit 120 mph. The cells' packaging is designed to be "hot-swappable," so cells can be quickly removed and replaced with charged packs, making this process the equivalent of filling a bike up with a fresh tank of gas. The bike's chassis uses technology from MotoCzysz's stalled C1 990 MotoGP project.

What's Next?

Czysz might have been embarrassed by his bike's DNF, but he shouldn't be. He never claimed to be an electrical expert and he took on the project with a very small team and a tight deadline. He avoided any post-race debriefs so it's hard to say what happens next, but this bike is way too exciting to be shelved.

Why It Matters

It's so early in the evolution of electric motorcycles, yet the visionary Michael Czysz has shown what can be achieved. His design is sure to inspire others.

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