Mission R electrifies Long Beach International Motorcycle Show
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
Faster. That was one of the many objectives Mission Motors had for its highly anticipated Mission R electric superbike. The latest EV racer from the San Francisco firm that is the Tesla of motorcycles is capable of traveling at least 160 miles per hour. The Mission R will make its world debut today at the International Motorcycle Show in Long Beach.
‘One of the key challenges of the electric motorcycle industry is, how do you pack a lot of power and energy in a very compact form?’ said David Salguero, Mission Motors marketing manager.
The answer: Design the smallest motor controller possible and pair it with energy-dense lithium-ion battery cells. Then hire renowned chassis designer James Parker to figure out how to configure them as close to the bike’s center of gravity as possible.
The Mission R is powered with a liquid-cooled, 100-kilowatt AC induction motor. Its 14.4 kilowatt-hours of lithium-ion batteries are sealed in a carbon-fiber box in a space that, on an internal-combustion machine, would normally house a gas tank and engine.
The proprietary motor controller incorporates regenerative braking and adjustable throttle mapping, as well as Wi-Fi and 3G data connectivity.
The Mission R electric drivetrain occupies less space than that of a typical 600-cc bike, Salguero said. It’s tucked inside a trellis frame made of billet aluminum and chrome-moly.
While the bike tips the scales at a chubby 545 pounds, making it ‘a hefty number,’ Salguero said, ‘in electric motorcycle racing, it’s a combination of power, balance and having enough energy storage to go the distance at a high speed.’
A follow-up to the Mission One electric race bike that once claimed the land-speed record for an electric motorcycle, clocking 150.059 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats in 2009, the Mission R makes 141 horsepower and 115 pound-feet of torque with its single gear.
Many of its additional components are from well-known performance brands. The adjustable front and rear suspension are Ohlins. The 17-inch wheels are forged magnesium Marchesinis. And the brakes are, of course, Brembo.
Mission will race its new R in the 2011 TTXGP electric motorcycle racing series.
Mission Motors Mission R
Powertrain: Liquid-cooled, three-phase AC induction motor; 14.4 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack; 100-kilowatt motor controller with adjustable throttle mapping, regenerative braking, Wi-Fi and 3G data connectivity; single-speed
Top speed: 160-plus mph
Horsepower: 141
Torque: 115 pound-feet from 0 to 6,400 rpm
Curb weight: 545 pounds
-- Susan Carpenter