Press Release:LiFeBATT, the supplier of high-performance battery packs to a number of teams entering the TTXGP, the world’s first zero-carbon eGrand Prix, and Kingston University, one of the teams entering the TTXGP, have teamed up to enter the Isle of Man’s Relentless Ramsey Sprint drag racing event. The team’s bike, which was developed in under six weeks, has already taken part in the Santa Pod AE (Alternative Energy) drag racing event and emerged as winner within the clean emission race category.
The Relentless Ramsey Sprint, organised by Straightliners, takes place on the Isle of Man on June 9, 2009. The all-day event, which is open to all, is held on a 1/8 mile stretch of the northern seaside road of Mooragh Promenade in the town on Ramsey. Entrants are predominantly bikes build for sprint and drag events alongside bikes from TT visitors taking the chance to compete in the historic Relentless Ramsey Sprint.
Relentless Ramsey Sprint organiser, Trevor Duckworth, said: “The LiFeBATT entry into the Relentless Ramsey Sprint is a very welcome edition to the exciting line up of bikes we attract each year. Although we’ve never previously had an electric bike involved, the success of the event is very much based on the diversity of bikes that enter the race. With the LiFeBATT bike already achieving respectable ¼ mile times, I very much anticipate electric bikes will become increasingly prevalent in drag racing over the coming years.”
The all electric drag racing bike, which is owned by LiFeBATT and was developed in partnership with Kingston University, came about through both organisations’ involvement in the TTXGP. LiFeBATT Director, Ian Goodman, was responsible for developing the bike’s drive system while Paul Brandon, motorcycle engineering course director at Kingston University, and Andy Irvine, a first year engineering student at Kingston University, were responsible for developing the bikes’ chassis and drive train. Andy Irvine, who has been involved in drag racing from the age of nine, is also the bike’s rider.
Paul Brandon said:“Due to the progress we have made with the TTXGP bike we decided to get involved with another zero emissions project – this time developing a drag racing bike. Working to a timescale of six weeks, we managed to develop a bike that covered a quarter mile in less than 15 seconds. We know we can greatly improve on this time with recent modifications to the gear system so we very much look forward to competing at the Relentless Ramsey Sprint.”
LiFeBATT, the financiers of the LiFeBATT and Kingston University drag racing team, has been instrumental in enabling the TTXGP to take place. LiFeBATT is a world leader in the development of high-performance, environmentally friendly, safe and efficient rechargeable battery cells known as LiFePO4. As such, a number of the teams entering the TTXGP including Kingston University have turned to LiFeBATT for their battery technology.
Ian Goodman, Director at LiFeBATT, said:“The TTXGP has provided us with a fantastic opportunity to showcase our battery technology but we didn’t want to stop there – that’s why we’ve tried our hand at drag racing. LiFePO4 batteries’ discharge rate, weight and size make them ideal for transport applications. We’ve already demonstrated their capabilities over a quarter of a mile and are looking forward to seeing the batteries perform over an eighth of a mile at the Relentless Ramsey Sprint, and then over 37.73 miles on the Isle of Man mountain circuit during the TTXGP.”
The TTXGP is the world’s first zero-carbon eGrand Prix, due to be held on the Isle of Man TT course on June 12, 2009, as part of the traditional TT race programme. Teams from six different countries, including the USA, India, Germany, Austria, UK and the Isle of Man, have come forward and entered the race to produce an international and exciting starting grid line up. The TTXGP is about competitive innovation, taking place in the ideal competitive venue on the Isle of Man TT circuit.
Azhar Hussain, founder of the TTXGP, said: “We are delighted to see that concepts and relationships formed due the TTXGP have flourished and resulted in further innovation in clean-emission racing. With the TTXGP, we set out to demonstrate that clean-emission racing can be fast fun and exciting and to inspire the uptake of clean-emission transport solutions. The LiFeBATT and Kingston University team’s involvement in drag racing is proof that the TTXGP is already achieving its goals.”
