Electric vehicles are the new frontier in racing, and Chip Yates is among the leaders of electric motorcycle racing. Over the weekend, Yates went 190.6 mph on his Swigz Pro Racing electric motorcycle.
The Mojave Mile is a racing event where speed demons take their vehicles and try to go as fast as possible from a standing start over a one-mile course. This mile speed events are growing ever more popular among car and motorcycle enthusiasts, and it is not uncommon to see cars top 200 mph in these events. Yates went out with his 241 horsepower electric motorcycle and managed to set a new, unofficial electric motorcycle record of 190.6 mph in one mile. While Yates fell short of his 200 mph goal despite testing that saw the bike go as fast as 227 mph, the effort is still laudable, and proof that electric vehicles have plenty of performance potential.
This top speed run is just one of many events Yates is planning, including the famous Pikes Peak Race to the Clouds. He is a true racing pioneer, a modern day hot rodder, his motorcycle makes a stomp-pulling 341 ft-lbs of torque and the battery pack delivers 500 amps of power. 200 mph is a major milestone, and we’re sure Yates can’t wait to breach it. He’ll have another chance in October when the Mojave Mile returns.
Source: Chip Yates
Chris DeMorro is a writer and gearhead who loves all things automotive, from hybrids to HEMIs. You can read about his slow descent into madness at Sublime Burnout or follow his non-nonsensical ramblings on Twitter @harshcougar.