Catavolt Reaches 177kph At Lake Gairdner Speed Week SA

On Friday 12th March 2010 Team Catavolt set the World Record for a Modified Partial Streamlined Electric Motorcycle and the Australian Land Speed Record for an Electric Vehicle on the Australian Salt Lake event, Speed Week 2010.

The Catavolt bike saw speeds of 115kph during testing on a 72V system but reached 177kph when run at 144V. Not bad for a forklift motor running at six times its rated voltage limit! The 48V Nissan electric forklift motor was expertly rewound to 24V (yes 24 volts) by Kenshaw Electrical at Newcastle. Under load the Odyssey 925 lead acid batteries fed the Curtis Controller with the 400 amps required to propel the bike and rider to 177kph.

Mixing it with the petrol an nitro heads on the salt was an experience in itself. When the bike finally hit 177kph the recommendations of extension leads and sound systems with V-Twin soundtracks were replaced with congratulations and a barrage of questions about the bike. Even the audacious ‘Animal’ offered words of encouragement and wisdom with the classic “May the course be with you!”

The course was indeed ‘with’ Kearon de Clouet as on the final day the conditions were perfect for the 177kph run. Kearon eased the throttle on and passed the first time marker at over 160kph. The second marker showed 177kph. After returning to the pits it took several hours before Kearon could lose that EV Grin.

Also on the salt were the Fast Sparks team from Bathurst who achieved 156kph on their Electric Kawasaki setting the record for a naked electric motorcycle. The Fast Sparks team were also using Odyssey Lead Acid Batteries at 144V. Both teams shared a pit area together and traded expertise and encouragement at the event.

Finally the bar has been set and the race is now on. Next year, electic motorcycle expert Jon Eggenhuizen promises 300kph+ and Team Catavolt is anticipating many more electric teams on the salt for 2011.