EJ25RUN
03-13-2009, 06:42 PM
http://hellforleathermagazine.com/galleries/images/Lotus_EV-0_RR.jpg
http://hellforleathermagazine.com/galleries/images/Lotus_EV-0_RR_2.jpg
Thekneeslider.com article (http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2009/03/13/monocoque-motorcycle-chassis-possibilities/)
Mark Wells: Comments from thekneeslider.com
The carbon-fibre monocoque chassis that the Ev0-rr will run is an evolution of the planned Lotus superbike, which was seriously considered by the Norfolk firm in the late 1990s, designed by legendary racer and engineer Peter Williams. The bodywork for the Williams-designed motorcycle is made from two parts of carbon fibre, which clamp together around the engine. Once they are bolted together they form a stiff shell, providing all the rigidity the motorcycle needs. Based around an eggshell design, it is split vertically down the middle with an aluminium section to hang the electric motors and batteries from.
We really feel the trick with zero emissions vehicles, at this stage in their development, is to give motorcyclists (and petrol heads in general) what they know and more importantly love. This is why the illustrations we have made for the EV-0RR are very ‘MotoGP’ in proportion and stance.
Hell for leather writes:
Equipped with a carbon fiber monocoque frame, two electric motors and a double-wishbone single-sided front end, a motorcycle based on these designs will race at the Isle of Man on June 19. The engineers behind the EV-0RR claim it will have the power, weight and speed of a 600cc sportsbike, providing the stiffest competition yet for the Mission One electric motorcycle at the inaugural emissions-free TTXGP.
Unlike that the utterly conventional in all but power-source Mission One, the EV-0 RR takes full advantage of the packaging freedom delivered by the electric powertrain. The two electric motors are positioned at the bottom of the bellypan with the batteries located just above them, optimizing mass centralization. Surrounding them is the structural carbon body, which forms most of the fairing. The riding position -- with a faux "tank" and normal relationship between seat, bars and pegs -- may look conventional, but has been optimized both for rider control and aerodynamics. The "tank" is retained despite the lack of gas to fill it to give the riders' knees something to hang on to.
The single-sided rear geometry is based on that of a Honda VFR400RR NC30, while the front is modeled after the modified Yamaha GTS1000 that Steve Linsdell raced at the TT in 1995. Steve joins ex-Lotus designer Peter Williams, A1GP chief mechanic Steve Fyldes and Rick Simpson on the engineering team behind it. Between them, the team is has experience creating both the Le Mans-winning Bentley Speed 8 and the outlawed ground-effects-equipped Lotus 79 Formula One car. Steve's 21-year old son, Olie Linsdell, will be the rider.
That single-sided front end provides the EV-0 RR a clear advantage over traditional competition, reducing tire wear and increasing stability. The former likely won't prove too useful since the TTXGP only runs one lap of the bumpy 37.7-mile Mountain Course, but the latter should be a huge help, especially considering the rest of the carbon-framed bike is unproven.
The team has GPS mapped every inch of the course and is employing MotoGP-spec controllers to precisely tailor power delivery for each section. Since battery technology is something that will be largely equal across all teams -- development in batteries takes place at a rate and a budget that's beyond any vehicle manufacturer's ability to influence -- winning is largely going to be down to discovering the correct balance between weight, power, capacity and speed. We'd expect the winning bike to run out of charge just as it crossed the finishing line, so the EV-0 RR team's mapping and power control could give it more of an advantage than its radical chassis.
The inaugural TTXGP will be the first race of its kind, an open-formula prototype competition with only one rule: no harmful emissions. Designed to foster innovation in green two-wheeled transportation, we can't wait to see the vehicles that will be rolled out to race on June 19.
http://hellforleathermagazine.com/galleries/images/Lotus_EV-0_RR_2.jpg
Thekneeslider.com article (http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2009/03/13/monocoque-motorcycle-chassis-possibilities/)
Mark Wells: Comments from thekneeslider.com
The carbon-fibre monocoque chassis that the Ev0-rr will run is an evolution of the planned Lotus superbike, which was seriously considered by the Norfolk firm in the late 1990s, designed by legendary racer and engineer Peter Williams. The bodywork for the Williams-designed motorcycle is made from two parts of carbon fibre, which clamp together around the engine. Once they are bolted together they form a stiff shell, providing all the rigidity the motorcycle needs. Based around an eggshell design, it is split vertically down the middle with an aluminium section to hang the electric motors and batteries from.
We really feel the trick with zero emissions vehicles, at this stage in their development, is to give motorcyclists (and petrol heads in general) what they know and more importantly love. This is why the illustrations we have made for the EV-0RR are very ‘MotoGP’ in proportion and stance.
Hell for leather writes:
Equipped with a carbon fiber monocoque frame, two electric motors and a double-wishbone single-sided front end, a motorcycle based on these designs will race at the Isle of Man on June 19. The engineers behind the EV-0RR claim it will have the power, weight and speed of a 600cc sportsbike, providing the stiffest competition yet for the Mission One electric motorcycle at the inaugural emissions-free TTXGP.
Unlike that the utterly conventional in all but power-source Mission One, the EV-0 RR takes full advantage of the packaging freedom delivered by the electric powertrain. The two electric motors are positioned at the bottom of the bellypan with the batteries located just above them, optimizing mass centralization. Surrounding them is the structural carbon body, which forms most of the fairing. The riding position -- with a faux "tank" and normal relationship between seat, bars and pegs -- may look conventional, but has been optimized both for rider control and aerodynamics. The "tank" is retained despite the lack of gas to fill it to give the riders' knees something to hang on to.
The single-sided rear geometry is based on that of a Honda VFR400RR NC30, while the front is modeled after the modified Yamaha GTS1000 that Steve Linsdell raced at the TT in 1995. Steve joins ex-Lotus designer Peter Williams, A1GP chief mechanic Steve Fyldes and Rick Simpson on the engineering team behind it. Between them, the team is has experience creating both the Le Mans-winning Bentley Speed 8 and the outlawed ground-effects-equipped Lotus 79 Formula One car. Steve's 21-year old son, Olie Linsdell, will be the rider.
That single-sided front end provides the EV-0 RR a clear advantage over traditional competition, reducing tire wear and increasing stability. The former likely won't prove too useful since the TTXGP only runs one lap of the bumpy 37.7-mile Mountain Course, but the latter should be a huge help, especially considering the rest of the carbon-framed bike is unproven.
The team has GPS mapped every inch of the course and is employing MotoGP-spec controllers to precisely tailor power delivery for each section. Since battery technology is something that will be largely equal across all teams -- development in batteries takes place at a rate and a budget that's beyond any vehicle manufacturer's ability to influence -- winning is largely going to be down to discovering the correct balance between weight, power, capacity and speed. We'd expect the winning bike to run out of charge just as it crossed the finishing line, so the EV-0 RR team's mapping and power control could give it more of an advantage than its radical chassis.
The inaugural TTXGP will be the first race of its kind, an open-formula prototype competition with only one rule: no harmful emissions. Designed to foster innovation in green two-wheeled transportation, we can't wait to see the vehicles that will be rolled out to race on June 19.