Isle of Man TT Zero Is Proving Ground For MotoCzysz

Two American companies have again used the annual TT Zero electric motorcycle race at the British Isle of Man to spotlight Remy Electric Motors HVH 250™ and the MotoCzysz D1g1tal Dr1ve power system by capturing first and second place wins and setting another race course record on the 37.73-mile Isle of Man (IOM) mountain course.

First, here are video highlights of the 2011 Isle of Man TT Races, considered the most important in the world. This year, during the two week TT festival, more than 800,000 unique users in 201 countries visited the iomtt.com website. John McGuinness came from behind to take his 17th TT victory in the final race on Friday, June 10th setting a new Race Record time of 1:45.45.80, beating Steve Plater’s 2009 time.




In the annual TT Zero electric motorcycle race at the Isle of Man on June 9th, MotoCzysz bikes designed and manufactued in the USA captured both the top speed and overall course speed records. MotoCzysz' 2011 model posted a top speed of 149.5mph, beating the 2010 top speed of 135mph. The machine also set a course record with an average lap speed of 99.604mph.

After a record-setting win last year using Remy HVH250 technology in the MotoCzysz proprietary D1g1tal Dr1ve (DD1) power system, MotoCzysz entered its 2010 E1pc machine in the 2011 race. In addition, MotoCzysz ran a new E1pc model, also using Remy's HVH250 technology in the DD1, to complete the 2011 "Segway MotoCzysz" Team. The new bike, ridden by Michael Rutter, placed first, with the 2010 model, ridden by Mark Miller, placing second. Launched in 2009, the TT Zero is a clean-emissions speed race of electric motorcycles that make one lap around the 37.73-mile Isle of Man (IOM) mountain course.

"Our close relationship with Remy is resulting in electric drives that are leading the industry. The core technology from the Remy HVH250, around which we have built our D1g1tal Dr1ve, performed flawlessly at the IOM the last 2 years. We were thrilled to return to the podium with first and second place finishes in the race and set course speed records along the way," said MotoCzysz CEO Michael Czysz. "Remy continues to be the perfect choice for us. The HVH 250 has superior power and torque density and its compact and lightweight design fits our D1g1tal Dr1ve on the bikes perfectly. With each race, we have pushed the Remy HVH technology harder, and it has responded with victory." 

MotoCzysz (based in Portland, Oregon) and Remy (based in Pendleton, Indiana) now own the fastest three laps ever executed by an electric vehicle around the challenging mountain circuit on the IOM.

"Motorsports has been a long time proving ground for innovative technologies," noted Kevin Quinn, VP and general manager of Remy Electric Motors. "This year's zero emissions electric motorcycle race was a great opportunity to demonstrate that the 2010 win could be repeated with the Remy electric HVH technology and MotoCzysz engineering savvy. With an extraordinary victory for both its bikes at Isle of Man, MotoCzysz helped Remy show the world how strong and powerful the Remy HVH 250™ technology and DD1 are in the most demanding of racing conditions."

MotoCzysz has used HVH250 core technology to create the winning D1g1tal Dr1ve, the same core technology that resides in the HVH250 motor, available from Remy. The Remy Electric Motors HVH 250 is the next evolution of the advanced electric motor for hybrid and electric vehicle applications based on Remy's patented High Voltage Hairpin (HVH) technology. Remy's HVH technology provides dramatically improved motor performance and cooling effectiveness versus competitors. The HVH electric motor's world-class torque and power density deliver increased range in all-electric drive mode and is compact and lightweight, which contributes to vehicle efficiency.

Companies including GM, Allison, Mercedes, BMW, Amp Electric Vehicles, ZAP-Jonway, Odyne, and Alte have chosen the Remy HVH electric motor for its superior technology, reliability and the speed to market that comes with Remy's existing global production capacity. The Remy HVH electric motor technology can be integrated into a car, truck, motorcycle, large transit bus and virtually any piece of equipment that can be converted to hybrid or electric.

Today, there are more than 90,000 Remy compact HVH electric motors on the road that have been driven a combined total of over a billion miles. 

Remy International, Inc. is a leading global manufacturer, remanufacturer and distributor of light duty starters and alternators and Delco Remy brand heavy-duty systems. Remy International also manufactures and distributes electric propulsion motors designed with leading edge technology and backed by the security of over a billion miles of proven reliability. In business for over 100 years, today Remy International is actively collaborating with companies throughout the world to develop innovations that are transforming the vehicle industry. Recently, Remy was recognized by the United States Department of Energy for its leadership role in the hybrid technologies space and awarded a $60 million grant under the Electric Drive Vehicle Battery and Component Manufacturing Initiative.

The 2012 Isle of Man races are scheduled for May 28th to June 8th.
Details at IOMTT.com

Posted by MJ Lloyd Reynolds/MJR Media marketing services for the motorcycle industry - mjr.media@earthlink.net

Isle of Man TT 2010 Goes To Electric Zero MotoCzysz

The annual Isle of Man TT races can certainly be described as electric. Manufacturers and riders view the 37.7 miles of narrow twisting road as a proving ground for engineering and skill.

More than 200 riders and several spectators have lost their lives to this chase to push the performance envelope.


But there is now another electric element to the races. Starting last year, the event introduced a zero-emissions race. At the moment, zero emissions means electric.

Last year’s winner was the British-Indian team Agni, with an average speed of 84 mph and a top speed of 102 mph. With conventional bikes, an average of 100 mph is considered the benchmark of indisputable proficiency. The fastest lap ever recorded by any bike was set this year by John McGuinness at 131.578 mph.

This year an American team brought to the fray a unique machine built from the ground up: MotoCzysz’s E1 PC.


MotoCzysz  (pronunced Moto-sizz) sported proprietary batteries, hand-built by a company that also supplies NASA, and an oil-cooled electric engine. The bike won the zero-emissions race with a lap speed of 96.820 mph and a top speed of 135 mph.


We could well see the zero-emissions race turn in times that rival standard races within a few years. And like all such races, this is a proving ground for the technologies and designs that will eventually make their way to the average consumer.


MotoCzysz holds several patents on this advanced electrical technology, and rumor has it the company is in talks with manufacturers, including Indian automobile giant Bajal.


Truly, the electric motorcycles at the TT races are giving us performances that can be described as, well, electric.


—  Isle of Man TT 2010 by Guy Wheatley, the author of  TEXARKANA GAZETTE.COM - a source for motorcycles and bike riding in Texarkana.


Highlights of the 2009 Isle of Man TT & 2010 Isle of Man TT 


Following the success of the inaugural clean emissions motorcycle race on the Isle of Man in 2009, the Isle of Man Government Department of Tourism and Leisure became the official promoters of Zero TT 2010 on the TT Mountain Course, as part of the 2010 TT Race program.


As well as the usual prize money available to teams and riders, the Isle of Man Government created a £10,000 prize fund for the first TT Zero Race team to record a 100mph lap (160.93kph) around the 37 and 3/4 mile course. This landmark was achieved for the first time by a conventional bike in 1957, when Scotsman Bob McIntyre lapped the TT Course in 22 minutes 24.4 seconds for an overall average of 101.03mph. Rob Barber and Team Agni recorded a fastest lap time of 25 minutes 53.5 seconds (87.434mph) in the 2009 clean emissions race.





TT Zero 2010 - The Zero TT clean emissions race on June 9th was an integral part of this year's Isle of Man Time Trials, with the Isle of Man Government offering a £10,000 prize to the first team to record a 100 mph lap. Isle of Man TT racing was established in 1904.


There was no one to challenge John McGuinness as the HM Plant Honda rider dominated all six laps to take the 2010 Isle of Man TT win, setting a new outright lap record and a new race record.


McGuinness is now a 15-time TT winner, with three 130mph+ laps on his way to victory – including a new outright lap record of 130.442mph on lap two, despite slowing down to pit.


The clean emissions race in 2009 was widely credited with accelerating the development of clean emissions transport and many of the technical innovations that were introduced in the Isle of Man are expected to become an integral part of future mass market transport. The event was conceived with the support and involvement of numerous Departments of the Isle of Man Government as part of the Island’s Freedom to Flourish program.


The 2010 clean emissions race on the Isle of Man was renamed "TT Zero" and has become part of the core TT programme, featuring riders from all race classes. The one lap race was open to clean emission motorcycles at 4:30pm on Wednesday June 9th, following the Royal London 360 Superstock and Supersport Races. Qualifying was on Saturday June 5th and Monday June 7th.


Hon Martyn Quayle, MHK, Minister for Tourism and Leisure, Isle of Man Government, released this statement :“We are delighted that the Isle of Man was the first country to run an electric bike race and the fact that there are now events scheduled around the world is a tribute to the Island’s entrepreneurial, innovative spirit and shows what an achievement it was for the Isle of Man to run the groundbreaking inaugural event. We are now building on this fantastic start by properly integrating the clean emissions class into the race program - this really does send a clear signal that electric motorsport is fast evolving and that the TT Races remain at the forefront of motorcycle sport.”


The next Isle of Man TTs are May 28 to June 10, 2012.