Rutter on MotoCzysz: “When the batteries have full power it’s just mind-blowing”

Michael Czysz – the man behind the innovative MotoCzysz electric bike – has defended claims that his all-new 2011 E1pc produces a theoretical 200bhp.

But he admits, that for the purposes of the TT Zero, the enthusiasm for unleashing full power has to be tempered by the need for conserving energy to complete the 37.73mile course.

Czysz has made giant leaps forward in electric bike technology in the past three years and for this TT has bought a brand new machine with new technology motor, batteries, controller, computer all wrapped in the most technically advanced chassis at the TT. Arguably the most advanced chassis in motorcycling right now!

Czysz said: “When a race team with a conventional petrol engine claim horsepower there is no way to check it. I have a Desmosedici that has a claimed 200bhp. On our Superflow dyno it produces 175. And if you took it to another dyno the horsepower figure would vary.

“With electricity there is a mathematical formula of volts x amps to give you kilowatts and there is a direct correlation to horsepower. So when I quote 200bhp, that is 200bhp – our peak power. My goal is to create 95% of peak power but Michael Rutter is riding our bike at 50% because we have to conserve energy to complete the lap.

“We are geared for 190mph but if we used that potential then we’d run out at Kirkmichael. But at 50mph we could do 150miles!

“People forget that the petrol bikes have well over 50 years of development. We’re three years into ours and I’d say we’re at between an eighth and a tenth of our potential for energy right now.

“That’s the equivalent of asking John McGuinness to drop eight tenths of his fuel and then do the six laps of the TT course. We’re only 6% into the development so in real terms, we’re not even walking yet.”

So what’s it like to ride? Rutter said: “It’s so fast. Accelerating from Quarterbridge when the batteries have full power it’s just mind-blowing. They keep telling me to ride it conservatively but I gave a quick burst and you can’t believe how fast it accelerates. I saw 152mph but had to roll it. If we had no restrictions on battery life I can’t see any reason why we couldn’t lap as fast as a conventional bike. Incredible!”

Rutter is cagey about breaking the magical 100mph lap this year  – just because there’s been so little time to set the bike up and get used to balancing his desire to go fast against the need to conserve power . But that’s not going to stop him and team-mate Mark Miller giving it a go.

Look out for a full technical analysis and Rutter’s impressions of the MotoCzysz in MCN.