Hello dear readers and riders! Welcome to the final EV news roundup of June. Much like this weekend’s Fourth of July firework shows, this roundup is pretty explosive.
Before we dive right in, we wanted to let you know about the exciting new film we recently dropped exploring the gorgeous designs and innovations of Curtiss Motorcycles. Be sure to have a look and let us know your thoughts.
‘The Opposite of Death’ explores the thinking behind Curtiss Motors’ ‘The 1’ [Curtiss]This week’s roundup includes some awesome EV projects from Oxford Brookes University Formula Design Student team, Max Chilton’s explosive record at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and one cool scoot. Please send your tips, tricks, and thoughts to stephanie@thevintagent.com. Let’s roll.
A Lightning-Fast Time Record in an EV
The McMurty Automotive Fan Car blew away the competition at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and set a new course record. [Classic Driver]Racecar driver Max Chilton was up to some pretty exciting stuff this week. He set a 39.08 speed record in the McMurtry Automotive 1,000hp, 2,2200lb Electric Fan Car at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Now, that’s one fast EV. Watch the video here.
UK Students Develop EV Racecars
After 20 years of designing internal-combustion cars, the students of Oxford Brookes University have turned their attention to a racing EV. [OBU]On the other side of the pond, the Oxford Brookes University Formula Design Student team is up to some pretty neat stuff. After 20 years of developing combustion-powered cars, the students are now designing EVs. Their innovative concept is based around a 4WD in-hub motor configuration with AMK AC servo motors that are seamlessly mated to a compact epicyclic gearbox. The design can crank out over 300Nm of torque at each wheel. The 600V 6.6kW-hr battery pack uses LCO pouch cells with peak power outputs of 130kW. An open-controls platform and advanced vehicle controls unleash the EV’s true power and potential. “We want to stay relevant to what is currently happening in the market and to keep engineers ahead of the curve. We see the potential that electrical powertrains have. It gives us a competitive edge over everyone still using fossil fuels,” Ole Ramming, a member of the team, said. We wish the students luck in their upcoming competition!
Plan B’s Stunning Revamp of the Zero FX
The Blackbird by Plan B is a very cool revamp of the Zero F/X. [Plan B]While we touched on this gorgeous bike in one of our past roundups, we wanted to take a deeper dive into Christian Moretti’s Blackbird. The Italian builder is no stranger to daring design. Founder of Plan Be Motorcycles, Moretti recently dropped his stealthy version of the Zero FX. Dubbed the SR-71 Blackbird, the iconic electric dirtbike is wrapped in rich black hand-crafted bodywork. With the swooping curves of a sportbike and all the simplicity of a cafe, the Blackbird was “ink coated” by Paint Republic Vignale. The loud rumbling of the bike is due to the fan speed being controlled by the throttle. The more gas you give this baby, the more it roars as air is channeled through the fairing, cooling the motor, battery, and regulator assembly.
Meet the e-Scooter of the Future
Throwing shapes in the street! The Yamaev e-scooter is a statement on wheels. [Yamaev]Alexander Yamaev, Chief Industrial Designer at Karfidov Lab, recently dropped a distinctive, L-shaped e-Scooter inspired by retro-futuristic design. Despite its unusual appearance, the electric scooter, called ZID, is ready for the road. Designed for a single rider, the scoot can reach speeds of up to 37mph. The unique L-shape design allows the rider to sit upright while optimizing weight distribution. The unified two wheels allow for pinpoint navigation and steering. The scooter also features three headlights, an intuitively designed kickstand, and two brake lights.
Meet the eVTOL LEO: A Jet Turbine Three-Seater Electric Flying Car
LEO will leave you in the dust, staring skyward. It’s a VTOL EV flying car. [LEO Flight]Did you think flying cars were only accessible to the Jetsons? Think again! The LEO Flight is a manned alpha electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle. Created by Pete Bitar of Electric Jet Aircraft and Carlos Salaff of SALAFF Automotive, the flying car can travel 300 miles on a single charge and reaches top speeds of 250mph. According to Bitar, the aircraft will use 200 small vertical jets, each measuring about 4.4 inches in diameter, to produce a combined thrust of more than 2,300lb. The LEO will be able to carry three passengers, including the pilot, and features gull-wing doors and semi-autonomous controls.
Stephanie Weaver is the EV Editor at The Vintagent, and a Philadelphia-based freelance writer. When she’s not locked to her laptop, she can be found riding horses and motorcycles.
