An electric dragbike, is an electric motorcycle

Electric motorcycles and scooters

Electric motorcycles and scooters are vehicles with two or three wheels that use electric motors to attain locomotion. Electric motorcycles, as distinguished from scooters, do not have a step-through frame....

 used for drag racing

Drag racing

Drag racing is a competition in which specially prepared automobiles or motorcycles compete two at a time to be the first to cross a set finish line, from a standing start, in a straight line, over a measured distance, most commonly a ¼-mile straight track....

.

Electric dragsters have come of age with new developments in battery

Battery (electricity)

An electrical battery is one or more electrochemical cells that convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy. Since the invention of the first battery in 1800 by Alessandro Volta and especially since the technically improved Daniell cell in 1836, batteries have become a common power...

 and motor technology. Electric motors powered by lithium cells can deliver power-to-weight ratios similar to high performance gasoline

Gasoline

Gasoline , or petrol , is a toxic, translucent, petroleum-derived liquid that is primarily used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives. Some gasolines also contain...

 engines. Drag races last around ten seconds so battery range is not an issue.

Electric dragbike tend to use lithium-ion or nickel-metal hydride cells due to their higher energy density which means they are less bulky to carry. In addition fewer cells are needed compared to a car as the "payload" of bike and rider is lighter. Typical weights: 80 kg (176 lb) rider, 200 kg (441 lb) bike excluding battery weight.

A number of electric dragbikes and dragsters

Electric dragster

An electric dragster is a drag racing vehicle which contains an electric propulsion system which is powered by batteries, fuel cells, supercapacitors , and sometimes they include a combustion engine to recharge their ESS .Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly common because electric...

 (cars) are competing with Top Fuel

Top Fuel

Top Fuel racing is a class of drag racing in which the cars are run on a mix of approximately 90% nitromethane and 10% methanol rather than gasoline or simply methanol. The cars are purpose-built for drag racing, with an exaggerated layout that in some ways resembles open-wheel circuit racing...

 classes. Electric drag racing records are listed at NEDRA.

External links

• http://projectblackswan.wikispaces.com/
• http://www.killacycle.com/
• http://www.nedra.com/