Articles by Ted Dillard
Personal Projects: Power in Flux - The History of Electric Motorcycles
I've put together a Kickstarter project to fund this book. One of the unexpected results? I've received a huge outpouring of support and encouragement from the most remote corners of the community, from guys who've worked in the trenches, behind the scenes at some of the most progressive companies developing products, to the biggest movers and shakers - all reaching out with information and access that I couldn't have possibly imagined. It's become a project with the entire community as stakeholders and contributors. 07 June 2015
General
World's First Wireless In-Wheel Electric Motor
Wait... what? Wireless hub motors? Must be some kind of little wirelessness, like control circuits or some smartphone app, right? No. This is a hub motor system designed by the University of Tokyo, as a test bed for an idea that you can power a motor directly, with induction, ultimately through power supplied in the roadway. Think electric trolly cars without the overhead wires. Here's... 03 June 2015
TRON Lightcycle Sells For $77,000 At Auction
Well, you missed it. Unless you're the lucky guy who bought this $77k work of art at the RM Auctions/Sotheby's auction on May 2. Described as a "96 volt, direct-drive electric motor with lithium batteries and a computer-controlled throttle, rebound and compression damping with spring-preload front suspension and rigid rear suspension, and front and rear hydraulic brakes: A recreation of the T... 23 May 2015
Boats
"World's First" Electric Car Ferry Goes Live
As we reported back a few months ago, the Norwegian "Ampere" hit the high seas (well, the ferry link across Sognefjord between Lavik and Oppedal, Norway, anyway) this month, according to the Seimens story, and is running just about the biggest Anderson-type-looking connector we could imagine. Size matters, despite rumors to the contrary 22 May 2015
The CBRe Electric Super-Dream-Bike Project: Status Update
There's been a lot going on lately. A whole lot. If you'll remember, we've been working on a conversion project, based on a 2005 Honda CBR600RR chassis, to get to a 100kW Superbike, able to hold it's own against it's ICE counterpart. 05 May 2015
Jeff Disinger and the Electracutioner Shatter LSR at Ohio Mile (Exclusive)
Completely under the radar, Jeff Disinger packed up and made it to the Ohio Mile ECTA run this weekend, and fairly shattered a record held by the Ohio State Buckeye Current team - even in spite of running in the voltage class below the Buckeye bike. 04 May 2015
Battery Tech
The Luke Workman "Zero Battery Guy" Battery Interview: InsideEVs' Take (w/videos)
Much has been made of the recent story on Motocycle.com interviewing Luke Workman, battery guy at Zero Motorcycles. Before we go any further, there's not much you can say about Luke, (AKA liveforphysics on the forums and almost everywhere on the web) that isn't amazing and complimentary 17 April 2015