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Electric motorcycle claims 480km range

Mankame Motors EP-1 electric motorcycle with a claimed 480km range vector
Mankame Motors EP-1 electric motorcycle

An Indian startup claims it can make an affordable electric motorcycle capable of 250km/h and 480km range, beating the current (pun intended) longest range record of 360km by Zero Motorcycles.

Mankame Motors is launching an Indiegogo crowd-funding campaign on July 1 to take their project into prototype stage with production in 2022.

They say their EP-1 will cost from $A11,350 to $17,350 and is powered by a 18.4kWh Samsung battery and 40kW electric motor that drives via a belt to a maximum speed of 250km/h and 480km of range.Mankame Motors EP-1 electric motorcycle with a claimed 480km range

That compares with the $A25,000 Zero SR ZF14.4 that is capable of a 160km top speed and 360km of range tested in the city with the addition of its expensive Power Tank ($A4800, $US2295). (Zero Motorcycles no longer imports to Australia.)

2018 Zero Motorcycles claim 360km range
Zero Motorcycles

Virtual 480km range claim

Mankame says they calculated the bike’s range in a virtual computer test in a laboratory using “real-world” riding conditions with a 70kg rider.

The test achieved an average speed of 82.5km/h, so it would also have included some high-speed runs as well as “city riding” where occasional downhill runs and regenerative braking replenishes battery charge. Mankame Motors EP-1 electric motorcycle with a claimed 480km range

They also claim the bike can run at its top speed for 140km.

The result is thanks a low drag coefficient of 0.41 courtesy of its streamlined fairing and the aerodynamics of that big, ugly windscreen!

Mankame Motors EP-1 electric motorcycle with a claimed 480km range

They claim the results are “95% accurate”.

Mankame’s EP-1 is expected to start at $11,350 for the base model with a 16kW AC induction motor and 12.16 kWh battery pack, achieving 320km range at 70km/h with a restricted top speed of 120km/h.

There is also a $14,000 variant with a 20kW brushless DC motor, 14.97kWh battery, 400km range and 180km/h capped top speed.

Mankame Motors EP-1 electric motorcycle with a claimed 480km range
18.4kW battery

The flagship model costs $17,350 with a 18.4 kWh battery, 40kW permanent magnet synchronous motor, 360km range and 250km/h top speed.

The lightweight 180kg sports bike comes with a steel trellis frame, radial Brembo brakes, Mankame’s ABS and traction control, fully adjustable inverted Öhlins forks, and Showa or Öhlins TTX shock for an extra $US850 ($A1135).Mankame Motors EP-1 electric motorcycle with a claimed 480km range