This Electric Motorcycle Just Broke Four Land Speed Records
Image Credit: Venturi.
I've been reporting on all things automotive, aero, and maritime for longer than I care to admit (a lady never reveals her age!), and I've seen some pretty wild things. But this? This is something else entirely.
Imagine for a second: a sleek, futuristic motorcycle zipping across the salt flats of Bonneville like a greased lightning bolt. That's the RW-5 Voxan, an electric speed demon that just shattered four land speed records. Four! You might as well call it the Usain Bolt of motorcycles, except instead of legs, it has an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery that probably weighs as much as a small pony.
Okay, okay, here we go again … "Electric motorcycles? Aren't those just glorified scooters for hipsters with ironic mustaches?" Well, you couldn't be more wrong! This baby can hit a top speed of 180 mph! That's way, way faster than a toddler who just discovered the cookie jar is unlocked!
Image Credit: Venturi.
The RW-5 is the brainchild of a rather unlikely duo: the Venturi Group (the folks behind those fancy French sports cars and a moon rover!) and a bunch of bright-eyed engineering students from Ohio State University. I like to call them the Avengers of the electric vehicle world, except instead of fighting Thanos, they're fighting the limitations of electric technology. And winning, might I add.
This electric marvel weighs in at a featherlight 331 lbs. To put that into perspective, that's about 117 lbs less than the 2024 Honda R1. And with its 80-kW liquid-cooled motor delivering 107 horsepower and a tire-shredding 132.7 lb-ft of torque, this thing accelerates like a rocket-powered squirrel.
The RW-5 comes in two flavors: naked and faired. Think of it like a motorcycle version of those makeover shows, where they take someone with a questionable fashion sense and transform them into a glamorous runway model.
In its "naked" form (no fairing, just the bare essentials), the RW-5 hit a top speed of 168.7 mph (271.5 km/h) over a flying kilometer and 168.6 mph (271.3 km/h) over a flying mile. Not too shabby, right? But then they slapped on that aerodynamic fairing, and things got really interesting. With its new streamlined look, the RW-5 clocked in at a blistering 180.1 mph (289.8 km/h) for both the flying kilometer and mile.
Image Credit: Venturi.
I know these records are still pending approval from the FIM (Fédération Internationale Motocycliste), the official governing body for motorcycle sports. But let's be honest, those speeds are pretty darn impressive, regardless of whether they're officially recognized or not.
This isn't the first time Voxan has dipped its toes into the electrifying waters of speed records. Back in 2021, they teamed up with six-time world champion Max Biaggi to set a whole slew of records with their Wattman electric motorcycle. That bike hit a mind-boggling 283 mph (455 km/h).
And let's not forget their hydrogen-powered Venturi VBB-2, which claimed the title of the world's fastest hydrogen vehicle back in 2010 with a top speed of 303 mph (487.7 km/h). Clearly, these guys need speed, which would make even Maverick blush.
Image Credit: Venturi.
These record-breaking attempts aren't just about bragging rights. They're about pushing the boundaries of what's possible with electric vehicle technology. Every time a record is broken, it's a step closer to a future where electric vehicles are not just a viable alternative to their gas-guzzling counterparts but the superior choice.
Of course, we're not quite there yet. The RW-5 is a purpose-built speed machine, not something you're going to see parked outside your local coffee shop anytime soon. But the technology developed for these record-breaking bikes will eventually trickle down to the electric motorcycles we'll all be riding in the future.
