ElectroCat wrote another little piece of history today: with myself in the saddle, ElectroCat became the first electric motorcycle ever to make it to the top of the Pike’s Peak! (At least to our, and the Pike’s Peak rangers, knowledge).
Picture: We made it!
The road up to the Pike’s Peak top opened last week after being closed the whole winter. This was the first chance to get a test run and for the Pike’s Peak International Hill Climb that is coming up in a month (June 27th). Today’s run was definitely not the fastest run ever made up the hill, we had to stay reasonably close to the speed limit, watch out for other cars, motorcycles and dump trucks, and both me and ElectroCat are rookies at the mountain. However, this little test ride gave very important data. Most important of all – I now know that it is possible to make the 12 mile (20 km) run on an electric motorcycle. 
Picture: Un-tangling the wire for the handlebar button for the radio. It is really nice to have radio contact with the “rescue vehicle”.
12 miles doesn’t sound like a challenge, but it definitely is when the 12 miles starts at 9,390 ft (2862 m) above sea level and ends at about 14,110 ft (4301 m). That is a climb of a 4,720 ft (almost 1 mile or 1.4 km). Half of the distance is gravel, half is pavement. It is summer when you start, and it is winter and snow when you finish… 
Picture: Waiting for a dump truck and excavator to move out of the way.
A very big “Thank you” to the awesome KillaCycle team members Norm Smith, Joe Sellars and Manfred Will that helped me with the test run. Norm talked to the rangers at Pike’s Peak and got a permission to take the trailer up to the starting line (normally no trailers are allowed up the mountain). Joe brought his street legal off-road bike and followed me up the top while Manfred and Norm followed me in the “rescue vehicle” (Joe’s truck). Without you guys, this would never have happened!
I also want to thank the rangers at Pike’s Peak that gave us permission to bring the trailers up, escorted us up to the starting line and was very helpful and friendly in general.
More thanks to A123Systems that supplies me with state-of-the-art batteries, Riders Discount for my awesome safety gears and Faster Motorsports Denver for the great dual-sport tires, chain and sprocket. Thanks to Kelly Controls for great discount on motor controllers and Mars Electric for great discount on motors. Last but not least many thanks to University of Denver that are great supporters of my endeavors. This racing project, just as the rest of the KillaCycle
Racing program, is purely an expensive hobby. Without all the great sponsors, we couldn’t have done it.
Just reached the top. With frozen fingers but very happy!
From left to right: Norm, Manfred, Eva and Joe. Bill is in California for his work at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA, and unfortunately missed this historic event. However, I am sure that we are going to do much more exciting things in a very close future… 😉
There were roadwork in several places. Passing a big yellow monster.
Parked just before the starting line.
It was much more scary to go downhill. With no engine braking I was very worried about overheating the brakes. I hope being able to implement regenerative braking before the race. With “regen” I would almost have a full battery again when I am back down….
Cog rail – a very popular way to get up Pike’s Peak.
The view from the top is gorgeous and the ride up there was probably the most beautiful I ever made. Reaching the “snow line” was really amazing.
See you on June 27th!