Range anxiety may still be an issue for many potential converts, but to show what’s possible, Verge Motorcycles set a new world record for electric bikes, acheiving almost 311 kilometres (193 miles) from a single charge.
The new Guiness World Record was set using a Verge TS Pro, ridden around London for just over 16 hours by Sam Clarke and Sara Sloman. Travelling within the M25 through the city, their progress was tracked by vehicle management and tracking company Webfleet, and the AA were on hand throughout in case anything went wrong. But not only did the team achieve a new record, but apparently the battery still had around 7% charge remaining, and could have gone even further.
“This world record is an amazingly proud moment for the entire Verge team. We have been developing the efficiency, driveability, and features of our motorbikes for years, and we wanted to show the world that anything is possible. This record is a concrete demonstration of what our unique technology and proprietary architecture are actually capable of. For us, this is first and foremost a symbol of setting bold goals, reinforcing trust, and being able to show the reliability and performance capabilities of our solutions in a concrete way. It is good to shift into even higher gear from here and head towards new opportunities for putting our bikes to the test”, said Verge Motorcycles CMO Lauri Laukkanen.
“The bike could have gone on even further, but the team decided to stop to ensure the reliability of the data after driving for 16 hours and breaking the record “, Laukkanen explained.
The Verge TS Pro has a claimed max range estimate of 217 miles in cities, or 124 miles as a highway estimate at a speed of 56mph. But it’s good to see the real world performance being tested and demonstrated, even if the new record was set entirely with urban riding. The TS Pro actually has a slightly lower estimated range than the more expensive TS Ultra, but still offers 102 kW of power, a 124mph top speed, and 35 minute fast charging. Prices start from £31,980.
It may have been done largely for publicity, and the Verge range aren’t exactly cheap urban commuting bikes, but given the inevitable decline in traditional petrol motorcycles in the coming years, practical demonstrations and progress in both electric motorcycles and alternative fuels are only going to become more important, especially for younger riders who may be using them for decades of motorcycling. Even if they’re still able to keep a two-stroke hidden away in the back of the garage for occasional weekend use.
Check out all of our coverage of electric motorcycles, here.
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