Summary
- Ohio State University students broke worldwide speed records for an electric motorcycle at Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials
- The Buckeye Current student club built the RW-5 Voxan electric motorcycle with Venturi Group
- Electric motorcycle sales are growing globally, with promising outlooks for 2025-2030
- The US electric motorcycle market is small but has potential for growth
- Ohio State University has a history of success in sustainable automotive innovation
Article
The Ohio State University’s Buckeye Current student club recently set four worldwide speed records for an electric motorcycle at the Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials in Utah. The RW-5 Voxan was built from scratch by the students in collaboration with Venturi Group. Despite facing challenges like breakdowns and storms, the team achieved record speeds of 180.035 mph for an aerodynamic electric motorcycle and 168.593 mph without aerodynamic accessories, pending verification.
Electric motorcycle sales are a growing sector of the overall EV market, with global sales of electric motorcycles and scooters reaching 10.3 million in 2021, showing a 77% increase compared to 2019. While the US market for motorcycles is seen as recreational and niche, other parts of the world see motorcycles as a primary mode of transportation. Market research suggests a promising outlook for electric motorcycles from 2025 to 2030, with a projected growth rate of 3.5% over the next eight years.
The US electric motorcycle market remains relatively small compared to other countries, with sales figures showing marginal growth. MotorCycles Data reported that in 2024, the market in the US saw sales of 323,091 units, up only 0.9%. Despite efforts to raise awareness through events like the Bonneville Motorcycle Speed Trials, increasing sales will be a challenge. High-profile partnerships and competitions, such as Ohio State’s involvement in the EcoCAR EV Challenge, aim to foster sustainable automotive innovation among students.
Ohio State University has a history of success in sustainable automotive innovation, with student teams consistently ranking among the top in the country. Apart from setting records with electric motorcycles, the university has also worked on record-setting electric vehicles in partnerships with Venturi. The EcoCAR EV Challenge, sponsored by the US Department of Energy, General Motors, and MathWorks, showcases the talent and expertise of students in re-engineering electric vehicles while meeting safety and performance standards.
To stay updated on clean tech news, readers can sign up for daily updates from CleanTechnica via email or follow them on Google News. The impressive achievements of the Buckeye Current team at Ohio State University underscore the potential for growth in the electric motorcycle market, both in the US and globally. With ongoing research and development, as well as student-led initiatives, the future looks bright for sustainable mobility solutions in the automotive industry.
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