The Lightning LS-218 is an electric motorcycle engineered, designed, and produced in America by Lightning Motorcycle, that has been in production since 2014.
It has held the title of the world’s fastest street-legal production electric motorcycle since 2014. With a top speed of 218 mph (351 km/h), the production LS-218 is faster than any other street-legal motorcycle and tops the list of fastest production motorcycles.
While the 218 mph top speed of the LS-218 was arrived at through calculations of power and wind resistance, the speed was proven at Bonneville Speedway using an LS-218 modified from street-legal form, using “high-speed gearing and fairing”.
A race-modified LS-218 won the 2013 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in open competition against both gasoline and electric motorcycles, ridden by professional racer Carlin Dunne.
The Pikes Peak victory was historic as the first time an electric motorcycle beat internal-combustion rivals in a professional road race.
The Lightning team’s Pikes Peak race was conducted entirely off-grid and relied on solar panels to charge the LS-218 racer, making it the first vehicle of any type to win a professional road race using solar power.
The LS-218’s standard battery pack’s capacity is 12 kWh (43 MJ). Adding a 20 kWh battery pack gives a range of 160–180 mi (260–290 km).
Lightning LS-218
Lightning Motorcycle
2014–
Electric sportbike
Liq}
Direct drive
496lb (225 kg)
The future of the LS-218
Obviously, not everyone is ready to ride an electric superbike, so Lightning is gearing up to deliver its second electric offering, the Strike. With a maximum speed and range of 250 mph and 240 mph (241 km/h and 241 km), the Strike takes the design skills learned from the LS-218 in a more flexible structure for ordinary drivers.
Plus, with a suggested retail price of just $12,998, the Strike should attract more riders in numerous global markets. Most LS-218 customers are experienced superbike riders looking for that adrenaline rush, while those who reserve the Strike are a mix of new and experienced riders, Lightning said.
Lightning Motorcycle’s LS-218 electric superbike
If this electric motorcycle has excited you enough and you want to experience the thrill of super speed, you can check the lightning price of the ls-218 and book your order on the official website.
Even powerful electric concept motorcycles unveiled last year haven’t reached those numbers.
But what does that kind of couple mean in the real world? The LS2-18 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.2 seconds and from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.5 seconds.
Watch the video below of Lightning bank testing an LS-218 before shipping it to a customer. You can see the bike accelerate from 100mph to 150mph in just 2 seconds.
If the first sprint to 100 mph seems quite slow (relatively speaking) after 7 seconds, don’t worry.
As well as being fast and powerful, the LS-218 is fully street-legal and is already being delivered to customers. It’s not cheap, ranging from $38,888 for the 12 kWh model to $46,888 for the 20 kWh model, which has a 180-mile mixed city/highway range.
But with such a large battery pack and such quality parts as Öhlins suspension, Brembo brakes, carbon fiber bodywork, etc., as well as the ability to break 200mph in the top gear configuration, the LS-218 is in a class that all it’s own.
Of course, not everyone is ready to jump on an electric superbike, which is why Lightning is gearing up to launch its second production electric motorcycle, the Strike.
With a top speed and range of 250 mph and 240 mph (241 km/h and 241 km), the Strike takes the engineering expertise of the LS-218 and puts it in a more manageable form for everyday drivers. And with a suggested retail price of just $12,998, the Strike should open the door to a much wider range of riders.
Key Features
- Top speed 218 MPH
- SuperBike Weight – 495 lbs
- Programmable regenerative braking
- 200 hp
- 10,500 rpm
Charge time
- 30 minutes on a DC fast charger
- 120 minutes on level 2 charger
Battery Pack
- 380V 12kWh: 100-120 miles per charge
- 380V 15kWh: 120-150 miles per charge
- 380V 20kWh: 160-180 miles per charge
Read Also: Electric Car Insurance: Is it cheaper compared to regular car insurance policies
Lightning LS-218 Electric Superbike Specifications
In addition, according to the specifications, the batteries have a range of 160 km to 290 km on a single charge. Basically, you have three choices: 380v 12kWh, 380v 15kWh, or 380v 20kWh, the latter offering a maximum range of 260-290km on a single charge.
You can use a DC fast charger to charge the battery in 30 minutes or a regular charger (level 2) to charge the battery in 120 minutes.
While the LS-218 looks like a great electric superbike, it also comes with a hefty price tag. The price for the 12kWh model starts at $38,888 (28.38 lakh) and goes up to $46,888 (34.22 lakh) for the 20kWh model.
| Lightning LS-218 | Specification |
|---|---|
| Range | 160-290 Km/Charge |
| Top Speed | 351 Kmph |
| Charging Time(Level 2 Charger) | 2 Hours |
| Electric Motor | IPM liquid cooled 150kw+ 10, 500 rpm Electric motor |
| Fuel Type | Electric |
| Weight | 224.5 Kgs |
| Price | 30 Lakh – 35.16 Lakhs |
Lightning Motorcycle Expansion
The company recently announced its first phase of expansion into its new headquarters and manufacturing facility in San Jose, California.
The new production facility offers five times as much floor space as the previous one.
Conclusion
If you are considering purchasing your own electric motorcycle, it is essential to know a few facts about the LS-218. Not only is it the fastest electric motorcycle in the world, but it also has the looks, technology, and performance to blow your mind!
