While the electrification of passenger vehicles is most likely to grab headlines, one area that’s beginning to lean into lithium is competitive powersports. To date, there have been more than a few misconceptions that battery-powered racing vehicles can’t perform on the same level as ICE vehicles. Now, the racing team at Lightfighter is proving those assumptions wrong. With every race, they are showing electric sports bikes can perform as well as—and better than—bikes with internal combustion engines, without the carbon emissions. And recently, their team achieved a huge win for electric-powered bikes.
Racing in California
The Lightfighter team recently competed in AFM Racing’s Round 4 at Thunderhill Raceway in Willows, California. The setting presented unique challenges, including a track with long front and back straights, and temperatures that rarely dip below 100°F (nearly 38°C) in the summer.
This particular race track was familiar to the team, but they didn’t have a chance to test their bike before the competition. Historically, lithium-ion batteries couldn’t withstand conditions like these, failing to operate in such hot weather and under significant duress. But unlike the lithium-ion of years past, Lightfighter’s bike is powered by Farasis technology.
Lightfighter racer Troy Siahaan kicked off the event representing the team well; even with limited time to prepare his bike for the track, he set the fastest lap time of the race, taking home a win in the Lightweight Superbike round. But there was another race at the event that really showcased the power of innovation and a resilient battery.
Solving Problems On the Fly
Jayson Uribe, another talented driver of the Lightfighter team, was set to compete in the competition’s Formula 1 race until his DC-DC converter died. With a bit of ingenuity, the team acted fast, swapping it out with the converter from Siahaan’s bike. Despite the rough start, Uribe won Lightfighter its first Formula 1 win, hitting an astounding 149 mph (240 km/h) on the straight portions of the track.
A Win Powered By Farasis
That weekend, the Lightfighter team proved that heat and speed are no match for Farasis Energy lithium-ion cells. We even got a shout-out from Brian Wismann, Zero Motorcycles’ vice president for product development, who said, “[Thank you to] Farasis Energy, who allowed us to punish these amazing lithium-ion cells in the literal heat of competition.”
Using batteries with incredible power that are designed to operate under extreme conditions, the Lightfighter team was able to come out on top with less environmental impact than their competitors.
As the rest of the world turns to emission-reducing vehicle alternatives, Lightfighter understands that the same is possible for power sports. They are pioneers in the cleaner, more sustainable future of motorbike racing. Through incredible race wins like these, their team continues to make a statement that the world of motor sports has more than enough room for lithium-powered performance.
To read more about Lightfighter’s incredible race weekend, check out their full blog. To learn more about the incredible technologies behind their fully-electric bikes, visit their website.
About Farasis Energy
Farasis Energy is a leading developer and manufacturer of high-performance battery technology and pouch cells for electric mobility and other sustainable power storage solutions. Founded in 2002 by Dr. Keith Kepler and Dr. Yu Wang in California, the company now operates research and development centers in China, Germany, and the United States. There are currently two production facilities in Ganzhou and Zhenjiang (China), with further production facilities being built by 2025, thereby increasing total planned capacity to 145 GWh/a. A new battery plant is also being built in Gemlik (Turkey) with the establishment of the Siro joint venture between Turkish electric car manufacturer Togg and Farasis Energy, which produces modules and packs since March 2023. With more than twenty years of experience in research and development and with nearly 300 patents, Farasis Energy is shaping the future of electric mobility as a pioneer. In addition to Togg, its major strategic partners also include companies such as Mercedes-Benz and Geely.
