The 21st century can be defined as the era of the electric vehicle, due to its necessity and its benefits to the public. The LIGHTNING LS-218 superbike offers its eco-responsible services to cycling enthusiasts in the United States. This electric superbike holds the record for the fastest electric bike in the world with a top speed of 218 MPH. In 2014, the LS-218 electric superbike was introduced to the US market. works on a single shifting system, which helps the rider to ride smoothly.
LIGHTNING LS-218
The name LS-218 is the replica of the Lightning SuperBike’s top speed of 218 miles per hour. This electric superbike can be seen in the game Asphalt 8: Airborne, which shows the popularity of this electric bike around the world.
LS 218 Key Features
- Top speed 218 MPH
- The weight of SuperBike – 495 lbs Programmable regenerative braking
- 200 Horse Power
- 10,500 RPM
Charge time
- 30 mins on a DC fast charger
- 120 minutes on level 2 charger
Battery Pack
- 380V 12 kWh: 100-120 miles per charge
- 380V 15 kWh: 120-150 miles per charge
- 380V 20 kWh: 160-180 miles per charge
Lightning LS-218 Electric Superbike Specs
The Lightning LS218 is equipped with a liquid cooled 150 kW internal permanent magnet (IPM) motor that produces 203 PS and 228 Nm of torque. The bike can sprint from 0 to 96 km/h in 2.2 seconds and from 0 to 160 km/h in 5.5 seconds!
In addition, according to specifications, its batteries have a range of 160 km to 290 km on a single charge. Basically, you have three options: 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 LS218 looks like a fantastic electric Superbike, it comes at a steep price point as well. The price of the 12 kWh model starts at $ 38,888 (Rs 28.38 lakh) and goes up to $ 46,888 (Rs 34.22 lakh) for the 20 kWh 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 |
Expansion of Lightning Motorcycles
Most recently, the company announced its first phase of expansion into its new headquarters and manufacturing facility located in San Jose, California. The new production plant offers five times the floor space of the previous one.
Lightning LS-218 Future plan
Of course, not everyone is ready to ride an electric superbike, so Lightning is getting ready to launch their second production electric bike, the Strike. With a top speed and range of 150 mph and 150 miles (241 km/h and 241 km), the Strike takes the engineering expertise gained from the LS218 and puts it in a more maneuverable form for everyday riders. And with an MSRP of just $ 12,998, the Strike should open the door to a much wider range of riders.
Lightning confirmed to Electrek that the majority of LS218 customers are experienced pilots looking for the most extreme performance, while the early Strike reservation holders come from a wide range of new and experienced riders.
Wrapping up
Not only is the LS218 fast and powerful, but it is also fully homologated on the road and already 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 is rated at 180 miles (290 km) of mixed city/highway range.
But with such a large battery and high-performance components including Ohlins suspension, Brembo brakes, carbon fiber bodywork, and more. LS218 is in a class of its own.
One of the most impressive advantages of electric motorcycles over their gasoline brethren is their inherent ability for extreme acceleration.
With high torque immediately available in the blink of an eye, electric motors are capable of delivering performance almost impossible to match with a gasoline engine of equivalent horsepower.
And perhaps no electric motorcycle exemplifies this extreme performance better than Lightning’s record LS-218 electric motorcycle.
So if you’ve never owned an electric motorcycle before but just got the idea, the Strike might be for you. And if you think you can tackle 241 km/h in under 8 seconds, it would be hard to find a better option than the crazy LIGHTNING LS-218.
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