In early 2009, the TTXGP racing series switched on a new era in racing, as nearly 20 electric motorcycles took part in the Isle of Man TT Week.

In early 2009, the TTXGP racing series switched on a new era in racing, as nearly 20 electric motorcycles took part in the Isle of Man TT Week, one of the world’s longest running motorcycle racing events. This week, TTXGP commemorated its 1000-day anniversary with an exciting new video, as Torque News reported on Sunday.

Why race electric motorcycles? The riders will rave about the instant acceleration and the focused feeling of racing in silence. The industry’s visionaries will tell you that racing has a long history of driving vehicle improvements by proving new technologies on the track, and is now smashing the stereotype of EVs as slow, boring golf carts. If electric vehicles are just as fast and exciting on the track as fossil-powered vehicles, then Joe Sixpack may start to think about buying an EV for his daily race to the office.

Since ’09, TTXGP has taken off like a drag bike. Steadily improving technology has increased speed to the point that today’s electric motorcycles can go head-to-head against gas powered 600cc superbikes (though a gas tank still beats a battery pack in the range department). More and more companies are supplying bikes and/or parts, including CRP, Meunch, Lightning, Brammo, Mavizen, Manzanita Micro, A123 Systems, and Ener1. And TTXGP races cover ever more territory – thirteen races on three continents in 2011.

TTXGP has big plans to expand racing to Continental Europe in 2012, and to add several electric car classes in 2013. As higher energy density batteries give electric bikes more range, the day is coming when they will be fully competitive with the dinosaur burners.

Image: eGrandPrix