Voxan electric motorbike smashes four speed records, achieving over 180mph in a flying mile

Ohio State University set four new speed records for electric motorcycles in late August with a machine built by its students.

The bike, a joint project with manufacturer Voxan, set the records at the famous Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, achieving top speeds in both faired and unfaired form from flying starts over one-kilometre and one-mile distances. 

Rider Louis-Marie Blondel took the Voxan over the flying kilometre to a speed of 168.712mph unfaired, followed by a speed of 180.065mph with the fairing fitted, which was the highest of the four records set.  

Then, over the one-mile distance the Frenchman used the Lithium-ion, permanent magnet axial flux-powered, 107bhp, 132.7lb.ft machine to achieve 168.593mph minus fairing and 180.035mph with it on. 

“Four new world speed records is a fantastic gift to mark the 15th anniversary of our collaboration,” said Gildo Pastor, Venturi Group President (owners of Voxan).  

Ohio State University’s tie-up with French manufacturer Voxan first hit the news back in 2021 when six-times world champ Max Biaggi set a series of speed records for electric motorcycles on Voxan’s then Wattman machine.

The Italian set a series of records over one-kilometre, one-mile, and ¼ mile distances, achieving a top speed over a two-way average of just over 283mph.  

In a single run the multiple Grand Prix winner took the Voxan to a blistering 292.2mph. The RW-5 is a development of the super-slippery Wattman Biaggi used for his record attempts.