British-based White Motorcycle Concepts has a brilliant idea in the making and, rather than immediately go into production with its aerodynamic motorcycle breakthrough, instead CEO Rob White intends to establish proof of concept by breaking some land speed re…

British-based White Motorcycle Concepts has a brilliant idea in the making and, rather than immediately go into production with its aerodynamic motorcycle breakthrough, instead CEO Rob White intends to establish proof of concept by breaking some land speed records, riding the innovative low-drag WMC250EV (pictured).Essentially, what White hopes to show is that for over 100 years motorcycles have been aerodynamically the equivalent of bricks. By inventing a revolutionary
type of motorcycle that manages the wind much better, not only reducing drag dramatically but also increasing downforce, White hopes to prove that
aeros are much more critical to motorcycle speed (and efficiency) than raw power.
By setting land speed records – hes hoping the prototype will hit speeds in excess of 250mph (402km/h) – and proving the merit of the technology, his
firm then intends to create and market an electric urban bike that has significantly more range than any currently available.
An unveiling of the prototype was planned for mid-June but was scuppered due to the lockdown caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. But he
is confident the British and world electric land speed record attempts will go ahead in the near future.
White has been working feverishly on his WMC250EV high-speed prototype for the past two years, and he claims it is the first time since the invention of
the motorcycle in 1894 that anyone has really put any effort into reducing aerodynamic drag in the area. According to White, studies suggest that a
motorcycle uses the majority of its motive energy into overcoming drag at 100km/h. It was this finding that inspired the ex-F1 engineer to develop
V-Air.
The V-Air is essentially a large carbon fibre void (like a Venturi tunnel on a race car) within the bodywork of the motorcycle that allows air to move
through the machine, lowering drag by as much as 69 per cent. Wind tunnel testing suggests this has a Cd of 0.12. This huge air aperture also increases
downforce and stability and White claims it is the equivalent of the Holy Grail in motorcycle efficiency enhancement.
Because the void takes up space normally used by things like a motor, front suspension, intake system, headlight cowl, steering head, instruments, tank
and seat, the obvious solution is to use electric propulsion, and hub centre steering and suspension technology. All of which he has done, along with
implementing two-wheel drive and regenerative braking.
The rear wheel is driven by a pair of 30kW motors mounted in the swingarm. Up front, a pair of 20kW motors drive the front wheel. Power comes from a 15kWh
battery pack. Total output of 100kW is evidently sufficient for the land speed record attempts because of the aerodynamic advantages of the V-Air system.
The first will take place in Britain this year, the world record for an electric streamliner will be at the Bolivia salt flats next year.
Should the attempts be successful, a less radical electric street bike that uses a watered down version of the V-Air technology might represent the beginnings of electric motorcycles that have real world range.