video: “KillaCycle” inventor almost kills himself at WIRED demo
09-14-2007, 01:20 AM
#1
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video: “KillaCycle” inventor almost kills himself at WIRED demo
this would have been a top contender for the 2007 Darwin award...
click for video
http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/33853/113/
click for video
http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/33853/113/
Electric motorcycle inventor crashes at Wired NextFest
Los Angeles (CA) – The inventor of the “KillaCycle” electric motorcycle almost killed himself during a demonstration at the Wired NextFest conference. Bill Dube, a government scientist during the day and electric bike builder at night, did a “burn out” in front of the Los Angeles Convention Center, but accidentally accelerated too much and crashed into a Minivan.
Luckily we were able to interview Dube before the crash. He was quite proud of his bike and told us that it was the quickest electric bike in existence. Using A123 Systems lithium-ion batteries, the KillaCycle can go zero to 60 miles-per-hour in a mind numbing .97 seconds. It also has a top speed of 158 MPH.
Dube fatefully told us that the batteries are “more powerful than anything else” on the market. Well they were indeed the most powerful because they hurtled Dube and his bike into another vehicle. You can watch the demonstration and initial interview in the above video.
The crash threw Dube into the air and he landed on his back onto the hot Los Angeles asphalt. Luckily he was conscious, breathing and had feeling in all his fingers and toes. Paramedics from the Los Angeles Fire Department arrived and took Dube to the hospital for x-rays.
Los Angeles (CA) – The inventor of the “KillaCycle” electric motorcycle almost killed himself during a demonstration at the Wired NextFest conference. Bill Dube, a government scientist during the day and electric bike builder at night, did a “burn out” in front of the Los Angeles Convention Center, but accidentally accelerated too much and crashed into a Minivan.
Luckily we were able to interview Dube before the crash. He was quite proud of his bike and told us that it was the quickest electric bike in existence. Using A123 Systems lithium-ion batteries, the KillaCycle can go zero to 60 miles-per-hour in a mind numbing .97 seconds. It also has a top speed of 158 MPH.
Dube fatefully told us that the batteries are “more powerful than anything else” on the market. Well they were indeed the most powerful because they hurtled Dube and his bike into another vehicle. You can watch the demonstration and initial interview in the above video.
The crash threw Dube into the air and he landed on his back onto the hot Los Angeles asphalt. Luckily he was conscious, breathing and had feeling in all his fingers and toes. Paramedics from the Los Angeles Fire Department arrived and took Dube to the hospital for x-rays.
09-14-2007, 01:30 AM
#2
Go Giants
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! smash!
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09-14-2007, 09:51 AM
#8
Senior Moderator
...hence the name? 
But 
!! That thing would be SICK at the strip!!
But !! That thing would be SICK at the strip!!
09-14-2007, 12:21 PM
#10
The sizzle in the Steak
Doing a burn-out with a drag-bike 
09-14-2007, 04:11 PM
#11
Senior Moderator
Originally Posted by BEETROOT
Poor guy, hope he's ok. Dumb for not wearing a helmet though.
09-15-2007, 12:42 PM
#14
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Looked more like a brake failure to me - or like he just let go of the brake.
More than enough time to get to 60 mph too. :ouch:
You notice in the interview he says he's the this will be "interesting" because he's the "crew cheif" and "owner" but "not the driver". Uhhh, yeah .... What could go wrong.
More than enough time to get to 60 mph too. :ouch:
You notice in the interview he says he's the this will be "interesting" because he's the "crew cheif" and "owner" but "not the driver". Uhhh, yeah .... What could go wrong.
until next time...
09-17-2007, 12:56 AM
#20
If you read the comments below the vid, you can click on them and expand them....
A response from the driver himself
Apparently he just got a few stitches and is OK.
A response from the driver himself
Originally Posted by Bill Dube
I wasn't wearing a helment, because we did not intend the bike to even move!
We were spinning the tire in soapy water. The tire unexpectantly gripped, (water ran out?) and launched the bike. I couldn't get it shut down as quickly as I would have liked. I had to release the front brake to fully untwist the throttle. I then managed to slow it down to about 20 mph.
The positive message here is that when we crunched the battery pack, NOTHING happened. No smoke. No flames. Not even sparks. Not only are these cells more powerful, they are are the safest possible for automobiles.
Also, there was NO ONE in front of the bike or in the possible trajectory of the bike.
We were spinning the tire in soapy water. The tire unexpectantly gripped, (water ran out?) and launched the bike. I couldn't get it shut down as quickly as I would have liked. I had to release the front brake to fully untwist the throttle. I then managed to slow it down to about 20 mph.
The positive message here is that when we crunched the battery pack, NOTHING happened. No smoke. No flames. Not even sparks. Not only are these cells more powerful, they are are the safest possible for automobiles.
Also, there was NO ONE in front of the bike or in the possible trajectory of the bike.
09-17-2007, 01:05 AM
#21
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Good to hear
09-17-2007, 01:27 AM
#22
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nice to hear he is OK!
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