JC2 Electric World Speed Challenge 1996

In 1899, engineer Camille Jenatzv proudly presented his prototype of an autonomous travelling car equipped with an electrical motor on each wheel which would be the first autonomous ground traveling vehicle to exceed 100km/h.

An amazing speed at the time. The machine was called "Jamais Contente" which roughly translates as "Never Satisfies".

In 1996, practically a century later, rider Bruno Bonhuil found himself in a similar position with the intent of passing 200km/h to set a record on a two wheeled vehicle with electric propulsion. The name of this machine was "Jamais Contente 2" or JC2.

From left to right Jean-François Monteil (Director l'I.U.T Reims), Mickael Cassez (Project Co-Ordinator) and Denis Zalecki (Professor Mechanical Department of Engineering and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing of I' L.U.T)

Two teams worked towards the result; students of the Mechanical Department of Engineering and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing of I' L.U.T of Rheims, directed by Jean François Monteil, sponsored the project with the help of one of the professors, Denis Zaiecki who both took turns directing the two year project researching the suppliers, the sponsors and other logistic and technical concerns right up to the final ground test.

The electric motor outputs 35 kw (approximately 48 horsepower) and has a maximum speed of 3000rpm. The motor is cooled by an outward-flow turbine which allows JC2 to use 800 amps at 160 volts. The current is obtained from 126 salt batteries of 1.2 volts each (for a total weight of 90 kilos) which are normally used in launching phase on the turbojets of Boeing and Airbus aircraft. This power is administered using a 500 amp Curtis controller.

The bike has technology used in the lunar mission Apollo 11 booster rocket, contactors with high current switching were assembled in parallel on the controller, which, by use of a of a foot switch released 800 amps to the motor after acceleration. To allow for this electromechanical fury the transmission, is aligned by high strength aluminium pinions, and a jointless chain is used for safety to ensure that the bike stays in a straight line.

The JC2 uses the cycle parts of a Kawasaki ZZR 1100 with modified aluminium framework, which receives support in frontal areas from tubular steel which supports the wedge-shaped fairing, and various brackets for the fixing of the technical modules and the electric propulsion.

The integral composite material hull was developed out of fibreglass, and was superbly painted by the Aéro-Styl company.

During the month October 1996 the JC2 intended to beat the various world records obtained by Max Biaggi in 1994. The JC2 has already, at the time of the test beaten current world records of the kilometer standing start by 6.62 seconds (by carrying out a 28.235 seconds time, against 34.86 for the current record), with a final velocity of 205 km/h obtained after 1.2 kilometers of acceleration (speed carried out at the time of the official world records 164,498 km/h).

Article taken from the October 1996 issue of Moto Technologie magazine. Hopefully it is an accurate translation of the original content.

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