Charleston, South Carolina — Ed and Tammy Fargo of Summerville couple used to race cars, but they’ve found that the time and expense of using electric-powered bikes are considerably less.
Tammy (left) and Ed Fargo line up for a run against each other at the Orangeburg Drag Strip. Their motorcycles run on batteries.
To date, Ed Fargo he has reconfigured three old motorcycles to run on rechargeable batteries. He also has a 1929 Model A, which he is converting to run on ethanol.
Fargo did a web search on how to convert or build an electric-powered motorcycle. Since November, he’s converted three motorcycles and a minibike to rechargeable battery power.
He and his wife race each other at the Orangeburg Drag Strip. They belong to the National Electric Drag Racing Association, which encompasses motorcycle and car racing. Of the 350 members, most are concentrated on the West Coast. Fargo knows of only one other electric cycle owner in South Carolina.
He estimated that converting a bike costs around $3,500, and he’s supplied some advice and instructions on his Web site, www.juiceddragracing.com. He advises recycling older bikes.
