SPARK (Formerly EMR – Electric Motorcycle Racing) began with four University of Michigan Engineering students modifying an old beat up motorcycle as a summer project.
Our first two years saw us establish our team within the University of Michigan and re-outfit our first electric motorcycle: Chronos, a 1997 Suzuki Katana purchased in 2013. Built for the drag strip, running a 48v lithium battery and twin DC electric motors, this bike was a true first of its kind and a stepping stone for SPARK. Chronos broke two world records on its debut run:
Electric 1/4 mile: 17.99 seconds at 65.69 mph
Electric 1/8 mile: 10.94 seconds at 59.84 mph
Michigan Engineering’s EM team tried to break a world speed record on Chronos, an electric motorcycle built by engineering students 09/09/2015. Photo by Marcin Szczepanski/Senior Multimedia Producer, University of Michigan, College of Engineering 
Michigan Engineering’s EM team tried to break a world speed record on Chronos, an electric motorcycle built by engineering students 09/09/2015. Photo by Marcin Szczepanski/Senior Multimedia Producer, University of Michigan, College of Engineering 
Michigan Engineering’s EM team tried to break a world speed record on Chronos, an electric motorcycle built by engineering students 09/09/2015. Photo by Marcin Szczepanski/Senior Multimedia Producer, University of Michigan, College of Engineering
SPARK Electric Racing 2025 