Adelaide man sets electric motorcycle world record

Guinness may be experiencing a global shortage of the black stuff, but the world records are flowing freely, with a motorcyclist from Adelaide recently setting a new Guinness World Record on an electric Harley-Davidson LiveWire. 

Duncan Mallord rode a total of 962.7km at the Adelaide International Raceway in November to set a new world record for the greatest distance on an electric motorcycle in 24 hours. He required six charging cycles throughout the duration of the ride. 

An independent witness documented every kilometre with video and lap logs to ensure compliance with Guinness guidelines. 

The record attempt took place over December 16-17, with Mallord battling tyre wear, heat, torrential rain, and lightning, all within the space of 24 hours.

While much of the ride saw Mallord completing laps of the circuit, reduced visibility forced him to tackle part of the distance under floodlights on the main straight. 

“This record was my way of showing that electric vehicles are ready to tackle the challenges of this country,” Mallord said following the ride. “With the right infrastructure and mindset, EVs cannot only match traditional vehicles, but exceed expectations.”

The record is not Mallord’s first. In 2023, he rode 1880km from Lake Eyre to Mount Kosciuszko to claim the record for the greatest altitude change on an electric motorcycle. On that journey, he spent just $15.50 in charging fees. 

Electric vehicles are at a crossroads in Australia with EV sales slumping by 25 per cent across 2024. But the Federal Government’s adoption of the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard initiative in 2025 should favour EV manufacturers with a wider range and cheaper prices for would be customers. 

The motorcycle industry has been a bit slower to adopt electric than the car industry. The Harley-Davidson LiveWire was one of the first mass-produced electric motorcycles from one of the mainstream manufacturers, however the model only lasted one year on Australian shores. LiveWire is now its own sub-brand, but its products are not imported to Australia.

Electric pioneer Zero Motorcycles currently has a presence in Australia, while Royal Enfield recently announced plans for its own electric sub-brand, Flying Flea. That brand is expected to hit Australian shores in 2026.