February 4th, 2009
If you aren’t already a fan of the TED: Ideas Worth Spreading conference, then here’s a great reason to get started. At the 2009 TED event, which is happening as we speak in Palm Springs, Mission One is unveiling the most exciting piece of battery-electric motorcycle technology we’ve seen to date. The Mission One electric sportsbike will be the first machine to hit the market with genuine sportsbike performance and the range to make it a worthwhile addition to the garage.
A top speed of 150mph is well into supersports territory and more than enough for the road - but the shattering 100 foot-pounds of torque available right off idle should make this one of the quickest-accelerating tyre-shredding streetbikes on the planet. As Mike Hanlon points out over at Gizmag, by comparison the 2009 R1 only makes 85 foot-pounds of torque when it hits 10,000rpm. The brutal torque allows the Mission One bike to operate completely without the use of gears, saving the weight of a transmission. Sadly this means there’ll be no clutch for wheelies either. (more…)
Posted in Electric & Hybrids, Sportsbikes | 2 Comments »
January 7th, 2009
Honda’s CEO Takeo Fukui has announced that the company will market a fully electric motorcycle in 2010, marking the first of the major manufacturers to commit to a battery-electric production bike.
Don’t expect anything too flash - the bike, about which no details have yet been released, will likely be some sort of commuter machine focusing on pracitcal, cheap short range daily A to B travel. Fukui’s language hints that it may be a super-economy machine appropriate for developing countries: (more…)
Posted in Electric & Hybrids | No Comments »
September 17th, 2008
Since we rode the fantastic Vectrix Electric Maxi-Scooter last year, we’ve been excited by the potential of electric bikes and what they have to offer, particularly around town. Beyond the zero-emissions environmental benefits, electrics are very cheap to run, maintenance free and their power and range are limited only by battery technology, which is improving exponentially now that gas prices worldwide are driving research into alternatives.
So it’s good to see a few front-runners hitting the market early - and this fully electric GPR-S from Electric Motorsport looks like a snappy little commuter. Rated at 19 Horsepower, the GPR-S’s electric motor will take the bike to a top speed of 60-70mph depending on gearing - so freeway speeds should be fine - and its 3.3kWh battery pack is good for 35 miles if you’re flogging it or 60 if you’re riding to conserve battery. (more…)
Posted in Electric & Hybrids | 17 Comments »
May 18th, 2008
Even if the UnoMoto is effectively just Segway technology in an R1 frame with footpegs, it’s a pretty incredible achievement for its builder. I mean, how many other 18 year olds can claim to have built an electric commuter vehicle in their back yard, let alone one that is operated without any controls other than two stabilising gyroscopes?
Gulak was inspired to build this unusual vehicle after a visit to China in 2006. The thick smog and choking pollution left Ben wondering how he could contribute to a cleaner future by building an electric commuter vehicle. (more…)
Posted in Custom Bikes, Electric & Hybrids | 9 Comments »
October 25th, 2007
Scooters are already one of the most fuel-efficient forms of transport around - but like the rest of the automotive industry, they’ll have to pull their socks up if and when the energy crisis comes about.
That’s when devices like these will come into their own - the engineering department at the University of Tasmania has come up with an AU$1500 add-on modification that turns a normal motor scooter into a hybrid plug-in ethanol-electric mile muncher that’s greener than Hitchcock on Oscars night. 1.7 litres per 100km, for our American friends, translates to almost 140 miles per gallon.
The system also includes regenerative braking, which is one of the coolest features on any electric bike, and almost worth the price of admission.
Sadly, we don’t have any photos, so we can’t see if you have to sacrifice your underseat storage to fit the device. Full details after the jump.
(more…)
Posted in Electric & Hybrids, Scooters | 1 Comment »