Brammo Prepares for production of the Enertia electric bike

Best Buy Venture Capital has invested in the Brammo motorcycle company. Their single-seat Enertia is now available in Best Buy stores on the west coast.

At face value the Enertia may seem like a “moped” rather than a motorcycle. With a top speed rating of about 60 MPH, it would make navigating any heavy traffic urban environment risky. However, experts see the writing on the wall – the e-cycle is here to stay.

Read the complete article at the:
Official Mobile Security & Innovative Technologies Blog

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

The three myths of the electric motorcycle are:

1. They can’t go fast enough
2. They aren’t convenient
3. They are expensive

The Daily Green blog attempts to dispell these myths in their article, Dispelling Four Myths About Electric Motorcycles. (Yes, the title says they are dispelling four myths, but that’s just a test.)

To put it briefly:
Many electric motorcycles on the market today have a top speed of 60 mph or more. The Electra Cruiser can top 80 mph.

You can get electricity anywhere you can get gas. (This answer avoids the real question. You can gas and go, but to date you have to wait a couple of hours or more before your battery is recharged. It’s not the availability of “fuel” but the time factor that concerns many riders.

Do-it-yourself conversions are not that expensive.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Now is the time to buy an electric motorcycle.

Zero Motorcycles announced on October 8 that they are the first e-cycle company that meets all US and Canadian safety standards. They have also passed EPA certification, which allows their bikes to qualify for major federal tax credits of 10% of the purchase price, as well as a state sales tax credit.

The base price of both the 2009 Zero S and DS is $9,950. Purchasers can now claim a tax credit of $995, when they file. They can now also claim whatever state sales tax amount is paid for the Zero bike on their federal tax return.

Source:
Zero S and DS Electric Motorcycles are Now $1,000 Cheaper

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Brammo Enertia Electric Motorcycle

Ashland, Oregon – November 10, 2009 – BRAMMO, maker of plug-in electric motorcycles, announced today it is dropping the price of the all-electric BRAMMO Enertia powercycle, to $7,995.  Customers are also eligible for a 10% federal income tax credit, further reducing the price to $7,195.

“While this pricing breakthrough is innovative in transportation, it is in line with consumer electronics, where engineering and production advances get passed on to customers as quickly as possible to stimulate adoption of the technology,” stated Craig Bramscher, founder and CEO of Brammo.  “The Enertia is consumer electronics that you can ride and BRAMMO’s engineers are able to deliver a better value proposition to customers sooner than a traditional transportation company.”

Today, qualified customers can walk into select Best Buy stores and with a $2,000 down payment, ride out on an Enertia for $249 a month with 24-month no interest with payments financing offered through Best Buy.  The Enertia can also be purchased direct from www.BRAMMO.com in select states where the product is not yet available at a Best Buy.

The BRAMMO Enertia powercycle is the ideal commuter vehicle as it blends an exhilarating ride experience with environmental consciousness and low operating costs. The Enertia has a top speed of over 60 mph, has a range of 42 miles and charges in about four hours by plugging into a standard wall outlet—all while using less than a dollar in electricity per 100 miles ridden.

“With this price reduction Brammo has positioned electric vehicles for the mass market and consumers can now be part of a solution to the transportation crises that America is facing,” said Bramscher.  “The wait is over, consumers can now buy an EV that is price competitive with a gas burning alternative and enjoy reduced maintenance and substantially lower ownership costs.”

Fans and media can follow Brammo on Twitter @BrammoSays and on its Facebook fan page, Brammo Powercycles

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Brammo is getting ready to launch its second two-wheeled electric vehicle. In house, it goes by the name of the Anti-Scooter.

Unlike the Enertia, currently available at select Best Buy locations along the West Coast, the Anti-Scooter has a step-through design like a typical scooter.

While the Enertia has a top speed around 50 miles per hour, the Anti-Scooter is expected to have a speed limiter that can be tailored to the specific laws of the state where the bike is sold. Because of this, riders shouldn’t need to have a motorcycle license.

Read the complete story at Autoblog Green.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Germany – One of many new electric bike lines unveiled at Eurobike was one from motorcycle manufacturer, Ducati, which they call the City Pearl.

Ducati and fellow Italian company Italwin developed the bike together. It is equipped with a 250 watt motor which is claimed good for a top speed of 24kph.

To see a photo, check out: World’s first Ducati electric bike revealed!.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

San Francisco-based Mission Motors unveiled its Mission One electric streetbike prototype last winter. At that time, Product Manager Jeremy Cleland claimed that the bike would achive 150 mph. That was their minimum target.

Cleland himself rode the Mission One prototype to a new AMA electric motorcycle speed record of 150.059 mph at the BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials on the Bonneville Salt Flats on September 1, 2009. This record speed represents the average of two flying passes through Bonneville’s mile-long speed trap. The Mission One’s highest one-way speed recorded at that event was 161 mph.

To read more about this record-setting event, check out Motor Cyclist’s article at Mission Motors Shatters eBike Speed Record.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Currie Technologies, manufacturer of Izip and Ezip electric bikes, now offers a new version of the famous Currie USPD Pro-Drive system, for the same low price. This new Currie Electro-Drive Conversion Kit transforms a standard bicycle into an electric powered ride.

The Currie Electro Drive conversion kit is designed to fit bicycles that use standard 7-speed freewheels. If your bike has something other then a 7-speed freewheels, the kit may still be fitted, however it is recommended that such a conversion be done an authorized Currie Dealer.

Bicycles equipped with this kit will reach a top speed of 18 miles per hour, and have a range of 10-20 miles per charge.

Currie Electro Drive features:

• A great price for an entry level kit.
• Easy installation.
• Second battery available to double your range.

The Currie electric bike kit includes

1. Rear Wheel (u use your existing tire and tube).
2. One Battery-pack.
3. Mounting brackets and all required hardware include.
4. Pre-wired Rear battery Rack.
5. Throttle with fuel-gauge.

About Currie Technologies:

Currie Technologies is a developer, manufacturer and distributor of quality, high- performance Hybrid and Electric Powered Bicycles and Scooters with patented Electro Drive Technology. These products fall under the subsidiaries of the Izip and Ezip brands. Differentiated by price point but not quality, these two brands fit in with individuals from all walks of life. Their objectives are to build products that offer cost effective, emissions free alternatives to other forms of transportation for commuting, sport, and recreation.

Currie Technologies recently opened its doors to the individual consumer allowing access to their full line of products. Until recently, this was only possible through their retailers.

Currie Technologies goal is to make sure each of their customer’s walk away knowing they have just purchased a product that gives them ALL possible benefits.

For further information about the kit, go to http://www.currietech.com or contact Currie Technologies at 1-877-284-2453.

Source: Currie Technologies Press Release

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

New York — Orange County Choppers is a renowned custom motorcycle manufacturer. Their most recent creation: a fully electric chopper. It was commissioned by Siemens USA, is powered by a 27-horsepower electric motor from Advanced DC and can go an estimated 60 miles after a five-hour charge. Top speed is claimed to be 100 miles per hour.

Watch the build on an episode of American Chopper that’s current scheduled to air on TLC on Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 9PM.

Spokeman Paul Teutul, Sr.:

Building an electric bike from recycled materials was something new for us, but we definitely enjoyed the challenge and think that the end product makes a great addition to our wide range of unique motorcycles. While electric bikes probably won’t surpass traditional ones for the foreseeable future, we also think that energy efficient technologies are increasingly important for both manufacturers and consumers.
At this time, OCC says it has no plans to mass produce an electric chopper, but Senior says it’s would consider it if adequate demand were there. In any case, you’ll get the chance to own this example after Siemens take it on a worldwide tour in 2010, after which it will be auctioned off with the benefits going to “a charitable cause that will help benefit the environment.”

Read more at Autoblog.com.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Tom Mudra and Hans Tobias Schicktanz, two ebike designers from Germany,  have introduced teh “Mosquito”, a bike that  features a lithium-battery powered electric motor and which has a total range of about 37 miles.  It’s  top speed is  31 mph. What’s really cool, the frame cover of the Mosquito can be crafted from carbon fiber, wood or plastic.

Read more and see photos of the design here:

Bookmark It

Hide Sites