Taking a test-drive on the Zero S electric motorcycle, or indeed, any electric motorcycle, can be quite disconcerting to begin with. Gas-powered motorcycles are noisy…electric motorcycles are whisper quiet.

In addition, electric motorcycles present the rider with instant torque/puling power, which takes some time getting used to.

The Zero S has a reported top speed of 60mph; most commuting journeys rarely require excessive speeds and at higher speeds, wind resistance starts to seriously affect the range of the battery.

Current range is approximately 60 miles, but, just as with gasoline-powered bikes, this depends on the type and speed of riding.

The improvements will have great effects on the price of the bike – currently, the battery pack on its own costs in the region of £4000; newer batteries will be far cheaper, the storage of the battery will increase which will improve the range of the bike.

The battery design is modular so that users will be able to take advantage of upgrades as the new battery will slot in just like the old one (about a 20 minute job).

It takes about four hours to completely charge the battery.

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June, 2009: Engadget reviewed the Brammo Enertia electric motorcycle, on the streets of New York City.

The reviewer called it a “little economy cruiser that won’t top 50 on a downhill with a tailwind, but with its single headlight, tapered seat, and chopped tail it looks more cafe than commuter. It’s rather more aesthetically-minded than the Zero S, too”. The Enertia is priced at $11,995 to start.

Brakes were rated as good. Horsepower was rated at just 13.7, with torque ay 31 ft/lbs. That’s about half the output of the Zero S. The cycle weights 280 total.

This bike isn’t for the highway, either, or make a daily commute of more than 45 miles. That’s the conservative maximum range if you maintain an average speed of just 25 mph. The bike has six lithium phosphate batteries, which take three hours to charge and are rated for 35,000 miles. Brammo estimates that these batteries will have a 10 years life span.

Source:
Engadget: Brammo review

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San Francisco, California — David Chiu, president of California’s Board of Supervisors, doesn’t have a car, but rather used to use a normal bike to make it to his meetings on time.

“I have anywhere from 8 to 15 events every day, sometimes more than that, and to get to different places is incredibly difficult. My district also has some of the most intense hills. So I’ve got Nob Hill, Telegraph Hill, Russian Hill, and to hit the hills with the suit that I’m usually in is extremely difficult.”

Bicycling pioneer Gary Fisher brought two of Trek’s new electric bikes to City Hall (they are not yet available in the U.S.), which he is loaning to Chiu and Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi.

The 45-pound bikes run on a lithium-ion battery, and can climb San Francisco’s steepest hills at 14 miles an hour.

According to Gary Fisher: “It uses the pedalic system from Panasonic and they’ve had that for over 20 years. It’s a really great, intuitive system for an electric bike because you still have to ride it. You know, you don’t get any energy out of it unless you put energy into the pedals, which is sort of a beautiful thing. In addition, the motor on this has the capability of developing energy too so it turns into a generator when you want it to.”

Fisher points out that electric bikes are more reliable now, with a lighter weight set-up, that battery technology has improved and the motors have a lot more low-end torque.

Trek intends to introduce the e-bikes for sale sometime in August.

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Monterey, CA — All you have to do is drive a few miles a day to know that cars are the main way that Americans travel. Motorcycles, while popular, come in a distant second.

There are very few electric motorcycles on the market.

The most popular E-cycle to date is the Zero S. It’s a 17hp machine with 60 foot-pounds of torque.

A test ride of the Zero S was held during the MotoGP races at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, CA, not far from Zero’s Santa Cruz headquarters. Hundreds of people lined up to try out the e-cycle.

Electric motorcyles have automatic transmissions, like modern scooters. There is no clutch. There is also no engine braking. The throttle is very responsive throttle.

Most US drivers don’t “see motorcyclists”, so in part they rely upon the noise of a cycle to alert them to the cycle’s presence. E-cycles are virtually noiseless.

At highway speeds, and with a top speed of 70mph, the Zero S lasts about 25 miles on a charge. Lower speeds bring longer battery life. See Zeromotorcycles.com for more information, including locations of demo rides, and an explanation of the federal tax credits and state rebates available for buyers.

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At the International Bike Trade Show (IFMA) in Cologne, Germany last September (2008) the ELMOTO HR-2 was debuted. It combines the best qualities of a bicycle and an electric scooter.

This light electric vehicle (LEV) is designed and built in Germany and will debut in the European market in July 2009.

It is built on an aluminum frame, and uses 33 lb ft of torque from a brushless 1.7 kW motor to take riders up to about 30 mph . It’s lithium battery pack has a range of 40 miles and recharges to 80 per cent in 2 hours.

It also comes with Marzocchi 888 suspenders up front and dual oil-spring shocks in the back. It also has an instrument panel that tracks speed, battery capacity and remaining range.

In Europe, cost is expected to be €3340 ($4,389) before tax and shipping.

The bike will be available in the USA by Spring 2010 at the latest.

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Zero Motorcycles has revealed its new street-legal electric motorcycle. The Zero S is similar to the Zero off-road version, the Zero X, but has highway tires and a “projector beam” headlight.

The Zero S packs 31 horses and 62.5 lb ft of torque. There’s no clutch, but its acceleration is fast and smooth acceleration. It has a range of 60 miles, tops speed of 60mph and can recharge in less than four hours.

The Zero S won’t be available until May, 2009, but the company is accepting orders for them now. A down payment of $1,000 will secure one for you in May. The full cost will be $9,950 USD and the Zero S can be shipped anywhere in the lower 48 states for $500.

Source: Ecoautoninja.com

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The Taipei International Cycle Show ended last week.

This is the big international cycling trade event. Niot only are new bikes shown, but also a wide variety of inventions, some that may take off, some that may not.

Here is a design for an easy water refilling system that uses lightly compressed air from a company called Taiwan Vertex.

Here is a torque sensor system that measures how much force you’re applying to your bike as you pedal.

Here is the Twins Multiple Function Folding Tool. It supposedly has every tool you will need to fix your bike.

Here is a hub motor from Elebike that gives power to the bike from a motor mounted in the wheel in the cycle.

And finally, the Electric Stretching Bike.

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OHM Cycles, a bike company based in Vancouver, Canada, announced on February 28, 2009 its next generation of hybrid electric-assist bicycles for 2009.

Four power packs are now available, each one designed to offer optimum power and range for every rider. According to OHM Cycles President Michael DeVisser, “The OHM Urban and Sport hybrid bicycles are a comprehensive solution for eco-friendly mobility.”.

The OHM hybrid e-bikes, which combine BionX drive technology with a Molicel Rechargeable Li-ion cell battery pack, are the first electric bicycles purpose-built for the North American market.

OHM Cycles can be ridden as a conventional bicycle ,or with pedal assist from the intelligent drive system. They have a center-mounted power pack which provides better balance and weight distribution and maintains a standard wheelbase. Because of its ightweight components and a customized power system, OHM “will send you racing up hills and around the city, with ease.”

For 2009, new features have been added:

• 4 Power packs available – 25 to 70 miles per charge with custom OHM Quick Connect system to easily remove and recharge
• Fast Recharge – 90% capacity in 20 minutes, fully charge in 3 hours, charge over 500 times without loss of capacity
• Intelligent Sensor – Patented BionX torque sensor automatically responds to the way the rider pedals and provides a smooth natural sensation
• Suntour Suspension seat post for a more comfortable ride
• Adjustable stem and handlebars to customize riding position
• Topeak rear carry rack with QuickTrack™ MTX

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The fastest electrical two-wheeler in the world — a motorcycle called Mission One, has recently been announced.

Mission Motors, based in San Francisco. claims that the Mission One will have a top speed of 241km/h and a range of 240km.

After only a  two hour charge, however, tits lithium-ion battery is good for another 240km.  That’s pretty good!

The combustion engine has a raditional bell-shaped torque curve.  The electric motor which will power the Mission One will have a  linear supply of torque, which will translate to speedier performance. Since there are no gears to change, accelleration will be very, very quick.

Industrial designer Yves Behar is responsible for the sleek lines of this wicked looking machine.

If you’d like to get in your pre-order, place them  here.

The bike cost $68,995 (akmost R700 000).

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The FIM – the Federation Internationale de Motorcyclisme, each year holds Conference Meetings in which new models are displayed. ‘

From February 19-22, 2009, the conference meeting was held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Geneva, Switzerland. On display were an exhibition of electric motorbikes from a variety of manufacturers.

Bikes on display included the 2010 KTM E-Bike (previously called the KTM Zero Emission Motorcycle.)

The KTM E-Bike is a race-ready dual sport with 29.5lb/ft of torque. It weighs just 90kg (198lbs),and its lithium ion batteries give it a range of about 40 minutes under “race conditions.”

The specs may change, of course, as KTM will undoubtedly incorporate the latest battery technology when the bike goes into production. Speculation among visitors at the exhibition was that the bike will have a Vectrix VX-1-like regenerative system, which allows the battery to recharge when the bike is decelerated and resistance is placed on the motor. In other words, instead of adding power, the braking system extends the range of the bike.

Source: hellforleathermagazin

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