Concepts and renderings are one thing, but a fully functioning prototype that does what the designer dreamed it could do, is well, just plain awesome.  Especially when it’s a gyroscopically controlled motorcycle with a fully enclosed outer shell.

This proof of concept is a little rough, but I like it.  Governed to 10 mph (16 km/h) and dual gyros scaled down to 650 lbs of torque, half of what the production version will run at, Lit Motors is on their way to making the C-1 a reality.  They hope to bring the new class of vehicle to market with a 120 mph top speed, getting 200 miles per charge on an 8 kWh battery pack all for $16,000 USD.

[ Source ]

The post Lit Motors C-1 Self-Balancing, Fully-Enclosed Motorcycle is Awesome appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

If you’re an electric cruiser enthusiast, this should be right up your alley. A new electric wide body cruiser, the Orphiro Electric Motorcycle will be coming out this September. Built from scratch by Alexander Steegh and his team from the Fontys University of Applied Science, the cruiser aims at changing the general perception on electric cruisers for the better.

With a battery range of 60 miles and a top speed of 75mph, the Orphiro shapes up pretty nicely for an electric cruiser. When it comes to styling and power, electric motorcycles are known for their lack of appeal, but unlike previous models, this one sure looks classy and is worth the attention.

It has a chopper aesthetic with extended front forks, rounded mirrors and twin headlights. Even if the cruiser is worth the attention, I’m not sure it’s also worth the money, as the price tag is over $70,000 US. Considering the price, mass production is unlikely, and the company says that for the moment, they are only planning to produce some for promotional activities. Nice, but fast enough to replace a gas-guzzler? Not with that price tag.

The post $70,000 Orphiro Electric Motorcycle Cruiser makes green sexy appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

Most electric motorcycles make use of a direct-drive systems, but that’s not the case with the two newest additions to the Brammo line. Both the Brammo Engage and the Brammo Encite are six-speed speedsters with something to prove.

We’ve already seen that electric cars need not be slow and boring, and the same thing is happening with bikes too. These are mostly designed for the motocross circuit, complete with uneven terrain and all kinds of jumps. No numbers are released, but Brammo promises that these two-wheelers have plenty of oomph to get you into the race.

By working to maximize an engine’s leverage over its wheels to increase acceleration or reduce the speed at which the engine needs to spin to boost efficiency, gearboxes have enabled gas-powered vehicles to be both faster and more efficient. Those are advantages single-speed electric vehicles haven’t yet enjoyed. Conventional wisdom stated they didn’t need to; the large torque outputs and flat power delivery of electric motors enabled reasonable performance without multiple speeds.

Starting with the Brammo Engage, you get a full-sized dirtbike. You can get the motocross version for off-roading or the supermoto version for on-road, both of which start at $9,995. Step it up to the SMS Super Moto for $11,995 for some street legal action. The Encite MMX Pro wasn’t announced with a price, but it’ll be the most hardcore racing version of the bunch.

Can the electric bikes compete with their petrol-fueled counterparts? There’s the Vegas Mini Moto SX this Friday, which should provide a suitable platform for Brammo to make an electrified statement.

The post Brammo Engage and Encite Electric Bikes first to shift gears appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

There are several folks who boot around Vancouver here in electric scooters. They’re compact, they’re efficient, they’re quite as hell and they get the job done. They’re also as slow as molasses and just about as interesting. The Lito Sora from Montreal is of a completely different breed.

Yes, it is just an electric motorcycle, but it’ll keep you going for days without having to plug back in. That’s because the 12kWh lithium-ion batteries keep the Sora swerving through traffic for up to 300km (185 miles) at a time. A full recharge does take eight hours though.

So, it has to be slow to achieve that kind of range, right? Not exactly. In fact, it’ll probably outrace many a Prius and Smart Car with its top speed of 200 km/h (125mph). Lito has tossed in an integrated GPS (that calculates the amount of power needed to get to your destination too), regen brakes, CVT, and electronically adjustable ergonomics for good measure. The seat has a vertical range of four inches, providing you with the right comfort (and aerodynamics).

For some strange reason, I can envision Captain America battling bad guys while riding this beast of an electrobike. Does that make me weird? In any case, there’s no price, but we know the Lito Sora can’t be cheap.

[Read]

The post Lito Sora Electrobike Boasts 300km Range, 200km/h Top Speed appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

As charging times and locations are one of the problems facing electric vehicles, three companies are jumping on board with a way to solve the problem: Swappable batteries.

California’s Zero Motorcycles has added a new, fifth model to its line of e-bikes. The XU is built from the ground up with commuters in mind, aiming to relieve some of the most common problems facing early adopters of the machines.

First off, it’s easier to ride with no gear shifting necessary, lower speeds (up to 50 mph or about 110 km/h max) and a lower seat height than their usual motorbike-esque styles. But the most important feature is the removable and interchangeable battery pack that allows riders to bring the battery with them, ending the constant search for street-level charging locations.

“the Zero XU is the world’s first street motorcycle that enables owners to essentially charge anywhere by way of a removable power pack and optional stand-alone charger,” writes the company. “This opens the doors to interested buyers who do not have access to garage or street-level charging at their homes or apartments. The removable pack also allows for essentially non-stop usage by enabling individuals, or fleets, to quickly swap power packs.”

That also means it’s no longer necessary to schlepp your bike all the way up to your cubicle when you arrive to charge up while you work. Just unlock the battery from the body and bring that up instead.

Some speculators are already bashing the idea, saying the batteries will be heavy and a pain to carry around. But a battery is lighter than a motorbike, and definitely looks a bit more non-challant on an elevator or charging in the corner of your office.

A more credible complaint is the cost. At $7,995, the XU’s biggest cost is the battery. That means if you’re looking to get two for battery swapping, your wallet’s going to feel it.

Better Place, on the other hand, seems to have a solution for this.

Renault has announced they’ll be on board with Better Place’s system with their Renault Fluence Z.E. and Twizy EVs. Basically, the system allows consumers to buy the car without a battery, meaning lower upfront costs. The batteries that power the vehicles are to be leased from Better Place, which lets users use their charging stations and five-minute battery swap options when you’re in a rush.

For those who drive less than 20,000 km per year, the monthly lease will cost between $278 and $348, while unlimited mileage packages will run for $558. The downside is that all users will be charged almost $1,900 up-front for a home charging station install.

For the $9,640 Twizy electric commuter, Better Place will charge only $63 per month to lease a battery.

While the Twizy won’t be coming to North America, the same battery-leasing structure could be applied for vehicles such as the Zero XU. Without the battery, many of these EVs would be a lot more affordable for a lot more people. What’s more, the price wouldn’t be as much of a hinderance to those who would otherwise like to do a bit of experimenting with one of the many new electric vehicles on the market.

Better Place is only in two states and one province so far – California, Hawaii and Ontario – so as it stands, the system wouldn’t work so well for road-trippers. But as EVs and charging networks expand, you can expect more of these novel ideas to grow with them.

The post Swappable Batteries To Ease EV Charging appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

Brammo Empulse electric motorcycle

Brrammo has demonstrated a pre-production prototype of their new electric motorocycle, the Empulse.  What looks like something from the Mad Max era, the Empulse can clock in over 100 mph and can reach a 100 mile range on a single charge.   If you’re going to be traveling 100 mph you’re obviously not going to reach the optimal range. Brammo is releasing three variants of the Empulse 6.0 capable of a 60 mile average range, Empulse 8.0 capable of 80 miles, and the Empulse 10.0 capable of 100 miles.  Range can be increased by riding at lower speeds.

“We thought it would be 2012 before we would see this level of performance and range, especially at this price,” Craig Bramscher, Founder and CEO of Brammo told Fast Company. “The development work we have been doing for racing has led us down a path that let us evolve our battery technology very quickly. We think that the future of EVs is actually here now (Or at least as soon as this bike ships and customers take delivery!)”

The Empulse hasn’t hit Brammo’s website just yet, but as soon as it does customers can pre-order them for a mid-2011 ship date in the USA, and globally through motorcycle dealers shortly thereafter.  Even some Best Buy stores are supposed to be getting them.  Prices start at $9,995 for the lower end 6.0, and go to $13,995 for the 10.0.   If you happen to be in California, the Empulse is going to be shown at the 2010 Red Bull Grand Prix the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California, July 24th.

[Fast Company, Brammo]

The post Brammo Empulse electric motorcycle ahead of its time appeared first on Mobile Magazine.