Electric motorcycles and scooters are vehicles with two or three wheels that use electric motors to attain locomotion.
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History
- Late 1860s: Earliest references to electric motorcycles can be found in patents.
- 1911: Electric motorcycle available according to early Popular Mechanics article.[1]
- 2007: Li-Ion cell-powered Killacycle makes new quarter mile (400-metre) record of 7.824 seconds and 168 mph (270 km/h) in Phoenix, AZ, US at AHDRA 2007.[2]
Power source
Generally, the source of power for the electric motor has been batteries, but development in fuel cell technology has created several prototypes. Some examples are: the ENV from Intelligent Energy, Honda's scooter using the Honda FC Stack, and the Yamaha FC-AQEL. Also, petroleum hybrid-electric motorcycles are under development. Some examples are the Ecycle, and Yamaha's Gen-RYU.
Advantages and disadvantages
Electric motorcycles and scooters are rising in popularity because of higher gasoline prices. Battery technology is gradually improving making this form of transportation more practical.[3]
Advantages of electric over gasoline power:
- The fuel costs for electric power are approximately 25% the cost of gasoline power (US, mid-2008; see Electric car, "Running costs" for the calculation)[4]
- Nearly silent
- Environmental friendly (no exhausted gases at point of use)
- carbon and registration tax exemption in some countries
- No parking/congestion charges in some countries
- No road tax in some countries
- Using grid power to charge batteries causes less pollution than gasoline scooters;[citation needed] the amount of emissions and residues caused depends on the sources of the electricity used.
- No trips needed to a gas station—can be recharged at home or in charging stations. But charging or battery swapping in service stations, when needed, are faster.
- It can be used in a V2G system.
- Lower maintenance costs and fewer maintenance activities.
- Can be ridden indoors.
- More affordable than electric cars.
Disadvantages:
- Up front costs are higher than for a comparable gasoline powered motorcycle or scooter.[citation needed]
- Shorter range before recharging.
- Longer "fill up" or recharge time.
- Lower maximum speed at similar price points.
- Electric power outlets are often not conveniently located near streets or driveways. It is often difficult or impossible to bring the battery into an apartment, for example, for recharging.
- Battery capacity can be as low as 20% on a cold winter day with -20 °C (lead battery)
- As it is already difficult for motorcycles to be "noticed" by drivers of cars and trucks, the loss of characteristic engine noise might make riding these even more dangerous than their internal combustion engine powered counterparts.
Types
A scooter is a type of motorcycle with a step-through frame and usually with smaller wheels designed for urban transportation.
Various types of scooters
Scooters are divided into categories as per the particular niche that they are designed to operate in and speed requirements:
- Two-wheeled Vespa-styled scooters 0-60 mph (0-100 km/h)
- Two-wheeled Stand-up scooters (like a kick scooter) 0-25 mph (0–40 km/h)
- Two-wheeled, side-by-side stand-up scooters like manufactured by Segway PT 0-12 mph (0–20 km/h)
- Two-wheeled Seated scooters 0-25 mph (0–40 km/h)
- Three-wheeled standup scooters like manufactured by Zap 0-15 mph (0–25 km/h)
- Three- and four-wheeled Mobility scooter (disability riders) 0-10 mph (0–15 km/h)
- Three- and four-wheeled Seated scooters/golf carts 0-25 mph (0–40 km/h)
Electric motorcycle or electric bicycle
Two-wheeled motorcycles are generally differentiated from motorized bicycles and mopeds (motorized pedal cycles) by speed, with motorcycles having greater speeds—usually greater than 30 mph (about 50 km/h). Although, this line for what constitutes a 2 wheeled motorcycle has blurred due to marketing, styling, and public opinion.
3-wheeled motorcycles
Due to vagueness in motor vehicle laws, any three-wheeled vehicle that can travel over 31 mph (50 km/h) may be classified as a motorcycle. This classification does not depend on whether the operator is fully enclosed by a "cage" or exposed to the elements. Several automotive startup companies made their initial designs three wheeled vehicles, because the motorcycle classification does not require the same costly battery of crash safety testing as a four wheeled vehicle.
For design purposes, three wheeled vehicles are divided into 2 categories:
- 1 wheel in front and 2 in back, known as a delta design or the traditional trike (tricycle) design
- 2 wheels in front and 1 in back, known as a tadpole design.
Some three wheeled motorcycles enclose the rider in a "cabin" or cockpit. These include the Twike, Myers Motors NmG.
Some three wheeled motorcycles have independent suspension allowing the vehicle to tilt or lean, such as the Carver one.
Self-balancing unicycle
The Uno (vehicle) is another type of electric vehicle that is sometimes described as an electric motorcycle.[5][6]
Comparison of select production vehicles
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It has been suggested that some sections of this article be split into a new article entitled List of electric motorcycles and scooters manufacturers. (Discuss) (September 2009) |
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This article's factual accuracy is disputed. Please see the relevant discussion on the talk page. (July 2009) |
| Name | Top Speed | Power | Cost | Vehicle type | Battery | Range | Comments | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Life | Capacity | |||||||
| Quantya Strada | 55+ mph depending on final drive ratio | 8.5 kW (11.4 hp) @ 4000 rpm | $10,700 | Dual Sport | LiPo Lithium Polymer | app.5 years, 1,000 cycles or 2 year warranty on battery | 2.3 kWh | 25-30 miles | Quantya Motorcycles |
| Brammo Enertia | 60+ mph (96+ km/h) | 13 kW (17 hp) @ 4500 rpm | $7,995 | Motorcycle | 6 Lithium iron phosphate by Valence | 20,000 miles (32,000 km) | 3.1 kWh | 50+ miles (80+ kilometres) |
Currently available at select Best Buy stores and online.[7] |
| Xtreme Green Products | 65 mph (104 km/h) | 4.5 kW Hub Motor[8] | $7,999 | Motorcycle | Lithium Ion Power Management System | 7 years | 60 A·h / 6 kWh | Over 100 miles (Over 160 km) | Review |
| Vectrix VX-1 | 62 mph (100 km/h) | 20 kW[9] | $8,800 | Scooter | Nickel metal hydride (NiMH) provided by GP Batteries |
10 years or 50,000 miles / 80,000 km | 30 A·h, 3.7 kW·h | 68 miles @ 25 mph (110 km @ 40 km/h) | Review |
| Tiger Ozone Electric | 1.14 HP/485 rpm | N/A | $1,000 | Motorcycle | Lead acid | N/A | 35 Ah. | N/A | More detail Designed and manufactured in Thailand. |
| Eped Sport/City | 40 mph+ | 60 v 1,200 w | £1,495 | Scooter | 5 Crystal Technology Cells | 400+ charge cycles | 20 A·h | 35 miles (55 km) | |
| E-Solex | 21 mph | 400W | E-solex | Scooter | 20 miles (without extra pedalling) | E-solex | |||
| Yo Speed | (45 km/h) | 750W | Rs.35000(~$815) | Scooter | 80 km @ 70 kg [10] | ||||
| ZAP Xebra | 40 mph (65 km/h) | $10,000 | 3 Wheel | Lead acid | 3 years | 25 miles at 30 mph (40 km at 50 km/h) | review[citation needed] | ||
| ZAP Zapino | 30 mph (48 km/h) | 3 kW | $3,500 | Scooter | Lead acid (Lithium option) | 38 A·h | 30 miles | ||
| EVT-4000e EVT-168 | 40 mph (60 km/h) | 1,500 W | $2,900 | Scooter | Lead acid, 4x12 or lithium ion | 1.5 – 2 years [11], 1000+ charges for lithium | 50 A·h | 25 to 40 miles (40 to 60 km) | North American Distributor, Taiwanese Manufacturer |
| Io-scooter | 30 mph (50 km/h) | 1500W | €2,630 | Scooter | Lead acid, 4x12 | 1.5 – 2 years | 50 A·h | 25 to 35 miles (40 to 55 km) | Io-scooter |
| Zero X | + 60 mph (97 km/h) | 17.4 kW 23 HP | High Power $8350 Standard $7450 | Off-road Motorcycle | Patent-pending lithium ion array | ? | 2 kWh | 40 miles (64 km) 2hrs | Zero Motorcycles |
| Electric GPR-S | 70 mph (112 km/h) | 14.2 kW | $8,000 | Motorcycle | 24 Lithium cells | 2000+ charge cycles | 3.3 kWh | 60 miles (economy setting) | Available October 2008 |
| XM 5000Li | 60 mph (96 km/h) | 5.000W | $6,499 | Scooter | 21 Lithium cells | 2000+ charge cycles | 60 A·h | 85 miles (130 km) | Review |
| ECPU scooter | 30 mph (50 km/h) | 350~500W | $450(~Rs.22000) | Scooter | Lead acid 6 x 12 V 20 Ah | 2 years | 1.44 KWh | 100 miles at 19 mph,70 miles at 30 mph (160 km at 32 km/h, 110 km at 45 km/h) | Review |
Comparison of select upcoming vehicles
| Name | Top Speed | Power | Cost | Vehicle type | Battery | Range | Comments | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Life | Capacity | |||||||
| Smart Cities Roboscooter [12] | ?+ mph (? km/h) | $? | Motorcycle | ? | ? miles (? kilometres) | ? kWh | ?+ miles (?+ kilometres) |
Available in ?. |
|
| VentureOne | 75+ mph (120+ km/h) | 40+ kW | $23,000 | 3 Wheel | Lithium-ion batteries by A123Systems | 5000+ charge cycles | 120 miles (about 200 km) | video Available in 2010. | |
| Aptera 2e | 85 mph (135 km/h) | 30 kW | $27,000 | 3 Wheel | Lithium Phosphate, unknown manufacturer | N/A | 13 kWh | 120 miles (190 km) | Production expected in Q4 2009. |
| EVC Volta G/T Metro | 70 mph (112 km/h) | 8 kW | $7,995 | Scooter | Lithium ion | N/A | 8 kWh | 75 miles at optimized speed | Production in summer 2008. |
| EVC Roadking | 91 mph (146 km/h) | 15 kW | $9,895 | Scooter | Lithium ion | N/A | 8.2 kWh | 75 miles at optimized speed | Production in summer 2008. |
| Mission One | 150 mph (242 km/h) | N/A | $68,995 | Motorcycle | Lithium ion | N/A | 150 miles | Production in 2010. | |
| EVC X21 | 107 mph (171 km/h) | 21 kW | $10,950 | Scooter | Lithium ion | N/A | 8.2 kWh | 75 miles at optimized speed | Production in summer 2008. |
List of electric motorcycles and scooters
See Category:Electric scooters and Category:Electric motorcycles
Promotion
Premier of the Republic of China Liu Chao-shiuan said that the government-financed Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) will help domestic manufacturers mass-produce 100,000 electric motorcycles in four years.[13]
See also
- Electric bicycle
- Electric dragbike
- Electric vehicle
- Electric vehicle conversion
- Mobility scooter
- Scooter (motorcycle)
References
- ^ ElectricMotorcycles.net-EM Headline News » EM History: 1911 Popular Mechanics
- ^ KillaCycle - World’s Quickest Electric Motorcycle » Blog Archive » 7.824 @168 MPH !!!!!! at Pomona AHDRA Nov 10th
- ^ Technology Review: Making Electric Vehicles Practical
- ^ U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) (2000-07-12) (PDF). Federal Register Vol. 64 No. 113. U.S. GPO. http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2000_register&docid=00-14446-filed.pdf. Retrieved 2006-09-22.
- ^ Uno described as a motorcycle
- ^ Uno noted as a motorcycle
- ^ Korzeniewski, Jeremy (August 28, 2009). "Enertia Now on Display in Select Best Buys, Sales Begin". Autobloggreen.com. http://green.autoblog.com/2009/08/28/enertia-now-on-display-in-select-best-buy-locations-sales-begin. Retrieved 2009-08-28.
- ^ http://www.xgpinc.com/products/xrider.php
- ^ http://www.vectrixeurope.com/Portal/3/Language/46/Page/16/Vectrix_Specs.aspx
- ^ http://www.induselectrans.com/yo_speed.htm
- ^ http://www.evt.com.tw/html/q_and_a/english/q_1.htm
- ^ Roboscooter
- ^ http://www.ocac.gov.tw/unit_data/unitmacro_pop.asp?no=43231
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Electric motorcycles |
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Electric scooters |
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