Electric motorcycles and scooters

Electric motorcycles and scooters are vehicles with two or three wheels that use electric motors to attain locomotion. Electric motorcycles, as distinguished from scooters, do not have a step-through frame.

Contents

History

Main article: History of electric motorcycles and scooters

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 available. 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:

  1. 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]
  2. Nearly silent
  3. Better acceleration characteristics than the conventional motorcycles in the same speed category
  4. Some motorcycles have a removable lithium ion batteries that can be charged using any 120/230V outlet outside of the motorcycle
  5. Environmental friendly (no exhausted gases at point of use)
  6. Carbon tax and vehicle registration tax exemption in some countries
  7. No parking/congestion charges in some countries
  8. No road tax in some countries
  9. Using grid power to charge batteries causes less pollution than gasoline scooters; (MIT wheel to well analysis of EVs) the amount of emissions and residues caused depends on the sources of the electricity used
  10. 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
  11. It can be used in a V2G system
  12. Lower maintenance costs and fewer maintenance activities
  13. Can be ridden indoors
  14. More affordable than electric cars
  15. Many models dispense with a transmission or the need to shift gears, simplifying operation
  16. Instant on / no warm-up time
  17. Much lower amount of heat given off by motor than is typical for some internal combustion motorcycle engines

Disadvantages:

  1. Up front costs may be higher than for a comparable gasoline powered motorcycle or scooter depending of the battery type used.
  2. Shorter range before recharging.
  3. Longer "fill up" or recharge time.
  4. Lower maximum speed at similar price points.
  5. Electric power outlets are often not conveniently located near streets or driveways.
  6. Battery capacity can be as low as 20% on a cold winter day with -20 °C. This disadvantage could be solved by using a lithium batteries which hold their capacity even in a cold weather.
  7. 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.
  8. The user has to take care of the batteries even when the motorcycle is not in use

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:

Electric motorcycle or electric bicycle

Two-wheeled motorcycles are generally differentiated from electric bicycles and mopeds (motorized pedal cycles) by speed, with motorcycles having greater speeds—usually greater than 30 mph (about 50 km/h). This line for what constitutes a 2 wheeled motorcycle has blurred due to marketing, styling, and public opinion.

Certain models of electric bicycle take the form of scooters or small motorcycles, with the standard features of common e-bikes, but with plastic or metal cladding, lighting systems; such as indicators and brake lights, and speedometers. They are however, classed as electric bicycles in most areas.

Self-balancing unicycle

The Uno dicycle is another type of electric vehicle that is sometimes described as an electric motorcycle.[6][7] The Uno III transforms between a dicycle and a tricycle.[8]

Comparison of select production residential speed electric scooters and motorcycles

See also: Hybrid electric vehicle#Motorcycles
Name Top Speed Power Cost Vehicle type Battery type Battery life Battery capacity Range Comments
Modenas CTric 80 km/h (50 mph) 3.6 kW (ratified as 1.0 kW)[9] RM 4,888[10] (≈$1,629)[11] Underbone Nano-gel batteries, 5 x 12 V 2 years 20 A·h 60 km @ 30 km/h[12] Modenas CTric
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
Zero X + 50 mph (80 km/h) 17.4 kW 23 HP High Power $9295 Standard $7495 Off-road Motorcycle Patent-pending lithium ion array ? 2 kWh 40 miles (64 km) 2hrs Zero Motorcycles
Zero MX + 50 mph (80 km/h) 17.4 kW 23 HP High Power $9950 Standard $8295 Off-road Motorcycle Patent-pending lithium ion array ? 2 kWh 40 miles (64 km) 2hrs Zero Motorcycles

Comparison of select Interstate ready production electric scooters and motorcycles (55mph and excess)

See also: Hybrid_electric_motorcycle#Motorcycles
Name Top Speed Power Cost Vehicle type Battery type Battery life Battery capacity Range Comments
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) 2.85 kWh 50+ miles (80+ kilometres)

Currently available at select Best Buy stores and online.[13]
Zero S + 67 mph (108 km/h) ? $9995 Supermoto Patent-pending lithium ion array ? 4 kWh 60 miles (97 km) Zero Motorcycles
Zero DS + 67 mph (108 km/h) 26 hp[14] $9995 Dual-Sport Patent-pending lithium ion array ? 4 kWh 60 miles (97 km) Zero Motorcycles
Vectrix VX-1 68 mph (100 km/h) 20 kW[15] $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

Comparison of select upcoming vehicles

Name Top Speed Power Cost Vehicle type Battery type Battery life Battery capacity Range Comments
Mission One PLE 150 mph (240 km/h) 101 kW (136hp) $68,995 2 Wheel Lithium-ion, unknown manufacturer Unknown 14 kWh 150 miles (240 km) Shipping Q2 2011.
Brammo Empulse 10.0 100 mph (160 km/h) 40kW $13,995 2 Wheel Proprietary Lithium-ion Unknown 10 kWh 100 miles (160 km) Shipping mid 2011.

List of electric motorcycles and scooters

Electric motorcycles and scooters among other battery electric vehicles

Promotion

Premier of the Republic of China (Taiwan) 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.[16]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Electric Motorcycle" Popular Mechanics (Hearst Magazines): 560 October 1911 ISSN 0032-4558 http://books.google.com/?id=P94DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA560&lpg=PA560&dq=1911+Popular+Mechanics+electric+motorcycle#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved 2010-10-16 
  2. ^ KillaCycle - World’s Quickest Electric Motorcycle » Blog Archive » 7.824 @168 MPH !!!!!! at Pomona AHDRA Nov 10th
  3. ^ Technology Review: Making Electric Vehicles Practical
  4. ^ 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. 
  5. ^ Easyglider X6
  6. ^ Uno described as a motorcycle
  7. ^ Uno noted as a motorcycle
  8. ^ Uno III noted as transforming
  9. ^ Official Modenas CTric brochure - from Modenas official website.
  10. ^ www.modenas.com.my
  11. ^ Malaysian ringgit exchange rates
  12. ^ Modenas CTric Launch Press Release
  13. ^ 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. 
  14. ^ July 2010 Popular Mechanics (page 42)
  15. ^ [1]
  16. ^ ":: 中華民國僑務委員會 ::". Ocac.gov.tw. http://www.ocac.gov.tw/unit_data/unitmacro_pop.asp?no=43231. Retrieved 2010-06-15. 

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