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Electric motorcycles and scooters

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VentureOne computer generated image of 3 wheeler concept vehicle

Electric motorcycles and scooters are vehicles with two or three wheels that use electric motors to attain locomotion.

Power source

Electric scooter at the 2005 Vancouver EV gathering

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. [1]

Advantages of electric over gasoline power:

  1. The fuel costs for electric power are approximately 10% the cost of gasoline power[1].
  2. Nearly silent.
  3. Zero direct emissions.
  4. Can ride indoors.
  5. No trips needed to a petrol station. Plug in and recharge at home.
  6. Lower maintenance costs and fewer maintenance activities. For example, no need to change oil.

Disadvantages:

  1. Up front costs are higher than comparative gasoline powered motorcycle or scooter.
  2. Shorter range before refueling.
  3. Longer "fill up" or recharge time.
  4. Comparatively lower maximum speed. In other words lower speeds at similar price points.
  5. Few electric power outlets are conveniently located near streets or driveways.

History

  • Late 1860s: Earliest references to electric motorcycles can be found in patents.
  • 1911: Electric motorcycle available according to early Popular Mechanics article. [2]
  • 1920s: Ransomes, current makers of forklifts, explored the use of an electric powered motorcycle. This and other developments helped pave the way for the company to use electric mining cars and lorreys. [3]
  • Early 1940s: Fuel rationing in United States caused Earle Williams to convert a motorcycle to electric power. This became the basis for the formation of the ParCar from the Marketeer Company. [4]
  • 1941: Fuel rationing in Occupied Europe encouraged an Austrian company by the name of Socovel to create a small electric motorcycle. Approximately 400 were manufactured. [5]
  • 1967: First Fuel Cell powered electric motorcycle created by Karl Kordesch at Union Carbide debuts. Demonstrated the feasibility of fuel cells as a power source. This particular fuel cell was an alkili fuel cell that operated with hydrazine, a rocket fuel propellant. [6]
  • 1967: "Papoose" moped sized electric motorcycle prototype is created by Indian Motorcycle Company under the direction of Floyd Clymer. [7]
  • Early 1970s: Aurenthetic Charger moped sized mini bike (small motorcycle) sold. [8]
  • 1973: Mike Corbin sets first electric motorcycle land speed record of 101 mph.
  • 1974: Corbin-Gentry Inc. begins sale of street legal electric motorcycles.
  • Professor Charles E. MacArthur makes first electric vehicle ascent on Mt. Washington, NH using a Corbin Electric motorcycle. The event evolved into an annual rally called the "Mt Washington Alternative Vehicle Regatta".
  • 1978: Electric Harley Davidson MK2 created by Transitron manufactured in Honolulu, Hawaii. [9]
  • 1988: Eyeball Engineering creates KawaSHOCKi electric dragbike and is featured in a major magazine. [10]
  • Late 1990s: EMB Lectra VR24 electricmotorbike created by Scott Cronk and EMB. Pioneered the use of variable reluctance motors (hence the VR) and marketed as street legal. [11]
  • 2000: Killacycle makes record run of 152 mph (245 km/h) at 9.4 s quarter mile (400-metre) time at Woodburn Drags 2000, OR.[12]
  • 2007: A123 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 at AHDRA 2007. [13]

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:

  • 2 wheeled Vespa-styled scooters 0-60 mph (0-100 km/h)
  • 2 wheeled Stand-up scooters (like a kick scooter) 0-25 mph (0-40 km/h)
  • 2 wheeled-side-by-side stand-up scooters like manufactured by Segway PT 0-10 mph (0-15 km/h)
  • 2 wheeled Seated scooters 0-25 mph (0-40 km/h)
  • 3 wheeled standup scooters like manufactured by Zap 0-15 mph (0-25 km/h)
  • 3 through 4 wheeled Mobility scooter (disability riders) 0-10 mph (0-15 km/h)
  • 3 through 4 wheeled Seated scooters/golf carts 0-25 mph (0-40 km/h)

Electric motorcycle or electric bicycle

2 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.

Main categories of 3-wheeled motorcycles

Due to vagueness in motor vehicle laws, any 3-wheeled vehicle that can travel over 30 mph (50 km/h) is often classified as a motorcycle. This classification does not depend whether the operator is fully enclosed by a "cage" or exposed to the elements. But 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 Gizmo, Twike, NmG.

Some three wheeled motorcycles have independent suspension allowing the vehicle to tilt or lean.

Comparison of select production vehicles

Name Top Speed Power Cost Vehicle type Battery Range Comments
Type Life Capacity
Quantya FMX 60+ mph (100+ km/h) 9+ kW € 7,000 Motorcycle 48V Lithium-Polymer batteries (Quantya® LiPo) 1000+ charge cycles 30 - 180 min
Vectrix 60 mph (100 km/h) $11,000 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
efun-d li-ion 45 mph (80 km/h) 3 kW $3,500 Scooter li-ion LiFePO4, 20 cells * 3 volts=60 volts 6 month warranty 40 A·h * 60V = 2.4 kW·h 25 miles @ 45 mph. Lacks long term testing
efun-d VRLA 45 mph (80 km/h) 3 kW $2,500 Scooter VRLA, 60 volts 5×12 6 month warranty 50 A·h * 60V = 3 kW·h 25 miles @ 45 mph. Forum pics Pics Forum discussion
XM-2000 42 mph[2] (70 km/h) 2 kW $2,000 Scooter Silicone, 60 volts 5×12, 38 amp circuit 6 month warranty 38 A·h 20 mi (33 km) Battery discussion Motor rebuild post
ZAP Xebra 40 mph (65 km/h) $10,000 3 Wheel Lead acid 3 years 25 miles at 30 mph (40 kilometres at 50 km/h) review

Comparison of select upcoming vehicles

Name Top Speed Power Cost Vehicle type Battery Range Comments
Type Life Capacity
Brammo Enertia 50+ mph (80 km/h) $11,995+ Motorcycle 6 Lithium Phosphate by Valence 20,000 miles (32,000 kilometres) 3.1 kWh 45+ miles (70+ kilometres) promo video
MSN Autos review/test ride
KneeSlider review
TopGear review
TreeHugger review
Wired review
Available in Q1 2008.
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 2009.

References

  1. ^ http://www.technologyreview.com/NanoTech/17837/
  2. ^ http://electricmotorcycles.net/modules/wordpress/?p=48
  3. ^ http://www.forkliftparts.co.uk/history.htm
  4. ^ http://www.parcar.com/legend/history.htm
  5. ^ http://www.econogics.com/ev/evhists.htm
  6. ^ http://americanhistory.si.edu/fuelcells/alk/alk2.htm
  7. ^ http://www.cycletownusa.com/post1953.html
  8. ^ http://www.econogics.com/ev/evhista.htm
  9. ^ http://electricmotorcycles.net/modules/wordpress/?p=181
  10. ^ http://www.nedra.com/hotbike.html
  11. ^ http://www.electricmotorbike.org/
  12. ^ http://www.nedra.com/150mph_club.html#killacycle
  13. ^ http://www.killacycle.com/2007/11/11/7824-168-mph-at-pomona-ahdra-nov-10th/

See also

External links

News

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