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Thursday, July 19, 2007 Lithium-Ion MotorcyclesBetter batteries are making electric motorcycles possible, providing a cleaner alternative to pollution-spewing gas-powered bikes. By Kevin Bullis
Advanced battery technologies are enabling a much cleaner alternative to pollution-spewing gas-powered motorcycles and could help promote a larger-scale move toward electric vehicles. Yesterday, an electric scooter with motorcycle-like performance made by Vectrix, based in Newport, RI, was delivered to its first customer. And next year at least two motorcycles powered by advanced lithium-ion batteries will be sold in the United States. Although conventional motorcycles get extraordinary gas mileage--with many getting more than 50 miles per gallon--they emit more pollution than even large SUVs because they aren't equipped with equivalent emissions-control technology. Indeed, with new emissions standards, SUVs are 95 percent cleaner than motorcycles, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. So while motorcycles could help reduce oil consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions, these gains come at the price of dirtier air. Electric motorcycles eliminate tailpipe emissions, keeping pollution out of the city, and they can be powered with clean sources of electricity. What's more, electricity costs less than gasoline. Vectrix estimates that it will cost riders just a couple of cents a day to operate its scooter. All three battery-powered vehicles are limited in speed. The fastest is the Vectrix scooter, which can go 65 miles per hour. The speeds could be increased if the manufacturers were to change the gear ratio, which is currently designed for urban settings and motocross, for which acceleration is more important than sustained high speed. Electric motorcycles are practical today because of advances in battery technology. Lead-acid batteries, which have been used in electric motorcycles in the past, are very heavy, provide a short range, and last for only a couple of years. The Vectrix scooter ($11,000) uses nickel metal hydride batteries--the same type used now in the popular Toyota Prius hybrid. This type of battery is lighter than lead-acid batteries and more durable: Vectrix claims it has a 10-year lifetime. Lithium-ion batteries, in turn, are lighter than nickel metal hydride, and new chemistries have made them durable as well, lasting as long as or longer than nickel metal hydride batteries. The Vectrix scooter weighs about 200 kilograms, while the lithium-ion-powered Enertia ($12,000), made by Brammo Motorsports of Ashland, OR, weighs just 125 kilograms. Brammo hopes that the lighter electric motorcycles will be appealing to those who would be intimidated by a heavier bike. The batteries' light weight also makes them appealing for motocross bikers. Zero Motorcycles, based in Scotts Valley, CA, sells an off-road motorcycle ($7,000) that easily makes 20-meter jumps and will be featured in the extreme-sports showcase X Games, says Neil Saiki, who invented the motorcycle. It weighs just 54 kilograms, which is made possible in part by leaving the battery charger off the motorcycle. The company plans to sell a street version next year that includes the charger. The batteries Zero Motorcycles uses are known for their high power. They come from A123 Systems, of Watertown, MA, the company that makes the batteries used in a record-holding electric drag-racing motorcycle that can finish a quarter mile in just 8.17 seconds, reaching 156 miles per hour. The Enertia uses battery cells and packs from Valence Technologies, based in Austin, TX, whose cells have been used in the Segway personal transport. |
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A Carbon-Free, Stackable Rental Car
11/01/2007
Comments
advill on 07/19/2007 at 5:22 AM
11
Perhaps an explanation of WHY Li-ion or Li-ph batts are SO expensive ?
As far i know thermal runaway is already controlled how come that a set of 300v batt costs $ 10K? is any chemical process so expensive?, how much can it be reduced (even in China) to make a real alternative?.
nick47g on 07/19/2007 at 6:34 AM
17
BUT!!! There are people who buy art. Likewise there are those who [like me] love driving electric vehicles, or who want to make a statement. It's a beginning.
Nick G.
So. Dartmouth MA
advill on 07/19/2007 at 2:24 PM
11
A Toyota Prius with lithium batts increase it´s price in 10K´s of the already high niquel batts price. regards
tomk on 07/20/2007 at 12:21 AM
4
cypherpunk on 07/21/2007 at 2:26 AM
1
jdien on 07/22/2007 at 5:04 PM
2
davidh on 07/25/2007 at 6:39 PM
1
shalwechat on 07/26/2007 at 11:35 AM
3
Myself I been critical of claims about vehicle service life etc. Very few people keep a vehicle for 100,000 miles let alone 300,000 miles. Yeah I see 80's MB diesals and 70's lowrider Chevy Impala's around with 400,000 miles but those are owned by gearheads and they baby em and also seach the internet and junkyards for parts. I suspect the vast majority of vehicle are junked about 200,000 miles because they are worthless on the used car market. I take dispute about he claim of 300,000 mile hummer on the retail car market and 100,000 mile hybrid ont he retail used car market. Been my experence as an ase auto tech that most hybrid owners pamper their cars and the avg yuppie owner tends to worry about an oil changes when the engine makes a "funny noise" and the oil pour out in a some sludge form at "50,000 mile first oil change" or at the expiration of the auto lease
shalwechat on 07/30/2007 at 4:06 PM
3
and
http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9750840-1.html?tag=cnetfd.mt
you may need to be careful in how these studies are conducted. selective use of data and a lack of peer review.
mahonj on 07/19/2007 at 1:59 PM
3
The main cost is the Lion battery and if you can make this small, you can build a cheap vehicle.
The obvious way to make it small is to model it on a bicycle with say a 10-20 mile range and a weight in the 20KG class rather than a scooter.
This would be sufficient for urban commuting - it would eliminate the sweat of cycling in a hot country which is probably why most people use scooters.
However, most e-bikes look awful, so it will take some design as well as engineering to make it a viable mode of transportation.
H24meNu on 07/19/2007 at 5:11 PM
10
islandinthenet on 07/20/2007 at 7:09 PM
3
PaulTiffany on 07/22/2007 at 8:25 AM
2
HealingMindN on 07/23/2007 at 5:50 PM
1
dmm on 07/25/2007 at 5:49 PM
136
cretin001 on 10/05/2007 at 4:35 PM
35
dmm on 07/25/2007 at 6:05 PM
136
shalwechat on 07/26/2007 at 12:51 PM
3
---
"The price has to come WAY WAY WAY down."
I can only agree...You can take a few classes in electricity, auto mechanics with an emphisis in motorcycle mechanics and some welding classes at the community college. You can make you own electric bike.
--
"Who needs to go 65 mph while urban commuting? Duh!"
and
"A top speed of 40 mph is plenty. Heck, I'd settle for 20 mph, which is a lot faster than I can pedal."
from your continuation i take it that 65 mph is excessive. Well if you are always in clogged inner city streets and not on suburban expressways, it is excessive. My gut feeling is mosr amercians consider 65 MPH the minimun acceptable speed.
---
" I would need a special motorcycle license, registration, and insurance for something like that."
and
"Lastly, do manufacturers realize that expensive things tend to get stolen in urban settings?"
Well, the motorcycle safety foundation offers free to very inexpensive classes for the motorcycle license. In many states, the state road test and written test is waived with proof of passing the MSF class. If the rolling frame is not DOT certifined as a motorcycle, it is illegal in many states and many states will not allow it the road, one my be religated to bicycle paths, sidewalks to the side of the road etc. Many will assume you lost your licence for driving for driving under the influence amd are riding a vehicle that is considered a motorized bicycle, which you need no licence at all, and not a motor vehicle which you need a drivers licence. I would not know how insurence would work in this featured vehicle, my guess, very high rates premium and cheap rates for state mandated lieability only. On my electric rebel, I has no problem in registering it or insuring it $130 per year state mandated lieability. The bike still have a the VIN number. If one is worried about some one stealing it, just unbolt the electric motor and take it with me. No motorcycle theif want a stripped out rolling frame or a homemade ratt-bike. Sheesh if you take the batteries and the electric motor, the thief may think it was allready stolen! (missing motor,trans, and gas tank)
---
"But the price has to be less than $2000, preferably around $1000."
The "pancake" electic motor is about $1,000. To keep it under 2,000 would be very difficult even if it was a homemade electric bike. Maybe if you can get some one to donate the donor motorcycle and your labor is free.
useful links: http://www.robotcombat.com/marketplace_motors_perm.html
http://www.msf-usa.org/
http://www.marquecornblatt.com/art/cycle.html
http://www.rebel250.com/rebelforum/index.php
PS the marquecornblatt.com link person is using lead acid batteries(i believe)and I currently Lithium-ion with one more battry then he has.
drivin98 on 09/02/2007 at 10:32 PM
1
wothmore on 03/02/2008 at 11:36 PM
1
I am going to sell electric scooters with top speed of 60MPH with regen brake. The bike has 3500w motor and Lithium power. If anyone interested I am selling the first batch of perordered bikes for $3495.00. Price will be going up somewhat on later orders. You can buy 3 for the same price as a Vectrix.
Cheers,
phil_randall@verizon.net
rsteer on 06/05/2008 at 1:07 PM
1