Enclosed electric motorcycle is green and ghastly

Yeah, green in more ways than one. That abomination you see pictured above is unsurprisingly kind to Mother Earth, but we'd venture to say that most Americans wouldn't be caught dead driving it... until gasoline hits $10 or so per gallon, that is. Designed by pioneering students at Saint Thomas Academy with the help of a $10,000 InvenTeams grant from the Lemelson-MIT program (among other donations), this enclosed motorcycle hums along courtesy of a battery-driven Briggs and Stratton ETEK electric motor. Currently, the bike can scoot about for 40 miles and reach 60 miles-per-hour, and there's even a GPS unit thrown in to keep you headed in the right direction. Heaven only knows if this thing will see production, but given the way things are trending, we'd place our bets on yes.

[Via AutoblogGreen]

[Hafk @ Jun 22nd 2008 4:41AM]

There is a point where optimal aerodynamic design and style come together. This is not that point.

[Michael @ Jun 22nd 2008 4:46AM]

Well I like it. negative nancy

[andres @ Jun 22nd 2008 5:12AM]

debbie downer

[Mr. S. @ Jun 22nd 2008 5:16AM]

All that matters is that they were polite enough to leave a hole for getting your knee down. I guess i'll be wearing my knee sliders when going to work!

[eric f. @ Jun 22nd 2008 9:50AM]

Style? what about the fact that your legs will be torn off in a crash?

[Jonathan-DBOSS @ Jun 22nd 2008 12:03PM]

Other than being the first mobile lima bean ever, this thing will be the next big thing.

"Oh, no I didn't"
"Ya-uh"
"Nu-uh"

Why is green tech so damn ugly?

[Bunson @ Jun 22nd 2008 12:37PM]

Defeats the purpose of a motorcycle...

[Smileypanda @ Jun 22nd 2008 12:42PM]

InvenTeams called, they want their grant back..

[Macro @ Jul 7th 2008 5:06AM]

Why do you need the top part if they cut the top half off it wouldn't look so bad or just make it look like a sports bike! I would buy it then.Its like how they decided to make the Prius as ugly as possible.

[Nex @ Jun 22nd 2008 4:55AM]

Dr. Seuss Called to let you know his lawyers will be contacting you on copyright infringement...

[Grey Acumen @ Jun 22nd 2008 10:18AM]

Would you ride a scoombermit
you help the earth and save a bit
don't mind how it looks like shit
you'll always look just like a twit
but you can claim you can't help it
so buy yourself a scoombermit
keep the earth from raising heat
since it will even be a feat
just to get into the seat
the designer really should be beat
since they thought this would look neat
their trip to Fail is now complete

[chris @ Jun 22nd 2008 11:02AM]

silly engadget...gastly [sic] is a pokémon!

[Stem $ell @ Jun 22nd 2008 2:10PM]

~

I'm feelin' the Seussness myself (strictly Platonic, I tell you...)!

-- Green Bikes That's Spammed --

I am Crammed!
I am Crammed!
Crammed iAm!

That iTram, damn!
It’s no Trans Am!
I do not like
that iTram’s jam

Do you like
green bikes I spam?

I do not like them,
Crammed iAm

Would you ride them
here or there?

I would not ride them
here or there.
I would not ride them
on a dare
I do not like
green bikes you spam
I would not ride them,
Crammed iAm!

Would you ride them
in a house?
Would you ride them
with Herr Klause?

I might, in secret
at *your*’ house
(At risk of losing
rep and spouse)

Would you borrow
Ryan Block’s?
Then pick-up on
Courtney Cox?

Not with R. Block’s
Whaat’s ‘Courtney Cox’?
I lost my spouse--
She took my house
I’m not your Richard ‘Gear’, mein Herrr
And won't ride your electric chair
I would not buy green bikes you spam
I won’t commute your Chartreuse Clam

Would you? Could you
Swap for car?
Ride them! Glide them!
--to gay bars?

I would not,
Could not
Too bizarre!

You may like them
You will see
What if gas hits
Twenty-three?

Well *then*, sure, I’d turn your key
(But rather turn tricks as ‘catch-ee’)

So, guess I’ll borrow Ryan Block’s
(But pick a somewhat *younger* fox)
And I will cruise to beach from house
Propelled by Coulombs and green gauss
And I’ll commute from here to there
Through redneck catcalls, jeers and stares

So bonding with
iTram I am
Now, where’s that
Frickin’ plug thing Sam?

~

[MARSHAK @ Jun 22nd 2008 7:16PM]

stem sells;

tl;dr

[tekdroid @ Jun 22nd 2008 5:07AM]

Static images. No real-life video or crash tests of supposed safety features? No view from the back of the bike? I'm assuming there is no room for storage up back?

Lithium phosphate ftw?
One-person is a bit of a bummer. I think it should be more practical if it's gonna look like this.

[BobTurbo @ Jun 22nd 2008 5:08AM]

It needs a back seat.

[Gilbert Tang @ Jun 22nd 2008 5:10AM]

What it needs is a mulligan.

[Michelle @ Jun 22nd 2008 10:37AM]

and a self destruct button!

[Kurian @ Jun 22nd 2008 5:12AM]

Why is it so hard to remove the RIDICULOUS roof...

[tekdroid @ Jun 22nd 2008 5:23AM]

In summer, would the roof be better (shade) or worse (heat)? The roof is there for safety, apparently. I'm all for that big backrest but with some decent storage up-back.

Judging from the cockpit-ish pics, it looks a bit cramped and restrictive...but who knows unless we see with HelmetCam? If it's really good it seems they'd have no problems demoing it in the real. Until then, I vote for the roof off too, personally.

A bonus if you can chuck a kid in the back there behind the seat dangling his feet out of two holes looking backwards at the cars :) Hah. People need to carry stuff occasionally. Perhaps in the "single parent" model :)

[drathos @ Jun 22nd 2008 7:47PM]

If you're riding it, the roof is going to do far less to keep you cool than airflow would.

As it is, it's a complete eyesore. I've seen partially enclosed motorcycles that looked far better.

[andres @ Jun 22nd 2008 5:12AM]

do you have a shut up dock, trolls would be proud

[Twitchy @ Jun 22nd 2008 5:24AM]

Couldn't they have crammed their gear into a BMW C1? That, at least, didn't look so ridiculous with a roof.

[Fusion Fuzo @ Jun 22nd 2008 5:25AM]

i would never drive that FUGLY 2 wheeled car. FUGLY

[omnicloud @ Jun 22nd 2008 5:27AM]

Holy shit when I saw that picture I vomited with rage and disgust until my eyes popped out of its' sockets. Why can't things be green and look appealing?

Yes, I'm a touch typist.

[tekdroid @ Jun 22nd 2008 5:58AM]

your avatar is green and appealing!

[pathumx @ Jun 22nd 2008 5:53AM]

You are a bad apple fanboy.

iPod touch

[A.C.E.R. @ Jun 22nd 2008 6:02AM]

It better come with a free clown suit otherwise no deal.

[pathumx @ Jun 22nd 2008 6:56AM]

have you looked at your comment history?
this is your first comment that doesn't mention Apple in any way, shape or form.

[Tim @ Jun 22nd 2008 7:18AM]

So assuming the roof/ enclosure is for comfort in adverse weather conditions in terms of warmth/ dryness, as well as safety through the frame, I tend to think that wearing waterproof rain gear would be equally effective, more attractive, and a lot less bulky. In addition, I would feel safer on a conventional motorcycle than this in a crash; if you tip over you turn into a "hockeypuck", trapped inside a package that could slip into a guardrail, over a cliff, under a big rig, etc. Its not that it wouldn't be safer in some situations, but overall the loss of agility from excess weight, tiny(!) tires no chance of escape doesn't impress me. I think a much better compromise would be a nice fitted waterproof suit and the addition of a ind of fold down roll cage. make it form fitting, with a quick release option, and I'd be sold. DO IT!

[Tim @ Jun 22nd 2008 7:45AM]

whoops, the point i meant to make and then completely missed is that the reason bikes aren't seen on the road in rain or in the winter isn't the weather's affect on the rider (the waterproof riding gear i referred to more or less negates this) but its affect on the roads; i.e. stability and traction control; the roof would only lure riders into a false sense of security and comfort in situations where two wheels just aren't safe.

[Eric @ Jun 22nd 2008 9:59AM]

years ago I remember a debate in a bicycling newsgroup about traction and stability of bicycle tires in a rainstorm. There's this guy named Jobs Brandt who did his doctoral thesis (and later wrote a book) on the physics of bicycle wheels, who studied the effects of water on the tires and determined that due to the rounded shape, it was impossible for them to hydroplane, but hard cornering ability was greatly reduced. So as long as you take it easy in the turns, it shouldn't be a big deal.

[Echo1 @ Jun 22nd 2008 3:27PM]

Eric, With reference to the corning disadvantage, couldn't you just create a tiller config (rear wheels turn opposite of the front wheels when turning) to reduce the turning radius?

[Tim @ Jun 22nd 2008 4:40PM]

@ echo 1:
in a wheel traveling at speed you really need positive castor angle, which would mean a really awkward chassis dynamic and shape in the frame of the bike with a tiller setup. not to mention that turns at speed are done mostly by leaning and getting the contact area of the tire onto a smaller radius of rubber. the issue of traction on a bike is the vector of inertia of carried speed going through a turn relative to the breaking point of the friction between wheel and tarmac; you would still be leaning with a tiller, thus youd see no benefit in active traction, just a much less effective steering mechanism/ bike frame.

[Phil @ Jun 22nd 2008 7:27AM]

I dont understand. A) Motorbikes are a lot eco-friendlier than cars anyway, so the money would have been better spent designing eco-cars.
B) This the ugliest piece of crap I have ever seen. I asked myself, who is going to actually spend money to make themselves look like a penis, but then I remembered that people actually bought segways...

[Wolfticket @ Jun 22nd 2008 12:43PM]

(An old one, but apt)

If that is what you think a penis looks like you might want to go see a doctor.

:D

[dennis @ Jun 22nd 2008 7:45AM]

Ewwww.
I feel like I need to take a shower.

[t3_slider @ Jun 22nd 2008 7:46AM]

Because you're a giant douche. Or a turd sandwich, I'm not sure which. Probably both. Go away and never return.

Sincerely, Everyone

[jeti @ Jun 22nd 2008 7:48AM]

That thing looks like crap. Sadly, the BMW C1 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_C1) is not being built anymore. It didn't sell well, but the owners seem to love their machines.

[tekdroid @ Jun 22nd 2008 10:24AM]

those things look great

[Echo1 @ Jun 22nd 2008 3:32PM]

I remember seeing them in my sixth grade class back in 2000-01. I always wanted to go oversea, get one, and bring it back here to America.


I don't see how the designer could think that this is the way the motorbikes are going.

[bartoron @ Jun 22nd 2008 7:48AM]

People don't choose not to ride motorcycles because they're dangerous, they choose not to buy them because they don't have four wheels! With a car you can't tip over and get skinned on the pavement.

[livingeasy @ Jun 22nd 2008 8:20AM]

fat chicks&mopeds fun to ride until your buddies see you on one

[Zippy @ Jun 22nd 2008 8:37AM]

center of gravity is too high....also, sight will be restricted...kind of major design errors for leading edge....

[Evan @ Jun 22nd 2008 8:50AM]

What's the point of a *partially* enclosed bike - you'd still get your legs wet and dirty! For weather, an enclosed bike would need to be fully enclosed (and have out-riggers or something that come out when you stop). But as Tim said above, it wouldn't be stable enough in foul weather, so really, there is absolutely no point in having a roof.

[tekdroid @ Jun 22nd 2008 10:25AM]

Fred Flintstone had it all sussed out.

[Josh @ Jun 22nd 2008 8:54AM]

Yeah, the thing is that here in the UK we're paying close to $12 a gallon now. Really. £1.30 per *litre* is the price on my local forecourt today. The first company to make something like this that actually looks good will make a killing in Europe.

[Joe @ Jun 22nd 2008 10:48AM]

Yep, the yanks have been moaning for years about the price of 'gas'. I remember when I first visited in 2000 they were moaning about the price being something like $1.50 per gallon. I couldn't believe what I was hearing!

So much for the $10 per gallon "joke", maybe y'all be thinking a bit harder about green issues WHEN it does happen to you. At that time you'll all be riding around on Segways and having the money to moan about looks vs green issues.

[cumulonimbus @ Jun 24th 2008 2:56AM]

I feel for you man, I thought we had it bad in Italy (and we do) but we're "only" at 1.50 €/l. That's about $9. You're getting seriously sodomized in the U.K.!

[harleymike @ Jun 22nd 2008 9:14AM]

I think people are missing the point. It appears this is a design project for high school students. Like it or hate it, the quality of work is impressive. I would much rather have kids designing and building than watching TV and playing video games. You may not like this one, but I think they are developing valuable real-world skills. Good job!