ElectricMotorbike
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Curtiss is ready to mass-produce its 'Zeus' e-motorbikes
Motorcycle-maker Curtiss is finally moving beyond its electric concepts to an EV two-wheeler that may actually make it to the public. It just unveiled two new models of its Zeus prototype -- dubbed Cafe and Bobber -- that are slated for production in 2020. In case you need a refresher, the dual-motor Zeus was unveiled in May with a 14.4Kw battery pack and a design that looked unlike anything that preceded it.
Brammo expects 2013 Enertia Plus to reach US in January, puts new Empulse R on the road
Brammo hasn't always had the smoothest delivery schedules, which has us somewhat relieved that its latest generation of electric motorcycles is hitting the road in earnest. To start, the company now anticipates that the 2013 Enertia Plus should ship to the US in mid-January. That leaves one last wait for a commuter e-bike that can peak around 60MPH and last up to 75 miles on a 7.5-hour charge. Others are getting a quicker fix, in more ways than one: as of a few days ago, the 2013 Empulse R has reached a first owner in San Francisco who's more than happy with his $18,995 outlay. He can confirm both the brisk performance and a realistic range of 75 to 80 miles. Between his new ride and the Enertia Plus, it may be a good season for eco-friendly driving on two wheels.
MotoCzysz e-motorbike crackles past 100MPH at TT Zero for $15,000 prize
Jitters over wet track conditions didn't stop MotoCzysz's Michael Rutter from becoming the first electric motorcycle rider at the Isle of Man's TT Zero to hit 100MPH -- aka the fabled "ton". He also snapped up the £10,000 ($15,400) prize offered by the island's government for the achievement, although two other riders also managed to zap the milestone. Being the first to do it was all that counted, though, and after coming close last year, it looks like MotoCzysz's recent doubling up on horsepower seemed to do the trick. Thanks to the boost, Rutter easily cruised past the mark at 104.056MPH. At this rate, a day at the races could become a pretty serene experience. [Thanks, John]
2012 MotoCzysz E1pc may set an e-motorbike speed record, our hearts afire
Our first peek at the MotoCzysz E1pc was at the 2010 Isle of Man TT, where the fearsome-looking e-motorbike smashed potential speed limits, even if it didn't completely rock the two-wheeled establishment. Improvements were made in 2011, but the new 2012 model is the one that's really poised to upset the cart. The updated E1pc's most conspicuous changes are on the outside: it tackles the problem of wind resistance at high speeds by bringing on aerodynamic ducts and fins. Inside, torque looks to be down to 162 foot-pounds, but the equivalent to 200 horsepower (twice what we saw in 2010) should more than compensate -- and a much upgraded battery cooling system should keep MotoCzysz' creation running at full bore for considerably longer before rider Michael Rutter has to back off the throttle. That consistent speed may be even more important to MotoCzysz and Rutter than actually winning at the TT Zero race, practice for which starts June 2nd. The Isle of Man very nearly handed over a £10,000 ($15,369) prize to the team for breaking a 100MPH average speed barrier for electric bikes last year, and the substantial tweaks could make all the difference. [Image credit: Asphalt and Rubber]
Visualized: BRD RedShift MX poses for the camera, shows off its rugged good looks
Remember our testdrive of the RedShift SM through the hills near San Francisco? Well, if that didn't get you revved up for BRD's electric duo, perhaps these new studio shots of the MX can help. The folks in Northern California have passed on a few shots of the upcoming RedShift MX motocrosser that is expected to pull into garages later this year. If you recall, BRD says this electric motorcycle performs just as well as any race-ready four-stroke 250-cc gas-powered machine and splurging for one will set you back around $15,000 -- for a base model. Go on, hop in the gallery below and take a closer look.
BRD RedShift electric motorcycle duo awaits your pre-order, offers real-life Excitebike next year
Sure, you can take your pick of electric streetbikes, but sometimes you just need an eco-friendly motorcycle for blazin' the trail. BRD Motorcyles is now taking pre-orders for their RedShift SM supermoto (pictured above) and RedShift MX motorcrosser electric motorbikes. Touting performance comparable to race-ready 250cc four-stroke gas guzzlers, the pair sports both an off-road ready demeanor and a street-legal tame side. The bikes themselves will set you back $15,495 and $14,995 before you can start your motocross dominance. Should you so choose, a PD upgrade is available for an extra $2500 that includes a stronger subframe, uprated electrical system and integrated hard luggage. Still interested? Pre-orders start November 3rd, although the RedShift of your choice won't hit your garage until late 2012. Once you get your funds in order, hit that PR button after the break to find out how to grab one.
Volta BCN electric motorcycle announced, set to go on sale in Q2 2012
Your all-electric motorcycle options are getting more and more plentiful these days, and it looks like you'll soon have yet another option consider. Volta Motorbikes officially announced its new Volta BCN motorcycle this week, with a complete unveiling set for the EICMA Motorshow in Milan next month. It will be available in three different models -- the BCN Sport, BCN City, and BCN My Volta -- each of which pack the same 35 horsepower and 70 kilometer range, but have various other tweaks to suit different tastes (with the My Volta being customizable through an online ordering tool). Details remain a bit light otherwise, but pricing is expected to come in around the €7,000 mark (or just under $10,000), with the first units set to roll out in the second quarter of 2012 -- a reservation list will also be opened up at the start of the year for those interested. Head on past the break for a quick teaser video, and check out the gallery below for a closer look.%Gallery-137865%
Brammo delays flagship Empulse electric motorbike to 2012, teases new transmission tech
Bad news for Brammo's electric bikers: according to Asphalt and Rubber, word has it that the company's flagship Empulse motorbike will now be delayed to 2012, citing CEO Craig Bramscher's decision to integrate a certain new technology before launch. What could this be? Well, the site speculates that this has something to do with the six-speed Integrated Electric Transmission (IET) that Brammo recently licensed from Italian firm S.M.R.E., and this technology's already featured on the company's Engage and Encite dirt bikes announced last week. That said, there's also a rumor that Brammo didn't reach its pre-order goal of 1,000 units, which would certainly make sense for the company to delay the launch to pimp up its 100mph ride. We asked the Stig for a comment, and he wasn't impressed.
Teen engineers create eco-minded electric unicycle
Two clever Canadian teen-scientists have built a bizarre, eco-friendly electric bike which runs on principals similar to those of the Segway -- but looks way cooler. The motorized prototype (called either the "Uno" or "Tango," depending on who you speak with), sports two wheels side-by-side, sort of like a double unicycle which the rider sits directly above. The bike, based off of the frame design of a Yamaha R6 sport bike, can reach speeds of up to 40 MPH, and uses accelerometer technology to keep its balance. Inventors Ben Gulak and Jason Morrow say that the bike beats out the Segway in terms of speed, and delivers better maneuverability than Bombardier's Embrio unicycle concept. The whole package is surprisingly powered by amped-up wheelchair motors and 36-volt batteries. Next up, the young men plan to assemble a rag-tag band of colorful characters, get on their bikes, and ride into Neo-Tokyo during a riot.[Via Ubergizmo]
