Electric motorcycles and scooters

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Brammo Enertia electric motorcycle

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.

1 History 2 Power source 3 Types

3.1 Various types of scooters 3.2 Electric motorcycle or electric bicycle 3.3 Self-balancing unicycle

4 Comparison of select production residential speed electric scooters and motorcycles 5 Comparison of select Interstate ready production electric scooters and motorcycles (55mph and excess) 6 Comparison of select upcoming vehicles 7 List of electric motorcycles and scooters 8 Promotion 9 See also 10 References 11 External links

[edit] History

Main article: History of electric motorcycles and scooters

Late 1860s: Earliest references to electric motorcycles can be found in patents. 1911: Electric motorcycle available according to early Popular Mechanics article.^[1] 2007: Li-Ion cell-powered Killacycle makes new quarter mile (400-metre) record of 7.824 seconds and 168 mph (270 km/h) in Phoenix, Arizona at AHDRA 2007.^[2]

[edit] Power source

Yamaha FC Aqel

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.

[edit] Types

50+ mph fun-ev electric scooter

Hero Electric's Optima Plus is one of the many low-power electric scooters available in India.

A scooter is a type of motorcycle with a step-through frame and usually with smaller wheels designed for urban transportation.

[edit] Various types of scooters

Scooters are divided into categories as per the particular niche that they are designed to operate in and speed requirements:

Two-wheeled high speed seated scooters separated from motorcycles by swing-through space in chassis 0-72 mph (0â€“116 km/h) Two-wheeled Stand-up scooters (like a kick scooter) 0-25 mph (0â€“40 km/h) Two-wheeled Seated scooters 0-25 mph (0â€“40 km/h) Two-wheeled, side-by-side stand-up scooters like manufactured by Segway PT 0-12 mph (0â€“20 km/h) Three-wheeled stand-up cambering scooter like Trikke Tribred (3CV 3-point carving vehicle) 18 mph (28 km/h) with dynamic suspension and front wheel drive Three-wheeled standup scooters 0-15 mph (0â€“25 km/h) (i.e. Easyglider X6)^[3] Three- and four-wheeled Mobility scooter (disability riders) 0-10 mph (0â€“15 km/h) Three- and four-wheeled Seated scooters/golf carts 0-25 mph (0â€“40 km/h)

[edit] Electric motorcycle or electric bicycle

Electric motorcycle "Electrocat"

Two-wheeled motorcycles are generally differentiated from electric bicycles and mopeds (motorized pedal cycles) by speed, with motorcycles having greater speedsâ€”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.

[edit] Self-balancing unicycle

The Uno dicycle is another type of electric vehicle that is sometimes described as an electric motorcycle.^[4]^[5] The Uno III transforms between a dicycle and a tricycle.^[6]

[edit] Comparison of select production residential speed electric scooters and motorcycles

This Disputed information's factual accuracy is disputed. Please help to ensure that disputed facts are reliably sourced. See the relevant discussion on the talk page. (July 2009)

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)^[7] RM 4,888^[8] (â‰ˆ$1,629)^[9] Underbone Nano-gel batteries, 5 x 12 V 2 years 20 AÂ·h 60 km @ 30 km/h^[10] 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^{[citation needed]}

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

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

This Disputed information's factual accuracy is disputed. Please help to ensure that disputed facts are reliably sourced. See the relevant discussion on the talk page. (July 2009)

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.^[11]

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^[12] $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^[13] $8,800 Scooter Nickel metal hydride (NiMH)
provided by GP Batteries 10 years or 50,000 miles / 80,000 km 30 AÂ·h, 3.7 kWÂ·h 68 miles @ 25 mph (110 km @ 40 km/h) Review

[edit] 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.

[edit] List of electric motorcycles and scooters

Further information: Category:Electric scooters and Category:Electric motorcycles

Electric motorcycles and scooters among other battery electric vehicles

[edit] Promotion

Charging an electric scooter's battery, using a small charger and a regular 250 V power outlet

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.^[14]