Electric and 150 MPH

[MartyA]

Story here:

https://blog.wired.com/cars/2009/02/mission-motors.html

Supposed to be ready for the Isle of Mann.

 

[v65]

I wonder how far it can go at top speed? Checked out their website, 100ftlbs throughout the rpm range sounds like fun!

 

[DeweyIsgod]

Clicky

Saw this article today on it...they say 150 miles on a charge which would make commuting easy.

 

[MartyA]

https://blog.wired.com/cars/2009/02/mission-motors.html

Not very safe - no loud pipes...

 

[Toecutter]

I'm not J.P. Morgan.

My "incentive" check won't get me a down payment on one of those.

Maybe Jay Leno will buy one...

 

[spalkin]

I'm salivating. I'll need a drool bucket when they make it good looking. As of now it looks like a radiator cover from my old house in Chicago.

Saw a video of an S-10 converted to electric. You pop the hood and the only thing in there is an electric motor way down in the cradle. On the drag strip it can smoke just about anything.

It's disgusting all the support equipment and heavy accessories needed just to turn the crank shaft on a gas engine.

 

[2WheelTiger]

I'm glad somebody is stepping forward with the technology, but I have some trouble with some of the math and unmentioned specifications.

100 lbs/ft of torque, but one of the testers says in might pull harder than his 600. 100 lbs/ft is in the range of the FJR, so peak HP must truly suck since the total drag appears to be rather low and the top speed is only 150. This would also suggest the little pig weighs as much as a FJR.

Range of 150 miles in the EPA cycle? What's that in the real world?

Expense? Holy moley. Your cost per mile is outrageous if you amortize the equipment over 60K miles. When's the ROI?

Oh, and it looks like a 1987 space heater from the former USSR. (Or a BMW.) :lol:

 

[FJRocket]

Hope the batteries don't go all the way up into the "tank"! Now THAT would be one top heavy *****!

Where do I sign up? (if it's the same price as an FJR...)

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

I wonder how long before the lithium "motor" won't hold a charge anymore. Pricey battery swap I'd imagine. And I'd hate to run out of juice on a back road; not like you can just hook up the charger at the side of the road too easily. Better have a pickup and trailer available just in case.

 

[ionbeam]

It's fugly! The weight may not be too bad with Lithium-ion batteries (Li-ion/L-ion), but L-ion batteries are expensive. I would expect the weight of the electric motor and battery combination to be close to a conventional 4x4 motorcycle (four stroke, four cylinder). Recharges in 2.5 hrs @ 220 VAC; 8 hrs @ 120. It's a one speed, no gears. It employees regenerative braking so slowing down recharges the battery. Typical recharge cost: <$2.00. Cost to own is stupid over the top.

On the other hand, its straight line acceleration performance should rock. The 3 phase AC induction motor has the full 100 lb/ft of torque available from 0 mph to red-line at 6,500 rpm. Electric cars at the drag strip simply kill any gas powered car coming off the line due to the availability of 100% torque from a dead stop to max rpm. It also helps that the weight of the batteries in car applications is right over the rear wheels aiding traction. The motorcycle application must have the weight forward, moving the center of gravity forward and up compared to a conventional motorcycle.

You wouldn't be putting a lot of electrical farkles on this puppy, install a set of PIAAs and the driving range could drop to ~50 miles :glare: I'm pretty sure that a PCIII wouldn't do much to help the performance either

[obliquely related]

Little ol' white '72 Datsun that is electrically powered



About the Zombie

White Zombie home page

 

[Capt. Bob]

And they laughed when Tesla sat down to play.

 

[DeweyIsgod]

Good news, the Nigerian ministry of treasury says I'm coming into some money, so I'll be able to afford one!!!

Clearly this is not affordable/practical for the masses, but it does give strong motivation to someone who can come up with a reasonably priced battery option. Think of this bike like the cars before 1911...a nice gizmo just waiting for someone to make it affordable for the masses.

 

[JRO]

Electric is okay, with me. Just give me a bike that will recharge in ten minutes, with batteries and a motor that will last as long as my current combustion engine, and give it about a 300-mile range. The price has got to be competitive, too. I want a national power grid that will support millions of these things - and I don't much care how they produce the electricity, either. When they have that all down, pat, they'd better put in some time on restyling. I'm just not going to ride something that looks like it was put together from some kid's Lego kit.

When this crap starts to get functional, I'll get on board. Since it never will be, it should be relegated to the green-news/niche-media, where it belongs, and not promoted as if it were motor news.

 

[Taff]

Story here:

https://blog.wired.com/cars/2009/02/mission-motors.html

Supposed to be ready for the Isle of Mann.

Isle of Man not Mann FYI.

Taff.

And yes I used to live in Port Erin!