Posts Tagged ‘electric motorcycle’

BMW C1-E: Concept For Urban Traffic

Monday, October 19th, 2009

BMW C1-E was built with safety in mind. It comes equipped with a roll over bar called the safety cell. The safety cell covers the riders entire seating area and is designed to absorb impact. It also has a seat-belt.

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The BMW C1-E’s electric motor was designed specifically for city riding. It is powered via a Lithium-Ion Battery. It has more then enough power to handle city riding the company says. They say it could also run off a Low Emission Internal Combustion Engine as well.

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All the bikes safety features were taken from the BMW C1. They were enhanced specifically for the C1-E. Regarded as a milestone in two-wheel bikes for the simple fact it is the onlye single-track vehicle to be exempt from mandatory helmet wearing in most European Countries.

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There are many advantages to two-wheel transportation. The main advantage is the improvement in the flow of traffic in city locations.

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The C-1’s lines are dynamically stretched and flow horizontally with a low visual center of gravity. The fairing with its windscreen, the luggage space behind the rider and the side stand for effortless parking ensure high suitability for everyday riding combined with a high degree of wind and weather protection.

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Source: BMW

New Electric Motorcycle Land Speed Record Set by Mission Motors

Monday, October 19th, 2009

The prototype motorcycle topped out at a final speed of 161 mph and officially set the record at 150.059 mph. This far surpassed the previous record of 68.848 mph held by Electrobike set in 2007.

Mission Land Speed Record

Here is a picture of the crew that ran the bike at the salt flats and set the new record for fasted electric motorcycle.

Crew Used To Set Electric Motorcycle Record

Mission Motors feels they can make the electric motorcycle go even faster. North says that the power train is around 90% of its efficiency from the battery pack to the road surface. This includes the loss in the electronics, motor and drive train. North also states they have not reached the limit based on today’s technology.

Looking Over Electric Motorcycle Land Speed Bike

Recently Mission Motors competed in its first electric superbike race at the Isle of Man. During the race the bike reached top speeds of 100.6 mph.

Eclectic Motorcycle Raced at Isle of Man

Mission Motors engineers say they were able to extract 50% more peak power from the motor through changes they made to the motor controller and software.

Source: Mission Motors and the The Los Angeles Times