Special Bikes/Lito Sora Electric Motorcycle

Most companies would be happy to take a traditional bike, slap an electric engine and some batteries in it, and call it a day. But not Lito. It took cues from Bobber and Street Fighter bikes to create the Lito Sora Electric Motorcycle ($44,000). Built from the ground-up as an electric superbike, the Sora sports the world's first electric motorcycle seat, letting ride in a low position on the highway, then move the seat higher for more aggressive riding. Other features include an integrated GPS system and touch screen, high-quality suspension components, a regenerative braking system, an on-board charging port and sealed, lockable storage compartment, carbon fiber fairing and an aluminum chassis, a CVT transmission that helps the Sora move from 0-60 in roughly four seconds on its way to a top speed of 120 mph, and a unique notification system that emails you when it's done charging and ready to ride.

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Special Bikes/Brammo Enertia Electric Motorcycle

Just because you like to ride on two wheels instead of four doesn't mean you can't go green. Meant to be an urban cruiser, the Brammo Enertia Electric Motorcycle ($12,000 and up) uses six Lithium Phosphate battery modules to propel you from zero to 30 mph in just 3.8 seconds, with a top speed of 50mph and a range of 45 miles from a single 3-hour charge. The fact that it looks fantastic is just icing on the cake.

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Special Bikes/Mission One Motorcycle

Now that's what we're talking about. The just-unveiled Mission One Motorcycle ($69,000) is the world's fastest production electric sportbike. Designed by Yves Béhar, the Mission One is a zero emissions vehicle that has obviously brilliant styling. It's got a top speed of 150 MPH and an estimated range of 150 miles thanks to a proprietary high energy lithium ion battery pack. An electric drivetrain and no gear shifting means crazy torque and acceleration. The just-out-of-stealth-mode Mission Motors said the first 50 bikes will be limited edition and will ship in 2010. Watch for a cheaper model this summer.

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Ford's E-Bike Uses Formula One Technology

Ford E-Bike: Concept

A few months ago Toyota released their PXP Prius, an electric bike with thought-controlled shifting. Earlier last week Brompton, revealed their shrouded in secrecy “Project X” an electric version of their famous folding bike. Somewhere in between those two releases, Ford announced their E-Bike concept. According to Ford, the concept conveys that their “design language” can translate into the e-bike market, even though they supposedly have no plans of producing them.
The bike is composed of aluminum and carbon fiber with 11-speed gears and disk brakes. Electricity is supplied by the lithium ion battery that powers the 350w motor. What makes Ford’s bike different from others is a feature in Formula One cars: magnetostriction sensor technology. It allows the wheel to detect turning and gauge the amount of power that should be released by how hard the rider is pedaling. Even though there’s no plan to mass produce the electric bike, the company has invested in developing apps for Android to monitor speed, distance and deliver service reminders. This may mean that at some point, Ford’s E-Bike will be zooming along with the rest of them.

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BMW Concept e electro-scooter looks the real deal

BMW looks set to become the first of the recognized motorcycle brands to begin leveraging the unique advantages of the motorcycle in addressing the quickly changing landscape of urban mobility.
The Flying Propeller brand is to create a specialist "Urban Mobility" group, launch two premium, high-performance twin-cylinder maxi scooters before the end of the year, and will unveil a concept electro-scooter later today. Using the large volume of enclosed body space of a maxi scooter to contain all the necessaries, the 60 volt Concept e has a 100 kilometer (62 mile) range, recharges from flat inside three hours at a domestic power point, and the performance of a maxi scooter (expected to be equivalent to a 400-500cc commuter motorcycle).

The Concept e will be the first volume production two-wheeler without rear vision mirrors - twin rear-facing video cameras relay what's happening behind the vehicle to two LCD monitors in the cockpit.
The BMW Motorrad brand might only have sold 110,000 two-wheelers in the last year, but its premium values and the foresight of the brand's designers and custodians augers extremely well for the future, as can be seen by the Concept e electro-scooter which will break cover later this week in Frankfurt. At the same time the flying propeller is forcing its way to the forefront of enthusiast motorcycling, it has also superbly positioned itself to take two wheeled transport to the masses.

BMW Motorrad is to establish a new "Urban Mobility" group and will launch two premium, high-performance twin-cylinder maxi scooters before the end of the year. If the Concept e is any indication, we're going to see some very futuristic and environmentally-friendly two-wheelers in the near future.
Given that the Japanese have done almost nothing to retain their once-dominant share of the electric two wheel market, it's great that one of the established motorcycle brands is on the move.

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The Bike that Uses Formula One Technology/Ford's E-Bike

A few months ago Toyota released their PXP Prius, an electric bike with thought-controlled shifting. Earlier last week Brompton, revealed their shrouded in secrecy “Project X” an electric version of their famous folding bike. Somewhere in between those two releases, Ford announced their E-Bike concept. According to Ford, the concept conveys that their “design language” can translate into the e-bike market, even though they supposedly have no plans of producing them.
The bike is composed of aluminum and carbon fiber with 11-speed gears and disk brakes. Electricity is supplied by the lithium ion battery that powers the 350w motor. What makes Ford’s bike different from others is a feature in Formula One cars: magnetostriction sensor technology. It allows the wheel to detect turning and gauge the amount of power that should be released by how hard the rider is pedaling. Even though there’s no plan to mass produce the electric bike, the company has invested in developing apps for Android to monitor speed, distance and deliver service reminders. This may mean that at some point, Ford’s E-Bike will be zooming along with the rest of them.
[Via: DailyMail]

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Special Bikes/Orphiro electric motorcycle

The Orphiro Electric Motorcycle is described as a wide body cruiser, and has been built from the ground up by Alexander Steegh and his team from the Fontys University of Applied Science - from the custom drivetrain to the tubular frame and panels. The five Li-ion batteries concealed behind smooth exterior covers are said to offer a range of 60 miles (100 km) and the 72V electric motor offers a top speed of 75 mph (120 kph).

A chunky belt drive connects the motor to the rear wheel, there's a "tank"-mounted console that shows speed and distance with a power switch underneath, and tire-hugging fenders sit atop classic spoked wheels. As you can see from the gallery, disc brakes also feature. Extended front forks, twin headlights and rounded mirrors complete the chopper aesthetic. The recharge time for the batteries is reported to be around 6.5 hours.

The speed and range is probably not going to persuade any hog owner to part with his gas-driven beast like, say, the Lito Sora might, but it does look the business nonetheless.
That's about as much as is being made available at the moment, although Motorcycle USA does say that a price of EUR 49,000 (over US$70,000) has been quoted - which suggests that mass production is unlikely.

(Source: Wired)

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All-electric Tron Lightcycle hits the streets

Practicality tends to take a back seat when you combine sci-fi cult status with custom chopper building - and there's no room for a pillion passenger on the Lightcycle. We first spied Parker Brothers Choppers Lightcycle project last year when it surfaced in gas-powered form, now the company has released video of a fully-electric version of the neon-packing two-wheeler in action. The electric motor may be quieter, but this one's still guaranteed to turn heads.

The Lightcycle is based on the conveyance from 2010's Tron: Legacy and in its latest real-world form it has undergone extensive body reworking as well as getting a 96 volt electric motor and lithium ion battery pack. Parker Brothers quotes an (impressive if true) top speed of in excess of 100 mph for and a range of 100 miles on a single charge with 35 minute recharge times.

There's no word yet on pricing or availability of All Electric Lightcycle, but the Suzuki 4-stroke driven model is still being sold through Hammacher Schlemmer for an the asking price of US$55K.

You might not find yourself lane-splitting or scraping the pegs while astride this beast, but - at least until landspeeders hit the market - you'll be hard pressed to find a more radical 21st century ride.

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