Comments on: Electric Motorcycle at TED http://www.citybikerblog.com/2009/02/electric-motorcycle-at-ted/ Sat, 28 Jan 2012 05:00:34 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: S0meguy http://www.citybikerblog.com/2009/02/electric-motorcycle-at-ted/comment-page-1/#comment-645 S0meguy Mon, 09 Mar 2009 21:34:09 +0000 http://www.citybikerblog.com/?p=511#comment-645 "And its electricity use pretty much depends on the overall power spent, so spinning at 4k rpm with one gearing v. spinning at 2k rpm with another gearing but moving at the same speed will use the same amount of electricity." Thanks for the info. “And its electricity use pretty much depends on the overall power spent, so spinning at 4k rpm with one gearing v. spinning at 2k rpm with another gearing but moving at the same speed will use the same amount of electricity.”

Thanks for the info.

]]> By: robotribe http://www.citybikerblog.com/2009/02/electric-motorcycle-at-ted/comment-page-1/#comment-637 robotribe Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:47:47 +0000 http://www.citybikerblog.com/?p=511#comment-637 Leo: "And its electricity use pretty much depends on the overall power spent, so spinning at 4k rpm with one gearing v. spinning at 2k rpm with another gearing but moving at the same speed will use the same amount of electricity." That's how I understand it as well (as dumbed down to me by a engineer co-worker here at the office). As for the throttle sensitivity issue you bring up, I've heard the Tesla Roadster was fitted with a 2-gear box at some point because the torque was SO strong that it basically busted the drivetrain at some point (or something like that). I'm a fan of the way my bike sounds when it revs which of course is inherently tied to the fact that it's powered by internal combustion (and the gnarly aftermarket pipe I installed...heh). I also like the fact that refueling isn't a problem no matter where I go (for the most part). However, every morning as I pass over the Eagle Rock neighborhood in Los Angeles from Pasadena, I have a breathtaking view towards the ocean...over a blanket of brown shitty smog covering the entire city in every direction. Then I think to myself, "holy crap, I'm sucking this stuff through my helmet and into my lungs right now" as I cruise in the carpool lane. Well, given that, I'll take electric-powered ANYTHING that performs as well as its gasoline-powered counterpart; limited range included. Of course, I'm fortunate to have a house with a driveway and the commute to the office is only 13 miles each way, so I'm not limited by lack of charging infrastructure (assuming an e-bike or car could be charged through a 110v outlet). And really, I'd be happy to get 50 miles on a charge for the commuting I do. But yeah, I'd keep the gas-powered motorcycle and scooter for sentimental reasons at the very least. ;) Leo: “And its electricity use pretty much depends on the overall power spent, so spinning at 4k rpm with one gearing v. spinning at 2k rpm with another gearing but moving at the same speed will use the same amount of electricity.”
That’s how I understand it as well (as dumbed down to me by a engineer co-worker here at the office). As for the throttle sensitivity issue you bring up, I’ve heard the Tesla Roadster was fitted with a 2-gear box at some point because the torque was SO strong that it basically busted the drivetrain at some point (or something like that).

I’m a fan of the way my bike sounds when it revs which of course is inherently tied to the fact that it’s powered by internal combustion (and the gnarly aftermarket pipe I installed…heh). I also like the fact that refueling isn’t a problem no matter where I go (for the most part). However, every morning as I pass over the Eagle Rock neighborhood in Los Angeles from Pasadena, I have a breathtaking view towards the ocean…over a blanket of brown shitty smog covering the entire city in every direction. Then I think to myself, “holy crap, I’m sucking this stuff through my helmet and into my lungs right now” as I cruise in the carpool lane.

Well, given that, I’ll take electric-powered ANYTHING that performs as well as its gasoline-powered counterpart; limited range included. Of course, I’m fortunate to have a house with a driveway and the commute to the office is only 13 miles each way, so I’m not limited by lack of charging infrastructure (assuming an e-bike or car could be charged through a 110v outlet). And really, I’d be happy to get 50 miles on a charge for the commuting I do.

But yeah, I’d keep the gas-powered motorcycle and scooter for sentimental reasons at the very least. ;)

]]> By: Leo http://www.citybikerblog.com/2009/02/electric-motorcycle-at-ted/comment-page-1/#comment-634 Leo Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:47:34 +0000 http://www.citybikerblog.com/?p=511#comment-634 I think the thing about electric motors is that whatever the power output and rpm range, it can produce the same amount of power (torque) at any rpm range... Gas engines have a narrow rpm range, but electric motors have a wider range, so they can take you from 0 to 200mph in one gear... And its electricity use pretty much depends on the overall power spent, so spinning at 4k rpm with one gearing v. spinning at 2k rpm with another gearing but moving at the same speed will use the same amount of electricity. Anyway, that's what I've heard, but I don't know... Personally I'm a fan of liquid fuel...easy to carry, quick to refill... I say run trucks on methane gas, cars on electricity, and save the gasoline for us bikers :) I think the thing about electric motors is that whatever the power output and rpm range, it can produce the same amount of power (torque) at any rpm range… Gas engines have a narrow rpm range, but electric motors have a wider range, so they can take you from 0 to 200mph in one gear…

And its electricity use pretty much depends on the overall power spent, so spinning at 4k rpm with one gearing v. spinning at 2k rpm with another gearing but moving at the same speed will use the same amount of electricity.

Anyway, that’s what I’ve heard, but I don’t know… Personally I’m a fan of liquid fuel…easy to carry, quick to refill… I say run trucks on methane gas, cars on electricity, and save the gasoline for us bikers :)

]]> By: S0meguy http://www.citybikerblog.com/2009/02/electric-motorcycle-at-ted/comment-page-1/#comment-633 S0meguy Tue, 03 Mar 2009 23:27:39 +0000 http://www.citybikerblog.com/?p=511#comment-633 Couldn't you manage higher cruising speeds with less power or, more to the point, increase cruising range by utilizing gearing? Couldn’t you manage higher cruising speeds with less power or, more to the point, increase cruising range by utilizing gearing?

]]> By: Leo http://www.citybikerblog.com/2009/02/electric-motorcycle-at-ted/comment-page-1/#comment-632 Leo Tue, 03 Mar 2009 21:16:11 +0000 http://www.citybikerblog.com/?p=511#comment-632 Yeah an electric motor wouldn't need to change gears - but I wonder if the rider would need one (even a fake shifter type mechanism) just to be able to control the throttle at speed.. I love motorcycles, but I actually don't miss shifting when I'm riding a scooter... I think CVTs work well enough that you don't miss it on a bike (unlike automatic transmissions on a car, which don't do the job as well as a manual)... But on an electric super sport, with the equivalent of 100hp on tap at any moment - I think a rider might need something help with throttle control... either some fake shifting system or electronic traction control that limits the amount of power to the rear wheel. Just a thought - but totally based on zero experience with electrics... Yeah an electric motor wouldn’t need to change gears – but I wonder if the rider would need one (even a fake shifter type mechanism) just to be able to control the throttle at speed..

I love motorcycles, but I actually don’t miss shifting when I’m riding a scooter… I think CVTs work well enough that you don’t miss it on a bike (unlike automatic transmissions on a car, which don’t do the job as well as a manual)…

But on an electric super sport, with the equivalent of 100hp on tap at any moment – I think a rider might need something help with throttle control… either some fake shifting system or electronic traction control that limits the amount of power to the rear wheel.

Just a thought – but totally based on zero experience with electrics…

]]> By: robotribe http://www.citybikerblog.com/2009/02/electric-motorcycle-at-ted/comment-page-1/#comment-631 robotribe Tue, 03 Mar 2009 20:44:44 +0000 http://www.citybikerblog.com/?p=511#comment-631 S0meguy: "I’d like an affordable electric bike that looks like a bike and has a manual transmission (I know, it’s a lot to ask)." If 100% of the torque is available throughout the rev range (it's an electric motor) what do you need the extra gears for? You get all the "pull" at every point on the throttle at any speed. (wiping my drool....) S0meguy: “I’d like an affordable electric bike that looks like a bike and has a manual transmission (I know, it’s a lot to ask).”

If 100% of the torque is available throughout the rev range (it’s an electric motor) what do you need the extra gears for? You get all the “pull” at every point on the throttle at any speed.

(wiping my drool….)

]]> By: S0meguy http://www.citybikerblog.com/2009/02/electric-motorcycle-at-ted/comment-page-1/#comment-630 S0meguy Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:06:41 +0000 http://www.citybikerblog.com/?p=511#comment-630 I'd like an affordable electric bike that looks like a bike and has a manual transmission (I know, it's a lot to ask). This has the looks, but I bet it will sport a serious price tag when and if it hits the market. I’d like an affordable electric bike that looks like a bike and has a manual transmission (I know, it’s a lot to ask).

This has the looks, but I bet it will sport a serious price tag when and if it hits the market.

]]> By: robotribe http://www.citybikerblog.com/2009/02/electric-motorcycle-at-ted/comment-page-1/#comment-627 robotribe Mon, 02 Mar 2009 04:37:20 +0000 http://www.citybikerblog.com/?p=511#comment-627 If this and the electric bikes from ZERO end up being more than just vaporware, electric bikes are going to be huge. Considering the Vectrix scooters already for sale, Honda's plans for electric bikes next year and the hybrid scooters coming from Piaggio, the first wave in the transition from internal combustion to electric motors is happening a lot faster than I ever imagined it would. Right on. If this and the electric bikes from ZERO end up being more than just vaporware, electric bikes are going to be huge. Considering the Vectrix scooters already for sale, Honda’s plans for electric bikes next year and the hybrid scooters coming from Piaggio, the first wave in the transition from internal combustion to electric motors is happening a lot faster than I ever imagined it would.

Right on.

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