Posted on 07/09/2007 6:02:20 AM PDT by Red Badger
The Li-ion Enertia
Brammo Motorsports announced the Enertia, the world’s first production zero-emissions battery-powered plug-in electric motorcycle.
The chassis integrates six Valence lithium-phosphate batteries in a 3.1 kWh battery pack that powers a permanent magnet DC pancake motor to drive the Enertia to a top speed of more than 50 mph (80 kph). The range of the Enertia is 45 miles (72.4 km), and it requires 3 hours to fully recharge.
Brammo chose Valence for three primary reasons, according to Chairman and CEO Craig Bramscher:
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Safest available batteries for a motorcycle; *
Best packaging and integration; and *
Best availability for mass production in the near term.
Bramscher also noted that “We are always looking at all of the battery/companies, but Valence is clearly our best match right now.”
At its quickest setting, the Enertia accelerates from 0 to 30 mph (48 kph) in 3.8 seconds.
Borrowing from racing technology, the Enertia utilizes a carbon fiber chassis producing an ultra-strong, light-weight vehicle platform of just 275 lbs.
We believe consumers are eager to adopt vehicles that have a fraction of the carbon footprint of a today’s cars. Our Enertia electric motorcycle empowers people to make this choice today. —Craig Bramscher
Brammo has begun taking orders in the US for a limited production model featuring hand-built carbon-fiber chassis and bodywork. Shipping date is 1Q 2008. The standard edition goes for $11,995 and is expected in 3Q 2008.
Brammo’s Enertia is the first of a line of plug-in electric commuter, commercial and recreational vehicles under development.
Resources:
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MSN Autos driving review of the Enertia
Ping!.....
Not a speed most MC enthusiasts want. Definitely not a speed electric motors are capable of. A golf cart can do that!
People like to BS about the environment, but what they want is to drive around in their big gas guzzling tanks, not some electric donorcycle.
Are their batteries basically obsolete because of the nano-scale lithium-ion battery technology?
I doubt it. Valence has been a laggard for many years.
Of course with a cool motorcycle like this, you must wear the proper attire - polka-dotted clothes, a red nose, a bowtie that squirts water and big floppy shoes...
A123Systems is mass-producing and commercializing the nano-scale Li-ion batteries, in DeWalt tools for starters. Is Valance using similar tech?
Looks pretty gay, especially with the bungie-cord looking chain and trailer wheels.
Great news! This one looks a little pricey but it will probably come down with time. The main cost must be the battery. I like the style of that bike as well.
A lot of people around the world commute on small motorbikes to work.
So, those ingredients in those batteries are all “green”? And that electricity all comes from “green” sources?
Current electrical / hybrid technology just moves the problem... it doesn’t fix it.
45 MPG - HWY, 33 MPG - City. BRAMMO.
Perhaps I really should re-think my ban on the “/S” tag.......
Cool!.........I like the paint!.......
Dumb Scammers.
And just WHAT charges the batteries? The local coal-burning power plant? Nuclear, from the Grid? And what are the fuel and energy requirements for making the batteries in the first place?
Unless something is being charged by solar cells or wind, nothing is "Zero Emission".
At last, a company founded on renormed SAT scores.
There ya go right there.
Nobody,but nobody is going to pay $12,000 dollars for a toy that only goes 45 miles on a 3 hour charge and reaches the fantastic speed of 50 mph.
Any good motor scooter costing around 4 grand will outperform that and with gas mileage of up to 90 mpg the gas is cheaper than the electricity required to charge this thing.
If this is the best they can do they can save themselves a lot of money and close down now.
Yep, a glorified moped. I couldn't even drive it to work and get home.
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