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First Production Electric Motorcycle

Brammo
Enertia Bike

As a fan of the show, and of this site, I thought I might post our latest product which we are proud to say has only 8% of the carbon footprint of a traditional average CAFE vehicle, and that is if you assume the energy cost of producing the electricity to charge by burning coal, if you use hydro sourced power, lower yet.

Http://www.enertiabike.com/

MSN just wrote a review of the bike available at: http://autos.msn.com/advice/article.aspx?contentid=4024869

Here is the press release.

Brammo Launches the Enertia, World’s First Production Electric Motorcycle

Ashland, Oregon - July 10th -– Brammo Motorsports today announced the Enertia, the world’s first production, zero-emissions and battery powered plug-in electric motorcycle. (http://www.enertiabike.com/ http://press.enertiabike.com/ )

With the goal of creating momentum for change in the way vehicles are conceived and created, Brammo has delivered this groundbreaking motorcycle.

The Enertia’s range of 45 miles significantly exceeds the daily commute for the average U.S. consumer of 29 miles. Battery charge time is 3 hours to full re-charge.

Borrowing from racing technology, the Enertia utilizes a carbon fiber chassis producing an ultra strong, light-weight vehicle platform of just 275 lbs. The chassis integrates six lithium-phosphate batteries from supplier Valence Technology that together produce the power to propel the Enertia to a top speed of over 50 mph.

Paul Seredynski, MSN autos said, “For those looking to make a lifestyle change, or for a cool "green" machine to get around town on, few options exist that can compete on so many levels."

“We believe consumers are eager to adopt vehicles that have a fraction of the carbon footprint of a today’s cars”, says Craig Bramscher, Chairman & CEO of Brammo Motorsports, “Our Enertia electric motorcycle empowers people to make this choice today.”

Brian Wismann, Brammo Director of Design said, “It is extremely satisfying to design a vehicle that people can both feel good about using and appreciate the way it looks.”

Brammo’s Enertia is the first of a line of plug-in electric commuter, commercial and recreational vehicles under development.

About Brammo

Brammo (http://www.brammo.com/) is a premier specialty vehicle manufacturer developing sustainable performance products for the next generation of transportation. Through integration of digital engineering and high impact design, Brammo transforms ideas into compelling products. Located in Ashland, Oregon the company was founded in 2002 and is a privately held.

PR contact - press@brammo.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it - (888) 201-6204
http://www.brammo.com/
http://www.enertiabike.com
http://press.enertiabike.com/
Brammo Motorsports

‹ Neighborhood Electric Vehicles...NEV...LSV...ZEV...GEM... aptera 150 miles per charge ›

Submitted by Brammo on Thu, 07/12/2007 - 09:26.

childress
Re: First Production Electric Motorcycle

Very interesting article, and happy to see them come online.  The headline, however is innacurate:

The Twike is considered a motorcycle in the US, and has been in production since before 1998, first by Swiss LEM, then by FINE Mobile GmBH.

Now if you wanted to say 'First two-wheeled production motorcycle' then that might be accurate.  The Corbin Sparrow (also a Trike bodystyle) aka the Myers NmG also beat you to the punch as one of the first US Production Electric Motorcyles... it had a nafarious end (bankrupt/legal) but they were commercially produced...

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Commute Suck?  Twike it -- you'll like it!

www.uiuc.edu/goto/twike 


Sun, 04/20/2008 - 22:24

jstack6
jstack6's picture
Re: First Production Electric Motorcycle

lots more electric cycles to come.
Check this neat article on EVworld.com

http://www.evworld.com/news.cfm?newsid=15745&url=http://www.technologyre...

the solar stacks

basically 3 more cycles are coming.

Electric motorcycles are practical today because of advances in battery technology. Lead-acid batteries, which have been used in electric motorcycles in the past, are very heavy, provide a short range, and last for only a couple of years. The Vectrix scooter ($11,000) uses nickel metal hydride batteries--the same type used now in the popular Toyota Prius hybrid. This type of battery is lighter than lead-acid batteries and more durable: Vectrix claims it has a 10-year lifetime. Lithium-ion batteries, in turn, are lighter than nickel metal hydride, and new chemistries have made them durable as well, lasting as long as or longer than nickel metal hydride batteries. The Vectrix scooter weighs about 200 kilograms, while the lithium-ion-powered Enertia ($12,000), made by Brammo Motorsports of Ashland, OR, weighs just 125 kilograms. Brammo hopes that the lighter electric motorcycles will be appealing to those who would be intimidated by a heavier bike.

The batteries' light weight also makes them appealing for motocross bikers. Zero Motorcycles, based in Scotts Valley, CA, sells an off-road motorcycle ($7,000) that easily makes 20-meter jumps and will be featured in the extreme-sports showcase X Games, says Neil Saiki, who invented the motorcycle. It weighs just 54 kilograms, which is made possible in part by leaving the battery charger off the motorcycle. The company plans to sell a street version next year that includes the charger.

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solar stacks


Thu, 07/19/2007 - 11:56

jstack6
jstack6's picture
Re: First Production Electric Motorcycle

great design. Using lithium batteries is a key point. I passed this info on to a few of our Electric Auto Association member in Phoenix.

You may want to run a page in the national EAA magazine that goes out to all members in the nation and Canada and Mexico. Contact Jim Stack CE Advertising Manager
http://www.eaaev.org/eaaboard.html

the solar stacks

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solar stacks


Sun, 07/15/2007 - 23:59