Tag Archives: electric vehicle

Motorcycle News, News

Plan to standardise electric motorcycles

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The big four Japanese manufacturers are believed to be working to standardise electric motorcycle batteries and charging infrastructure.

Noted electric vehicle website Electrek says Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Suzuki hope to standardise the technology to prevent any obstacles to its adoption.

No doubt it’s also hoped to avoid the Beta/VHS situation where new video recording technology went two different ways.

Standardised batteries and charging infrastructure would mean plugs on bikes and sockets on charging points would suit all electric motorcycle models.

Perhaps a standardised battery size, shape and output would also lead to a battery swap solution which would be quicker than waiting for a bike to recharge.

Slow revolution

So far Japanese motorcycle companies have been much slower to join the electric vehicle revolution than their car compatriots.

Yamaha released the PES1 (Passion Electric Street) road bike and PED1 (Passion Electric Dirt) off-roader for limited sale, mainly in Europe.

Yamaha PES1 electric motorcycles product standardise
Yamaha PES1 electric motorcycle

Kawasaki has filed a patent for a water-cooled electric.

Honda has a hybrid scooter and an electric self-balancing prototype.

Honda reveals electric self-balancing concept Honda Riding Assist-e self-driving standardise
Honda electric Assist-e self-balancing bike

Meanwhile, Suzuki has done nothing, at least publicly.

But the fact that they are now collaborating on to standardise electric motorcycle batteries and charging means we may soon have to learn about terms such as volts, amps and kilowatt hours.

Learn electric terms

Living with petrol-powered motorcycles all our lives, we now find we will have to learn a lot of new terms.

We certainly don’t profess to know much about electrical terms.

But here is a very non-technical, idiot’s guide to the main terms. (Electricians may find this quite amusing!)

Volts: This is a measure between two points in an electrical circuit, sort of like the water pressure in pipes. The mains plug in your house has 240V (230V in UK, 110V in USA) and your motorcycle battery has 12V.

Amps: Together with the voltage, it determines the flow rate of the current. High amps with a low voltage means a lot of current flowing slowly, like a fat, lazy river. Low amps with a high voltage means a faster flow of less current, sort of like when you squeeze the end of a hose and the water spurts out.

Watts: It you multiply the volts by the amps you get the watts, which is the output power of the electric motor. You should already be familiar with kilowatts which are 1000 watts. One kilowatt is 75% of one horsepower.

Sporty Harley-Davidson electric LiveWire parade silicon standardise
Harley’s LiveWire electric motor

Kilowatt hours: This is the capacity of the battery. Think of how many litres you can fit in your fuel tank. A one watt-hour battery will power a 1W electric motor for one hour. The new Lightning Strike Carbon Edition has a 20kWh battery which means it can produce 1kW of power for 20 hours.

That’s just a start.

There are a lot of other factors involved and other terms for battery energy-density (watt-hours per kilogram), charging terms (AC, DC and fast chargers) and a variety of range calculations that take into regenerative charging.

Click here to read more about the complexities of range.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle News, News

Solutions to electric vehicle charging

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One of the biggest hurdles in the coming revolution of the electric vehicle is finding enough charging stations so motorists can ride and drive beyond the city limits.

Taiwanese motorcycle and scooter manufacturer has a unique idea for private charging stations that can be owned by individuals.

It could be a good way to earn some extra money.

Kymco is really thinking outside the box on electric vehicles with their plan last year for swappable batteries in vending machines.

Kymco proposes battery swap scheme for Ionex electric scooter hybrid smart desert electric vehicle
Kymco proposes battery swap vending machines

Now they have launched a range of charging stations called NOODOE (pronounced “new dough”) which can be privately owned by individuals.

No, it’s not an April Fool’s Day prank.Kymco Noodoe electric vehicle charging

The cloud-based systems could actually be a viable alternative to the inaction on the part of big business and governments to supply suitable infrastructure for the nascent electric vehicle industry.

Kymco Noodoe electric vehicle charging
Noodoe chargers

Obviously business will be involved once EVs reach a significant proportion of traffic.

And surely governments and businesses will have final say over the placement of such infrastructure.

Electric vehicle infrastructure

Kymco Noodoe electric vehicle charging
Noodoe charging

In Australia, businesses and governments are working together to build charging EV infrastructure.

Chargefox is building Australia’s first ultra-fast charging stations powered by renewable energy on interstate highways connecting capital cities. 

It will cost $15m with $6m from the Federal Government and $1m from the Victorian Government.

The sites will be no more than 200km apart.

Chargefox charging app electric vehicle
Chargefox charging app

However, most electric motorcycles have highway range shorter than 200km, so they would be virtually useless to riders.

In Queensland, the state government is spending $2.5m to build an “Electric Super Highway” with 17 fast-charging stations along 1800km of highway from Coolangatta to Cairns and from Brisbane to Toowoomba.

That’s a charging station roughly every 105km, which is much more achievable for an electric motorcycle.

Fast chargers have a power output of 150kW and take about 15 minutes to charge an electric bike.

However, they only charge to 80% of a battery’s capacity and frequent use of fast charging depletes a battery’s life.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

MotoGP, Motorcycle News, News

Fire destroys electric race bikes

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A fire that destroyed 18 Energica electric motorcycles for the upcoming MotoE series at five MotoGP events this year has inflamed concerns about electric vehicle fires.

The cause of the Energica blaze has not yet been determine. It could be a fault with the vehicles, an accident, or even arson.

However, electric car company Tesla has been plagued by instances of their cars bursting into flame.

Some have caught on fire in a crash, while others have ignited while being driven or being charged.

Electric fire Tesla
Tesla goes up in flames

Electric fires

Electric vehicles fires can be caused by impact, short-circuits, power surge, excessive discharge or heat.

They also cause special concerns for fire fighters.

Lithium batteries are obviously made with lithium which is highly flammable and stored in mineral oil.

While it is not toxic, it can cause nausea, diarrhoea, dizziness, muscle weakness, fatigue and a dazed feeling.

Electric vehicle and battery fires can also release sulphuric acid, carbon monoxide, copper and cobalt.

Fire fighters can’t douse the flames with water as the high voltage can cause an electric shock or electrocution.

Instead, they have to disconnect the power supply (usually an orange plug) and contain the fire to let it burn itself out.

Energica fire

Energica Ego race bike for electric MotoE World Cup adventure slicker electric bike race
Energica Ego electric race bike for the MotoE World Cup

It is now suspected the MotoE series, which was to start in May, will be delayed.

The incident occurred at the Jerez Circuit in Spain during the second full test for the Energica Ego bikes ahead of the season starter at the circuit in May.

No one was injured in the blaze, but a lot of gear, tools and computers were also destroyed.

MotoE is known as the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup and has 11 teams with 18 riders.

(Fire images from electrek.co)

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

News

Electric trike replacing postie bike

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The next time you buy from the MotorbikeWriter online gear shop, your purchase could arrive by a Swiss-made Kyburz electric trike rather than a traditional Postie bike.

An increasing trend in online shopping has led to an explosion of parcel deliveries that have become more and more difficult to carry on a two-wheeler.

The new electric trike can carry up to 100 small parcels and 1200 letters at a time, three times more than the old Postie bike.postie bike sales tumble electric trike

Australia Post has now ordered 1000 electric delivery vehicles (eDVs) after a successful two-month trial of three trikes in Brisbane last year.

They start arriving in June in all states and could eventually replace the traditional Postie bike.

That’s good news for lovers of the little Honda as there could be a lot hitting the market later this year at bargain prices.

However, it may eventually lead to a scarcity of the popular machines.

Electric trike

Australia Post Group Chief Operating Officer Bob Black says the 1000 eDVs will become the nation’s largest electric vehicle fleet.

“With parcel volumes growing – on average, close to 10% each year for the last three years – and letter volumes declining, we’re always looking for ways to ensure our posties continue to play an important and sustainable role in the community,” he says.

“These vehicles offer additional carrying capacity, so our posties can deliver more parcels than ever before directly to the customer’s door – and can perform additional functions, such as collecting mail from street posting boxes.”

‘Safer and greener’Australia Post postie bike electric trike eDV

Along with delivery benefits, Bob reckons the electric vehicles also have safety and environmental benefits.

“The eDVs are safer than the traditional motorcycle. They are easier to see on the road, more stable, have increased rider protection and lower on-road speeds, all of which reduce a postie’s exposure to incidents and serious accidents,” he says.

“We started trialling eDVs in 2017 and we’ve since deployed them in all states. We have worked closely with our posties to make improvements along the way.

“Our posties love the eDVs because they demonstrate our commitment to providing safer and more sustainable employment into the future, given consumers are sending fewer letters and relying more and more on their postie to deliver their parcels.

“They will also help us achieve our commitment of reducing our carbon emissions by 25% by 2020.”

(Shame that most of them will be powered by electricity from coal-fired power stations!)

Australia Post will also roll out an additional 4000 electric pushbikes, bringing its total to 5980 over the next three years.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

News

Anything goes with electric RMK E2

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Electric motorcycles are not bound by the physical constraints of internal combustion engines, so just about anything goes, like this electric E2 from Finnish company RMK.

Electric motors can be just about any shape and size and you can use multiple motors, while the batteries can also be any shape and size, especially if they are made up of a collection of smaller batteries linked together.

This allows designers to do whatever they want, says prolific designer Roland Sands. Consequently, we’ve seen some strange electric motorcycle, like this Johammer J1!

Johammer J1 electric motorcycle hydrogen - own
Johammer J1 electric motorcycle

RMK says their “unconventional frame architecture” offers plenty of room for a large battery while keeping the overall bike weight at about 200kg.RMK E2 prototype electric motorcycle

RMK E2

The RMK E2 is still just a prototype, but the final production version will probably stay with the hubless rear wheel which incorporates an electric motor in a direct-drive situation.

They say the advantage of having the motor in the rear hubless wheel is lower rotational mass than a conventional bike while retaining similar unsprung mass. Tyre changes will also be easy.

RMK is moving into the testing phase, so final specifications have not yet been set.RMK E2 prototype electric motorcycle

However, the company does say the battery size “can be configured for 200-300km carefree riding, depending on customer preference”.

That’s not bad, but it’s nowhere near as good as Zero Motorcycle which has up to 320km of range.

With all electric vehicles, the range is a malleable figure.

It really does depend on how the vehicle is ridden/driven, ambient temperature and the consistency of throttle.

For example, range is totally opposite to a normal engine which goes further on the highway than in the city.

RMK E2 prototype electric motorcycle

RMK say their fast-charging system will charge from flat to 80% in about two hours.

That’s a long time to wait to do another 160-240km.

Instant torque

RMK claim 50kW of power and “instant 320Nm torque from standstill all the way to a limited top speed of 160km/h”.

They say the motor has enough torque braking effect to be the primary rear brake. So it doesn’t need a brake disc, although the left lever does control regenerative motor braking.RMK E2 prototype electric motorcycle

The front wheel has a conventional set-up of dual brake discs controlled by the right lever.

Regenerative braking in most electric motorcycles and cars dramatically reduces the need for braking. In fact, when we rode the original 2014 Harley LiveWire in LA, we didn’t once use the brakes in traffic, except for the final stop.

Also, like the LiveWire, the RMK E2 has no gears.RMK E2 prototype electric motorcycle

The dashboard is on the tank and, together with the low headlight, offers a “clean electric experience with no clutter in your field of vision”.

However, tank-mounted instruments will be difficult to see while trying to keep your eyes on the road ahead.

There is no word on production schedule or pricing, but we hope it would be less than the LiveWire arriving in August in North America and Europe at just under $US30,000.

When the LiveWire arrives in Australia next year, it should cost more than $41,000!

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

News

Greens want us all on electric motorcycles

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If the Australian Greens had their way, we would all be riding electric motorcycles like the one above by 2030 and would foot the bill via government incentives.

Their plan includes:

Australian Greens transport spokesperson Senator Janet Rice announced the plan after the final report of her Select Committee on Electric Vehicles was released.

Greens rewards

“The Greens are the only party with a real plan to get Australia in the fast lane so that we can reap the rewards that will come from electric vehicles,” she says.

She doesn’t say what the rewards are, but with the current electric supply problems, labouring our system wth more electrical products could put us all in the dark.

The Greens also don’t mention anything about the environmental concerns of electricity from our coal-fired power plants and the disposal of batteries.

Their reference to “strong vehicle emissions standards” probably means faster acceptance of Euro standards.

In which case, bikes such as the Kawasaki KLR650 and Suzuki Hayabusa would no longer be available for sale in Australia.

That’s hardly a reward!

Lagging behind the world

The Greens Senator says Australia is lagging behind other nations on electric vehicle (EV) incentives and infrastructure.

We are also lagging behind countries that ban some motorcycles from their CBD.

The Greens would have us follow countries such as Sweden which is among the world leaders in EV adoption with more than 50,000 plug-in vehicles registered and a plan to have a 100% fossil-fuel-free vehicle fleet by 2030.

That’s not a reference to just new vehicles coming into or made in the country. That’s ALL vehicles.

That would mean a total ban on riding all motorcycles, except electric bikes like this!

Meanwhile, the Greens want the government to incentivise motorcyclists and drivers to buy EVs.

“The government has a choice to get Australia in the fast lane, but that means hitting the accelerator with ambitious targets and incentives to drive the uptake of electric vehicles,” Senator Rice says.

In the end, the motorist pays for those incentives through taxes, so where’s the incentive?

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

News

Magnesium may boost electric bikes

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Rechargeable batteries with magnesium instead of lithium could extend the range of electric vehicles as much as 50% and make them lighter and cheaper, new research has found.

CVMR Energy Metals says their eight-year research has found that magnesium (Mg) anodes in rechargeable batteries pack 50% more power as it has a higher energy density than lithium.

Rechargeable Li-ion batteries have dominated the rechargeable battery market since the 1990s and are the main energy source in electric vehicles.

All of the current and coming electric motorcycles and scooters use lithium-ion batteries. 

Harley electric LiveWire magnesium
Harley’s electric motorcycles, bicycles and scooters

However, lithium is rare and expensive, while magnesium is more widely available and therefore cheaper.

Other advantages are that Mg does not need an “intercalation” compound layer, so you can pack up to five-times more metal than lithium in the same-size rechargeable battery.

That also means batteries can be smaller and lighter, which is a huge boon for smaller electric vehicles such as motorcycles and scooters.

CVMR’s breakthrough comes in the use of a higher energy density cathode material and an electrolyte that helps the chemical reactions generate higher energy density than lithium batteries.

The American company hopes to have their magnesium-based batteries available in the next two years. 

Magnesium batteriesBike Battery start

Magnesium use in batteries is not new.

Non-rechargeable Mg batteries have been available for decades.

Magnesium dry batteries were widely used by the US military from 1965 to 1984 and Mg air batteries have been used as land-based backup systems and undersea power sources, using seawater as the electrolyte.

Although magnesium air batteries are primary cells (not rechargeable), they have the potential to become rechargeable by replacing their anode and electrolyte.

Rechargeable issuesKymco proposes battery swap scheme for Ionex electric scooter magnesium

The potential for rechargeable magnesium batteries has been known for some time.

However, finding a cost-effective high-energy density cathode material and suitable electrolytes has slowed progress.

The major problem has been the formation of a non-conductive layer on the Mg anode blocking the recharging of the battery.

In 2016, Honda’s Saitama Industrial Technology Center claimed they had a commercially viable Mg rechargeable battery that used vanadium as a cathode. However, these batteries have not yet hit the market.

Although CVMR owns one of the largest vanadium reserves in Africa, and vanadium has been touted as a suitable cathode in magnesium batteries, the company tested a host of other elements and compounds, such as zirconium, cobalt and tungsten.

They claim vanadium, manganese and transition metals are the most promising.

The US Department of Energy’s Joint Center for Energy Storage Research has also researched chemical reactions involving magnesium.

As part of those studies, Berkeley Lab discovered that the self-stabilising, thin oxide surface layer that forms on the magnesium has some inherent defects that cause unwanted reactions.

CVMR spokesman Kamran Khozan claims they have overcome these defects.

“Today’s scientific discoveries cannot take place in isolation,” he says.

“We all benefit from each other’s efforts, and owe a debt of gratitude to those who have the vision to be leaders in their field of specialisation.”

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

News

Haptic jacket warns rider of collision

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Imagine a motorcycle jacket that vibrates when it senses you are about to have a collision or delivers that disco bass rumble in your gut when you play music in your helmet?

The Origin “haptic” jacket will come as part of a package with a Zenith head-up display helmet (HUD) when you buy the coming 240km/h Arc Vector electric motorcycle costing about £90,000 ($A160,000, $US117,000).

Click here for more information on the British Arc Vector.Arc Vector electric motorcycle with collision warning

The bike features “haptic” handlebars and seat that vibrate if they sense a crash or you try to merge into a lane where there is a car. Similar technology has been around in some cars for years.

Vector is also integrated with the Zenith head-up display helmet.

No further details are available, but there are several HUD helmets hitting the market with different functions.Zenith HUD helmet Arc Vector electric motorcycle with collision warning

Haptic collision warning

Their Origin jacket takes collision warning even further with haptic pads that vibrate.

It features different modes including “Dynamic” to “amplify the sense of excitement during a dynamic ride”.

Another is called “Euphoric” that produces that deep bass rumble.

While these are entertainment modes, Arc founder and CEO Mark Truman says the normal haptic mode that responds to crash threats can be used to “augment mirrors as a threat detection system”.

Riders will experience a buzz in their back or one shoulder to indicate the presence and direction of another threatening vehicle.

Origin jacket Arc Vector electric motorcycle with collision warning
Vibrating haptic pads

“The haptic jacket and high-tech helmet are designed to help meld man and machine into one,” Arc claims. 

Mark says it allows the rider to keep their eyes on the road ahead. However, we would argue that a shoulder check is always advisable.

“People ask me if this could be distracting, but it is actually designed to be the total opposite,” Mark says.

“The tech frees you and your senses because the distractions have been removed.

“It allows you to concentrate on the road and your oneness with the bike, to just enjoy the moment knowing the bike is looking out for you and the information you need is right in front of you.”

So why provide entertainment haptic modes?

Arc VectorArc Vector electric motorcycle with collision warning

Meanwhile, the 95kW Arc Vector has a top speed of 241km/h (150mph) and accelerates to highway seed in 2.7 seconds.

Range is claimed to be 190km (about 120 miles) on the highway or 274km (170 miles) in the city.

Only 355 bikes will be produced.

It features a lightweight carbonfibre swingarm and a new type of battery that makes the bike a chimed 25% lighter than its competition.

It also comes with custom Ohlins dampers and Brembo brakes mounted in the 6 o’clock position.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

News

Ural Motorcycles unveils first electric sidecar

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The iconic boxer heads sticking out the side are missing on the first electric sidecar prototype from Ural Motorcycles.

Ural Electric Prototype is just the first development phase and there is no word on when — or if — the finished product will come to market.

The Russian company estimates it would take about two years to ramp up serial production upon final design approval.

Electric sidecarURAL electric sidecar prototype

An electric sidecar makes a lot more sense than an electric bike because there is so much more space to fit batteries.

While this prototype doesn’t have the traditional Ural (previously BMW) boxer engine, or clutch lever, gear shifter or instruments, it does still have a fuel cap where you stick the cord in to charge the vehicle.

The electric prototype is based on the one-wheel drive cT chassis with batteries, controller and other components from Californian electric motorcycles company Zero Motorcycles.

However, it seems they have used the previous model batteries with 165km of range, not the new Zero batteries with about 330km in the city and 155km on the highway.

Ural does not specify how that 165km of range was achieved. However, they say tech specs will change before this outfit comes to market as they will use the latest battery technology available.URAL electric sidecar prototype

Ural says the electric sidecar prototype will be shown at North American motorcycle shows and demo-ride events to collect feedback “before moving to the next phase of this project”.

Ural Australia spokesman Matthew Hodge says they are discussing the opportunity to bring it to Australia. Stay tuned for updates!

That’s a similar approach Harley-Davidson took with their 2014 electric LiveWire which will come to market next year.

Fellow California company ICG designed and fabricated the prototype for Ural while Zero provided engineering support during development and testing.

‘Perfect’ platformURAL electric sidecar prototype

Ural President and CEO Ilya Khait says a sidecar is “the perfect platform to build an electric motorcycle because it can offer what regular two-wheeled motorcycles can’t: passenger comfort, stability and safety, not to mention more space for batteries”.

“We’re very happy with the results,” he says.

“At a glance it’s still a Ural, but the electric bike offers a totally new experience.”

It is believed the baterries are in the floor of the sidecar which would provide a very low centre of gravity for better handling.

Actually, at first glance, it looks very little like a Ural from any angle thanks to the lack of boxer heads and the big “B” shaped aluminium motor frame.

Ilya points out another difference from the traditional Ural: “It accelerates very quickly – for a Ural.”

Company operations VP Jason Rae says their main goal with the prototype was achieving  “proof of concept”.

“We went through several iterations, searching for the best configuration of the electric powertrain package,” he says.

“One of the main challenges was to find the optimal location for the batteries while maintaining passenger comfort, storage capacity and stability distinctive to Ural sidecars.URAL electric sidecar prototype

“The bike was tested intensively in real-world conditions – in the rain and snow, on cold and hot days, on the highway and city streets. We accumulated a lot of data that will be used in the next phase of the project.

“Admittedly, I was apprehensive in the beginning that an electric Ural was something worth putting our resources into, but now I’m totally convinced and looking forward to development of our production intent prototype.”

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com