Tag Archives: tesla

Electric drag race goes ho-hummmm

There is no doubt that electric vehicles are fast with 100% of torque available from go, but this drag race between a Tesla Model 3 Performance and Zero SR/F is all a bit ho-hummm.

Pointless drag race

Apart from the lack of earth-shattering noise usually associated with a drag race, it’s a pretty pointless exercise.

We’re note sure why InsideEVs Italia chose the Tesla Model 3 and Zero SR/F.

They’re not even the world’s fastest electric car and bike.

That honour goes to Tesla’s Roadster and the Lightning LS-218. That might have been a better match-uo for drag race.

Lightning LS-218
Lightning LS-218

Check out the tech specs comparison below for the Model 3 and SR/F.

Zero pulled out of Australia a couple of years ago, before the SR/F was released. So we have quoted prices of both in Europe.

If you really are enthused about straight-line drag speeds, you can see you get a lot more bang (or whirring whistle) for your buck from an electric motorcycle. 

Mind you, the same goes for a traditional motorcycle over a conventional car!

Tesla Model 3 Zero SR / F
Power 383kW 82kW
Torque 640Nm 190Nm
Weight 1,860 kg 220kg
Range about 500 km about 320 km
Battery capacity 75kWh 14.4kWh
Top speed 261km/h 200km/h
Price about $A103,000 about $A34,000

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Riders help develop autonomous cars

One of the biggest problems with the development of autonomous cars is the detection of small and vulnerable motorcyclists in traffic.

So the San Francisco chapter of the Iron Order Motorcycle Club recently volunteered the services of seven members to help develop Aurora Driver technology.

They spent a day riding around with cars driven in manual mode by testers from Californian autonomous vehicle company Aurora.

Some of the unique situations tested were detecting riders who were lane splitting, which is only legal in California in the USA, and stopping in an offset position, rather than right in front of a car.

The bikes included four Harley-Davidsons, a KTM, an Indian and a Yamaha cruiser.

One of the biggest problems with the development of autonomous cars is the detection of small and vulnerable motorcyclists in traffic.
Volunteers (Images: Aurora)

Autonomous cars

Detecting motorcycles is a bit of a headache for autonomous cars development.

In one incident in San Francisco last year a lane filtering rider was hit by a Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicle being driven in autonomous mode.

And police had the hide to blame the rider!

The Australian Motorcycle Council and other motorcycle representative groups around the world have called on authorities to slow down the testing and introduction of autonomous vehicles.

A motorcycle industry group in the USA called Give a Shift went so far as to say that “the single biggest threat to motorcycling overall (particularly in urban and higher density environments) will be the incompatibility between autonomous vehicles and existing motorcycles”.

However, motorcycle, car and tech companies such as Bosch are continuing to work together to develop systems that better identify and communicate with each other.

So while we still have grave concerns, it appears technology is starting to find solutions that just might make us safer.

In fact, BMW Motorrad spokesman Karl Viktor Schaller declares they will make riding safer because autonomous vehicles (AVs) will be virtually crashproof.

Tesla Autopolit

Electric car company Tesla has launched its Version 9 software update to Autopilot 2.0+ hardware that has a more advanced “neural net” to detect smaller and faster-moving objects around the vehicle.

That is supposed to include lane-filtering motorcycles.

However, Tesla Model 3 owner Scott Kubo shot this video to show the difficulties it has detecting motorcycles.

There are several examples of lane-splitting riders in LA travelling at much higher speeds than the 30km/h lane filtering maximum in Australia.

The system struggles at times to detect them both day and night.

Tesla detects lane filtering riders
Tesla detects lane filtering rider in video, but not on the sidescreen graphic.

In some cases it mistakes a bike for a car and in others the bike is in the next lane and passing right through cars!

Scott says drivers also use their ears to detect motorcycles and suggests an audio sensor to help the camera and radar sensors.

However, the bikes — including a couple of loud Harleys — are only audible for the last couple of seconds as they are coming from behind.

With the crackdown on exhaust noise and the coming wave of quiet electric motorcycles, an audio sensor would probably be pointless.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Fire destroys electric race bikes

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

Quietest police pursuit in history

A San Francisco police officer riding an electric Zero Motorcycle recently pulled over a driver in an electric Tesla Model 3 in what must have been the quietest police pursuit of all time.

Zero posted an image of the historic moment on their Facebook page, but it may not be the last time this happens.

Police departments in Europe, the United States, Hong Kong and Canada are now using electric motorcycles and scooters from BMW, Zero Motorcycles and other companies.

The Californian-based Zero has developed a DS Police motorcycle specifically for police and security agencies.

Fresno State University Police on Zero Motorcycles pursuit
Fresno State University Police on Zero Motorcycles

They claim it is specifically useful to police because of its reliability, low maintenance, battery range and capacity, manoeuvrability, light weight chassis, economic feasibility and low environmental impact.

Zero Motorcycles global sales Vice President John Lloyd says they designed and engineered the police line-up “based on feedback directly from patrol officers regarding their needs and responsibilities”.

Stealth pursuit

But the biggest advantage for the cops is the quiet running of an electric vehicle that allows police to sneak up on criminals!

Some police departments have also found they can use them inside large shopping malls because there are no emissions.

So if they get into a Blues Brothers-style chase through a mall, bike cops can follow the criminals.

Zero in Australia

But don’t expect to be pulled up by a silent cop in Australia any time soon.

Australian police evaluated the DS Police motorcycle, but then Zero pulled the plug on our market in 2017 citing unfavourable exchange rates and taxes.

Zero DS electric motorcycle pursuit
Zero DS electric police motorcycle

Zero DS Police Motorcycle come with pursuit emergency lighting and sirens, safety components and specially designed luggage compartments to carry gear, patrol items and emergency medical equipment.

The civilian model DS can be fitted with some of the police accessories, such as Givi top box, panniers and screen. Other accessories include heated seat and grips and a power socket, although all those limit the range of the bike.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Tesla Autopilot detects lane filtering riders

Electric car company Tesla is further developing its Autopilot software that detects lane-filtering riders as shown in this driver’s YouTube video.

One of the biggest issues about the rapid move toward autonomous vehicles is how they will detect small and vulnerable road users such as motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians.

In one incident in San Francisco last year a lane filtering rider was hit by a Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicle being driven in autonomous mode.

And police had the hide to blame the rider!

The Australian Motorcycle Council and other motorcycle representative groups around the world have called on authorities to slow down the testing and introduction of autonomous vehicles.

A motorcycle industry group in the USA called Give a Shift went so far as to say that “the single biggest threat to motorcycling overall (particularly in urban and higher density environments) will be the incompatibility between autonomous vehicles and existing motorcycles”.

However, motorcycle, car and tech companies such as Bosch are continuing to work together to develop systems that better identify and communicate with each other.

So while we still have grave concerns, it appears technology is starting to find solutions that just might make us safer.

In fact, BMW Motorrad spokesman Karl Viktor Schaller declares they will make riding safer because autonomous vehicles (AVs) will be virtually crashproof.

Tesla Autopolit

Tesla has now launched its Version 9 software update to Autopilot 2.0+ hardware that has a more advanced “neural net” to detect smaller and faster-moving objects around the vehicle.

That includes lane-filtering motorcycles.

In the above video by Tesla Model 3 owner Scott Kubo, there are several examples of lane-splitting riders in LA travelling at much higher speeds than the 30km/h lane filtering maximum in Australia.

The system struggles at times to detect them both day and night.

Tesla detects lane filtering riders
Tesla detects lane filtering rider in video, but not on the sidescreen graphic.

In some cases it mistakes a bike for a car and in others the bike is in the next lane and passing right through cars!

Scott says drivers also use their ears to detect motorcycles and suggests an audio sensor to help the camera and radar sensors.

However, the bikes — including a couple of loud Harleys — are only audible for the last couple of seconds as they are coming from behind.

With the crackdown on exhaust noise and the coming wave of quiet electric motorcycles, an audio sensor would probably be pointless.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com