Swiss Electric dirt bikes launched in the US - Quantya

[desert_rider]

I looked on their web site but couldn't find the price.  Anybody know?

[spinalator]

14kW = 19HP.  However, I expect it makes a much flatter torque curve than a IC engine.  IT's probably a bruchless DC Permenant magent motor or a PM Induction motor.  Hard to day.  Either way it probably can only turn 4000RPM at most, so you're looking at a torque peak of about 27ft-lbs, which is closer to a 450 4 stroke.  So it's fairly comparable to a 250 4 stroke making about 25HP, but this bikes makes a lot more torque.

I also see better mass centralizaton, lower center of gravity.  But I'd guess it weighs a little more but carries it's weight well.  40mph is a little restirctive.  It should be capable of around 70mph with 19HP.  It should pull some good wheelies with the right gearing!    

I think it would be a fun trail bike.  This might be a good application for an electric vehicle where speeds are realatively low, but you need lots of bottom end pwoer, but not a lot of peak power for high speed crusing.  You get good durability since the electric motor is very low maintenance, noise and exhaust emissions as well as sparks are a concern.  You rarely need to ride for more than a couple hours at a time.  It's possible ot recharge there in 10-15 minutes.


Along the same lines, I could see a great application for a small track bike.  Bump it up to maybe 30HP so you can reach about 110mph on most road courses.  Keep it under 300lbs, and give it a battery good for about 30-40 minutes, expandable to 1 hour for longer races.  Add some regenerative braking to increase the range.  Keep it under 350lbs with a low center of gravity and you have a winner.

If you can get over the obsession with raw HP and top speed, an electric bike can be very practical.

Wow, I love the smart techno-geeks on this site. (No offence to the author  ) Where else can you get real info. Other forums have idiots only saying: "It sucks" or "it rules" or "you suck."

[Liquidsilver]

Point taken but how many people insure dirtbikes?

 
True, not many insure dirtbikes... but I just payed over 7 grand for my '07 WR450... so people might want insurancfe at some point.
 
 

[bubba zanetti]

I looked on their web site but couldn't find the price.  Anybody know?

I saw on this    http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/electric-motorcycles--a-review.htm  site they are 7,050 Euros and a replacement battery is 2600 Euros which makes them toys for the rich. Also other electric bikes on that link. Pricey.  


Bet they are not good in mud and ... water.  Zaaap ....  

[HipGnosis]

If top speed is 40 - with a 2.5 run time, wouldn't that be 100 miles? That is a lot off-road. Seems like 2.5 hours must be regardless of speed. For me, that would be 2.6 miles.

Umm.. sorry, no.

Top speed of 40 mph.
25 mile range, assuming top speed the entire time.

25 miles at 40 MPH is a run time of about 40 mins.  

[Mookie]

I'll take one street legal un-governed motard version please.

[veefer800canuck]

Wow, I love the smart techno-geeks on this site. (No offence to the author  ) Where else can you get real info. Other forums have idiots only saying: "It sucks" or "it rules" or "you suck."

Oh yeah, well YOU SUCK!  

[highside]

Isn't noise pollution one of the big reasons for loss of ORV areas?  If these things are even remotely acceptable as a substitute for an MX or trail bike, I think its a fantastic idea.  And like Spiny mentioned, they'll only get better.  Just think, an MX park or trail system right on the edge of town and the neighbors won't complain about the noise.    

Well noise pollution is a big justification for the loss of ORV areas. Honestly, I suspect that actual reason has more to do with hikers and pedal bikers believing the whole outside to belong exclusively to them. Frankly, they could come up with just as many problems with electric bikes as gas bikes. I suspect that the most likely complaint would be that they are so quiet that you can't hear them coming, even at 40 miles per hour, so they are therefore even more dangerous than their gas counterparts to other trail users.

That may sound absurd to reasonable people liek you and I, but that argument has already been made against our excisting hybrid cars.

[robrm250]

how does water and electricity mix in creek crossings so on,it is hard enough to push a bike on the street much less trails when it dies. When you have only have 2.5 hrs and I am sure that is with minimum load,what happens when they are hills etc. when you are on trails you don't always no when they end or the fastest way out,at least with gas someone may run into you and give you a little gas or go get you some.I don't believe the greenies care if its electric solar whatever,they believe woods are only for them and the animals only.I would rather they come up with the electric boat are airplane first,that's a great idea?

[highside]

I'm not a big trails rider, but it seems that most of the failures regarding creek crossings have to do with the engine rather than the electical system that exists on even two-stroke bikes. Sucking up a jug full of water is what kills bikes in the water, I haven't heard of many battery failures due to creek crossings.

[miles]

There are other options out there:

http://www.electricmoto.com/index.html  
http://zeromotorcycles.com/

Both US companies.

199 pounds and 140 pounds for their respective bikes, 27 and 23 horsepower.  Somewhere I saw a video of one of them in a MX race against 2-stroke 250s and the electric bike was doing really well.



miles

[Rincewind]

There are other options out there:

http://www.electricmoto.com/index.html  
http://zeromotorcycles.com/

Both US companies.

199 pounds and 140 pounds for their respective bikes, 27 and 23 horsepower.  Somewhere I saw a video of one of them in a MX race against 2-stroke 250s and the electric bike was doing really well.



miles

   That one is Ohlins equipped, 45 mph max.  The other one is only $2000.   Good to see some diversity.

For those wanting a street elec motorcycle, you can reserve one of the upcoming Enertias - http://www.enertiabike.com/

Regarding the cost of hte Quantya - it's gonna be a lot.  In England, I think I read that it is 7000 pounds.  

[Crankitup]

There are other options out there:

http://www.electricmoto.com/index.html  
http://zeromotorcycles.com/

Both US companies.

199 pounds and 140 pounds for their respective bikes, 27 and 23 horsepower.  Somewhere I saw a video of one of them in a MX race against 2-stroke 250s and the electric bike was doing really well.

miles

ATM hybrid vehicles are starting to do very well in long motor-racing events.  

http://carsguide.news.com.au/story/0,20384,22796266-5001001,00.html

Supra hybrid wins race

21 November 2007

Stuart Innes

Engineers have developed hybrid technology into a winning formula for long-distance racing.

It's a sign of the future. First we had hybrid petrol-electric cars entering motor races. Now they're winning them. Just when we get used to diesel-fuelled cars winning the long-distance sports car races such as the Le Mans 24-hour, a Toyota Supra fitted with hybrid drive system has won the Tokachi 24-hour race in Japan.

The 360kW, V8 race car that had been retired from Japan's Super GT series was converted to the electric-and-petrol hybrid system. Entered as the Denso Toyota Supra HV-R, it took pole, led most of the way with a comfortable gap and then opened out the lead over the closing stages to a formidable 19-lap margin

[spd2918]

For those wanting a street elec motorcycle, you can reserve one of the upcoming Enertias - http://www.enertiabike.com/

Thanks for the link, Rince.  I could see myself commuting on one of those if the quality was there.

It is refreshing to see the manufacturer openly admit there is no such thing as a zero emissions vehicle.