VentureOne computer generated image of 3 wheeler concept vehicle

Electric motorcycles and scooters are vehicles with two or three wheels that use electric motors to attain locomotion. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 340 pixelsFull resolution (900 × 382 pixel, file size: 34 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 340 pixelsFull resolution (900 × 382 pixel, file size: 34 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... The VentureOne is an electric vehicle being developed by Venture Vehicles for sale in July 2008, as claimed in Feb 2007. ... For other uses, see Motorcycle (disambiguation). ... A modern scooter A scooter is a two-wheeled motor vehicle with a step-through frame. ...

Power source

Electric scooter at the 2005 Vancouver EV gathering

Generally, the source of power for the electric motor has been batteries, but development in fuel cell technology has created several prototypes. Some examples are: the ENV from Intelligent Energy, Honda's scooter using the Honda FC Stack, and the Yamaha FC-AQEL. Also, petroleum hybrid-electric motorcycles are under development. Some examples are the Ecycle, and Yamaha's Gen-RYU. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1416x876, 376 KB)Electric scooter seen at the 2005 Vancouver EV gathering. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1416x876, 376 KB)Electric scooter seen at the 2005 Vancouver EV gathering. ... Symbols representing a single Cell (top) and Battery (bottom), used in circuit diagrams. ... A fuel cell is an electrochemical device similar to a battery, but differing from the latter in that it is designed for continuous replenishment of the reactants consumed; i. ... env is a shell utility for Unix-like operating systems (including Linux). ...

Advantages and disadvantages

Electric motorcycles and scooters are rising in popularity because of higher gasoline prices. Battery technology is gradually improving making this form of transportation more practical. ^[1] For other uses, see Motorcycle (disambiguation). ... A modern scooter A scooter is a two-wheeled motor vehicle with a step-through frame. ...

Advantages of electric over gasoline power: The article on electrical energy is located elsewhere. ... “Petrol” redirects here. ...

1. The fuel costs for electric power are approximately 10% the cost of gasoline power[1].
2. Nearly silent.
3. Zero direct emissions.
4. Can ride indoors.
5. No trips needed to a petrol station. Plug in and recharge at home.
6. Lower maintenance costs and fewer maintenance activities. For example, no need to change oil.

Disadvantages:

1. Up front costs are higher than comparative gasoline powered motorcycle or scooter.
2. Shorter range before refueling.
3. Longer "fill up" or recharge time.
4. Comparatively lower maximum speed. In other words lower speeds at similar price points.
5. Few electric power outlets are conveniently located near streets or driveways.

History

• Late 1860s: Earliest references to electric motorcycles can be found in patents.
• 1911: Electric motorcycle available according to early Popular Mechanics article. ^[2]
• 1920s: Ransomes, current makers of forklifts, explored the use of an electric powered motorcycle. This and other developments helped pave the way for the company to use electric mining cars and lorreys. ^[3]
• Early 1940s: Fuel rationing in United States caused Earle Williams to convert a motorcycle to electric power. This became the basis for the formation of the ParCar from the Marketeer Company. ^[4]
• 1941: Fuel rationing in Occupied Europe encouraged an Austrian company by the name of Socovel to create a small electric motorcycle. Approximately 400 were manufactured. ^[5]
• 1967: First Fuel Cell powered electric motorcycle created by Karl Kordesch at Union Carbide debuts. Demonstrated the feasibility of fuel cells as a power source. This particular fuel cell was an alkili fuel cell that operated with hydrazine, a rocket fuel propellant. ^[6]
• 1967: "Papoose" moped sized electric motorcycle prototype is created by Indian Motorcycle Company under the direction of Floyd Clymer. ^[7]
• Early 1970s: Aurenthetic Charger moped sized mini bike (small motorcycle) sold. ^[8]
• 1973: Mike Corbin sets first electric motorcycle land speed record of 101 mph.
• 1974: Corbin-Gentry Inc. begins sale of street legal electric motorcycles.
• Professor Charles E. MacArthur makes first electric vehicle ascent on Mt. Washington, NH using a Corbin Electric motorcycle. The event evolved into an annual rally called the "Mt Washington Alternative Vehicle Regatta".
• 1978: Electric Harley Davidson MK2 created by Transitron manufactured in Honolulu, Hawaii. ^[9]
• 1988: Eyeball Engineering creates KawaSHOCKi electric dragbike and is featured in a major magazine. ^[10]
• Late 1990s: EMB Lectra VR24 electricmotorbike created by Scott Cronk and EMB. Pioneered the use of variable reluctance motors (hence the VR) and marketed as street legal. ^[11]
• 2000: Killacycle makes record run of 152 mph (245 km/h) at 9.4 s quarter mile (400-metre) time at Woodburn Drags 2000, OR.^[12]
• 2007: A123 Li-Ion cell-powered Killacycle makes new quarter mile (400-metre) record of 8.16 seconds and 156 mph (251 km/h) in Phoenix, AZ at AHDRA 2007. ^[13]

The KillaCycle is an electrically-powered motorcycle purpose-built for drag racing. ...

Types

A scooter is a type of motorcycle with a step-through frame and usually with smaller wheels designed for urban transportation. A modern scooter A scooter is a two-wheeled motor vehicle with a step-through frame. ... For other uses, see Motorcycle (disambiguation). ...

Various types of scooters

Scooters are divided into categories as per the particular niche that they are designed to operate in and speed requirements:

• 2 wheeled Vespa-styled scooters 0-60 mph (0-100 km/h)
• 2 wheeled Stand-up scooters (like a kick scooter) 0-25 mph (0-40 km/h)
• 2 wheeled-side-by-side stand-up scooters like manufactured by Segway PT 0-10 mph (0-15 km/h)
• 2 wheeled Seated scooters 0-25 mph (0-40 km/h)
• 3 wheeled standup scooters like manufactured by Zap 0-15 mph (0-25 km/h)
• 3 through 4 wheeled Mobility scooter (disability riders) 0-10 mph (0-15 km/h)
• 3 through 4 wheeled Seated scooters/golf carts 0-25 mph (0-40 km/h)

This article is about the Italian motor scooter. ... Kick scooter A kick scooter or push scooter is a small, 2 or more-wheeled platform that is propelled by a rider pushing off the ground. ... Segway in the Robot museum in Nagoya. ...

Electric motorcycle or electric bicycle

2 wheeled motorcycles are generally differentiated from motorized bicycles and mopeds (motorized pedal cycles) by speed with motorcycles having greater speeds usually greater than 30 mph (about 50 km/h). Although, this line for what constitutes a 2 wheeled motorcycle has blurred due to marketing, styling, and public opinion.

Main categories of 3-wheeled motorcycles

Due to vagueness in motor vehicle laws, any 3-wheeled vehicle that can travel over 30 mph (50 km/h) is often classified as a motorcycle. This classification does not depend whether the operator is fully enclosed by a "cage" or exposed to the elements. But for design purposes, three wheeled vehicles are divided into 2 categories:

• 1 wheel in front and 2 in back, known as a delta design or the traditional trike (tricycle) design
• 2 wheels in front and 1 in back, known as a tadpole design.

Some three wheeled motorcycles enclose the rider in a "cabin" or cockpit. These include the Gizmo, Twike, NmG.

Some three wheeled motorcycles have independent suspension allowing the vehicle to tilt or lean.

Comparison of select production vehicles

The kilowatt (symbol: kW) is a unit for measuring power, equal to one thousand watts. ... The Vectrix is the first commercially available high performance electric scooter. ... A nickel metal hydride battery, abbreviated NiMH, is a type of rechargeable battery similar to a nickel-cadmium (NiCd) battery but has a hydrogen-absorbing alloy for the anode instead of cadmium. ... An ampere-hour (abbreviated as Ah or A-h) is a unit of electric charge. ... The watt-hour (symbol W·h) is a unit of energy. ... The kilowatt (symbol: kW) is a unit for measuring power, equal to one thousand watts. ... Li-Ion Camera Battery Lithium ion batteries (or Li-ion) have become very common and dropped in price recently. ... The lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery is a type of rechargeable battery based on the original lithium ion chemistry, created by the use of LiFePO4 as a cathode material. ... Josephson junction array chip developed by NIST as a standard volt. ... An ampere-hour (abbreviated as Ah or A-h) is a unit of electric charge. ... The watt-hour (symbol W·h) is a unit of energy. ... The kilowatt (symbol: kW) is a unit for measuring power, equal to one thousand watts. ... VRLA stands for valve regulated lead acid and is the designation for maintenance-free lead-acid batteries. ... Josephson junction array chip developed by NIST as a standard volt. ... An ampere-hour (abbreviated as Ah or A-h) is a unit of electric charge. ... The watt-hour (symbol W·h) is a unit of energy. ... The kilowatt (symbol: kW) is a unit for measuring power, equal to one thousand watts. ... Josephson junction array chip developed by NIST as a standard volt. ... Current can be measured by a galvanometer, via the deflection of a magnetic needle in the magnetic field created by the current. ... An ampere-hour (abbreviated as Ah or A-h) is a unit of electric charge. ... ZAP Xebra is an electric vehicle that was launched in May 2006 in the US market. ...

Comparison of select upcoming vehicles

Valence is a scientific term in chemistry to describe electrons in the outermost orbital. ... The watt-hour (symbol W·h) is a unit of energy. ... The VentureOne is an electric vehicle being developed by Venture Vehicles for sale in July 2008, as claimed in Feb 2007. ... The kilowatt (symbol: kW) is a unit for measuring power, equal to one thousand watts. ... A123Systems is a developer of next generation Lithium-Ion batteries. ...

References

1. ^ http://www.technologyreview.com/NanoTech/17837/
2. ^ http://electricmotorcycles.net/modules/wordpress/?p=48
3. ^ http://www.forkliftparts.co.uk/history.htm
4. ^ http://www.parcar.com/legend/history.htm
5. ^ http://www.econogics.com/ev/evhists.htm
6. ^ http://americanhistory.si.edu/fuelcells/alk/alk2.htm
7. ^ http://www.cycletownusa.com/post1953.html
8. ^ http://www.econogics.com/ev/evhista.htm
9. ^ http://electricmotorcycles.net/modules/wordpress/?p=181
10. ^ http://www.nedra.com/hotbike.html
11. ^ http://www.electricmotorbike.org/
12. ^ http://www.nedra.com/150mph_club.html#killacycle
13. ^ http://www.killacycle.com/2007/04/04/8168-15578-mph-getting-close-to-the-magic-7s/

 14. http://www.quantya.com/PAGES/eng/eng_home.htm 

See also

• Battery electric vehicle
• Electric vehicle

The Toyota RAV4 EV was powered by twenty-four 12 volt batteries, with an operational cost equivalent of over 165 miles per gallon at 2005 US gasoline prices. ... For battery powered passenger automobiles, see battery electric vehicle. ...

External links

News

• Sun-Red Solar motor bike concept, in spanish June 2007
• E-Solex: French Electric Bike May 7, 2007
• Electric scooter magazine