Sporkman
August 11th, 2008, 05:38 PM
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2008-08-10-electric-dirt-bike_N.htm?csp=34
Electric dirt bikes get charged up for a quieter ride
By Chris Woodyard, USA TODAY
MALIBU, Calif. — High in the hills above the crashing surf, TJ Aguirre tears through loose dirt on an off-road motorcycle.
It's hardly the image that fits with laid-back seaside Malibu, home to celebrities, vegetarian restaurants and yoga studios. But this is no ordinary motorcycle.
It's electric. Instead of an ear-splitting buzz, Zero Motorcycles salesman Aguirre is showing off a motorcycle that doesn't make much more noise than electric hedge clippers. It's quiet enough that the rider can hear the gravel crushing underneath the tires. No pall of blue exhaust, either.
Zero, based in Santa Cruz, began making the Zero X off-road bike this year. Powered by a bundle of power-tool batteries, the motorcycle is aimed at off-roaders who want to ride in barren areas near cities but fear being prohibited because their bikes make too much noise.
The Zero X is one of several electric motorcycles coming on the market as the alternative power revolution comes to two wheels.
The company has turned out 45 Zero Xs so far. There's enough of an order backlog that the wait time for delivery is about two months. Zero hopes to boost production to 400 by the end of the year. Next year's goal is 2,000. In January, Zero plans to introduce an electric motorcycle for street riding, intended primarily for commuters.
But electric motorcycles have drawbacks. For starters, the price of $7,450 is more than for a comparable, gasoline-powered 150- to 250-cubic-centimeter traditional dirt bike. Then there's limited range. The bike can go 40 miles per charge, up to two hours of trail use, before the rider needs to search for a wall socket.
'Incredibly sexy and fun'
Because of its limitations, some veteran riders see it as a novelty, not a mainstay for off-roading. "I can't imagine anyone just having this alone," says Don Williams, senior editor at Robb Report MotorCycling, who came out at Zero's invitation to ride with Aguirre on a hot Malibu afternoon.
Zero is the brainchild of Neal Saiki, a former aerospace engineer who became a motorcycle designer and became fascinated by the potential of electric power. "A lot of people think electric motorcycles are slow and boring," Saiki says. "They can be incredibly sexy and fun."
Saiki, 41, says he became serious about designing an electric bike about six years ago.
"It's unbelievable how much power you can get into these electric motors," he says.
Because of his perfectionist streak, Saiki eschewed many off-the-rack parts. The Zero has custom wheels and chain and a distinctive frame. The sticking point was the batteries.
Lithium-ion is the battery of choice for electric cars or motorcycles because it carries a powerful charge. But the advanced batteries can be hard to cool. Saiki developed a quick-cooling material that surrounds the 168 batteries designed for Milwaukee-brand power tools that are bundled into every pack. The pack is expensive — $2,950 to replace — and is meant to last up to six years.
The battery takes about two hours to fully recharge. The motor has the equivalent of 23 horsepower and goes from 0 to 30 miles per hour in less than two seconds, the company says.
"Experienced riders are the ones who are most blown away," says Zero Motorcycles CEO Gene Banman, a former Silicon Valley high-tech executive.
The marketing is as unique as the design: The motorcycle is sold on the Internet and shipped to buyers. Delivery cost: about $300.
With a product in the market, the company wants to grow. "The goal is to take this electric drivetrain into different segments of the motorcycle business," Banman says. "We want to be a big motorcycle company."
Building competition
But there's competition as more companies look to develop gas-saving transportation. For instance, Vectrix, a Middletown, R.I., company, is selling an electric scooter through a small network of dealers. The maxi-scooter goes up to 55 miles on a charge, recharges in 2½ hours and costs $9,395.
But the scooter, intended for street riding, weighs 515 pounds. The Zero dirt bike is only 140 pounds, which makes it easier to handle off-road.
"It has that mountain bike feel," says Williams. "You can really muscle it around. You don't feel like it has control over you. You always have control over it." The disadvantage, he adds, is that the lightweight bike doesn't have the traction of a heavier, conventional motorcycle.
It's also easy to operate, he points out. There's no clutch, and the hand-brakes are the same as on a bicycle. A power switch lets the rider choose whether he or she wants sedate speeds up to 30 mph or is ready to go as fast as 60 mph.
Williams thinks the big companies in the motorcycle world, just like automakers, are going to gravitate toward electric power eventually. As such, the Zero "is a really nice view into the future," he says.
Zero's Aguirre says the bike can be ridden anywhere. "You can ride around your neighborhood, ride in the bike lanes," he says.
Not to mention the hills above Malibu.
Electric dirt bikes get charged up for a quieter ride
By Chris Woodyard, USA TODAY
MALIBU, Calif. — High in the hills above the crashing surf, TJ Aguirre tears through loose dirt on an off-road motorcycle.
It's hardly the image that fits with laid-back seaside Malibu, home to celebrities, vegetarian restaurants and yoga studios. But this is no ordinary motorcycle.
It's electric. Instead of an ear-splitting buzz, Zero Motorcycles salesman Aguirre is showing off a motorcycle that doesn't make much more noise than electric hedge clippers. It's quiet enough that the rider can hear the gravel crushing underneath the tires. No pall of blue exhaust, either.
Zero, based in Santa Cruz, began making the Zero X off-road bike this year. Powered by a bundle of power-tool batteries, the motorcycle is aimed at off-roaders who want to ride in barren areas near cities but fear being prohibited because their bikes make too much noise.
The Zero X is one of several electric motorcycles coming on the market as the alternative power revolution comes to two wheels.
The company has turned out 45 Zero Xs so far. There's enough of an order backlog that the wait time for delivery is about two months. Zero hopes to boost production to 400 by the end of the year. Next year's goal is 2,000. In January, Zero plans to introduce an electric motorcycle for street riding, intended primarily for commuters.
But electric motorcycles have drawbacks. For starters, the price of $7,450 is more than for a comparable, gasoline-powered 150- to 250-cubic-centimeter traditional dirt bike. Then there's limited range. The bike can go 40 miles per charge, up to two hours of trail use, before the rider needs to search for a wall socket.
'Incredibly sexy and fun'
Because of its limitations, some veteran riders see it as a novelty, not a mainstay for off-roading. "I can't imagine anyone just having this alone," says Don Williams, senior editor at Robb Report MotorCycling, who came out at Zero's invitation to ride with Aguirre on a hot Malibu afternoon.
Zero is the brainchild of Neal Saiki, a former aerospace engineer who became a motorcycle designer and became fascinated by the potential of electric power. "A lot of people think electric motorcycles are slow and boring," Saiki says. "They can be incredibly sexy and fun."
Saiki, 41, says he became serious about designing an electric bike about six years ago.
"It's unbelievable how much power you can get into these electric motors," he says.
Because of his perfectionist streak, Saiki eschewed many off-the-rack parts. The Zero has custom wheels and chain and a distinctive frame. The sticking point was the batteries.
Lithium-ion is the battery of choice for electric cars or motorcycles because it carries a powerful charge. But the advanced batteries can be hard to cool. Saiki developed a quick-cooling material that surrounds the 168 batteries designed for Milwaukee-brand power tools that are bundled into every pack. The pack is expensive — $2,950 to replace — and is meant to last up to six years.
The battery takes about two hours to fully recharge. The motor has the equivalent of 23 horsepower and goes from 0 to 30 miles per hour in less than two seconds, the company says.
"Experienced riders are the ones who are most blown away," says Zero Motorcycles CEO Gene Banman, a former Silicon Valley high-tech executive.
The marketing is as unique as the design: The motorcycle is sold on the Internet and shipped to buyers. Delivery cost: about $300.
With a product in the market, the company wants to grow. "The goal is to take this electric drivetrain into different segments of the motorcycle business," Banman says. "We want to be a big motorcycle company."
Building competition
But there's competition as more companies look to develop gas-saving transportation. For instance, Vectrix, a Middletown, R.I., company, is selling an electric scooter through a small network of dealers. The maxi-scooter goes up to 55 miles on a charge, recharges in 2½ hours and costs $9,395.
But the scooter, intended for street riding, weighs 515 pounds. The Zero dirt bike is only 140 pounds, which makes it easier to handle off-road.
"It has that mountain bike feel," says Williams. "You can really muscle it around. You don't feel like it has control over you. You always have control over it." The disadvantage, he adds, is that the lightweight bike doesn't have the traction of a heavier, conventional motorcycle.
It's also easy to operate, he points out. There's no clutch, and the hand-brakes are the same as on a bicycle. A power switch lets the rider choose whether he or she wants sedate speeds up to 30 mph or is ready to go as fast as 60 mph.
Williams thinks the big companies in the motorcycle world, just like automakers, are going to gravitate toward electric power eventually. As such, the Zero "is a really nice view into the future," he says.
Zero's Aguirre says the bike can be ridden anywhere. "You can ride around your neighborhood, ride in the bike lanes," he says.
Not to mention the hills above Malibu.