Electric motorcycles and scooters are vehicles with two or three wheels that use electric motors to attain locomotion.

Power source

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.

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.

Advantages of electric over gasoline power:

1. The fuel costs for electric power are approximately 25% the cost of gasoline power (US, mid-2008; see Electric car, "Running costs" for the calculation)
2. Nearly silent.
3. Environmental friendly (no exhausted gases at point of use)
4. Using grid power to charge batteries causes less pollution than gasoline scooters; the amount of emissions caused depends on the sources of the electricity used.
5. No trips needed to a gas station-- can be recharged at home.
6. Lower maintenance costs and fewer maintenance activities; for example, there is no need to change the oil.
7. Can be ridden indoors.

Disadvantages:

1. Up front costs are higher than for a comparable gasoline powered motorcycle or scooter.
2. Shorter range before recharging.
3. Longer "fill up" or recharge time.
4. Lower maximum speed at similar price points.
5. Electric power outlets are often not conveniently located near streets or driveways. It is often difficult or impossible to bring the battery into an apartment, for example, for recharging.
6. Battery capacity can be as low as 20% on a cold winter day with -20 °C (lead battery)
7. As it is already difficult to be "noticed" by cars/trucks on a motorcycle, the loss of characteristic engine noise might make riding these even more dangerous than their combustion engine powered counterparts.

Promotion

Premier of the Republic of China Liu Chao-shiuan said that the government-financed Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) will help domestic manufacturers churn out some 100,000 electric motorcycles in four years .

History

• Late 1860s: Earliest references to electric motorcycles can be found in patents.
• 1911: Electric motorcycle available according to early Popular Mechanics article.
• 2007:
• A123 Li-Ion cell-powered Killacycle makes new quarter mile (400-metre) record of 7.824 seconds and 168 mph (270 km/h) in Phoenix, AZ at AHDRA 2007.

Types

A scooter is a type of motorcycle with a step-through frame and usually with smaller wheels designed for urban transportation.

Various types of scooters

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

• Two-wheeled Vespa-styled scooters 0-60 mph (0-100 km/h)
• Two-wheeled Stand-up scooters (like a kick scooter) 0-25 mph (0-40 km/h)
• Two-wheeled, side-by-side stand-up scooters like manufactured by Segway PT 0-12 mph (0-20 km/h)
• Two-wheeled Seated scooters 0-25 mph (0-40 km/h)
• Three-wheeled standup scooters like manufactured by Zap 0-15 mph (0-25 km/h)
• Three- and four-wheeled Mobility scooter (disability riders) 0-10 mph (0-15 km/h)
• Three- and four-wheeled Seated scooters/golf carts 0-25 mph (0-40 km/h)

Electric motorcycle or electric bicycle

Two-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 31 mph (50 km/h) may be 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

Name	Top Speed	Power	Cost	Vehicle type	Battery			Range	Comments
					Type	Life	Capacity
Vectrix	62 mph (100 km/h)	20 kW	$8,800	Scooter	Nickel metal hydride (NiMH) provided by GP Batteries	10 years or 50,000 miles / 80,000 km	30 A·h, 3.7 kW·h	68 miles @ 25 mph (110 km @ 40 km/h)	Review
Yo Speed	(45 km/h)	750W	Rs.35000(~$815)	Scooter				80 km @ 70kg	Review
fun-ev li-ion	50 mph (80 km/h)	3 kW	$5,200	Scooter	li-ion LiFePO4	6 month warranty	40 A·h	25 miles @ 45 mph	Lacks long term testing
fun-ev VRLA	50 mph (80 km/h)	3 kW	$3,600	Scooter	VRLA, 60 volts 5×12	6 month warranty	40 A·h * 60V	25 miles @ 45 mph	Forum pics Forum discussion
ZAP Xebra	40 mph (65 km/h)		$10,000	3 Wheel	Lead acid	3 years		25 miles at 30 mph (40 kilometres at 50 km/h)	review
EVT-4000e	30 mph (50 km/h)	1500W	$2,900	Scooter	Lead acid, 4x12	1.5 - 2 years	50 A·h	25 to 35 miles (40 to 55 km)	Solar Mod, Taiwanese Manufacturer
Zero X	60 mph+	17.4kW 23 HP	High Power $8350 Standard $7450	Off-road Motorcycle	Patent-pending lithium ion array	?	2 kWh	40 Miles 2hrs

Comparison of select upcoming vehicles

Name	Top Speed	Power	Cost	Vehicle type	Battery			Range	Comments
					Type	Life	Capacity
Brammo Enertia	50+ mph (80 km/h)		$11,995+	Motorcycle	6 Lithium Phosphate by Valence	20,000 miles (32,000 kilometres)	3.1 kWh	45+ miles (70+ kilometres)	Available in 2008.
VentureOne	75+ mph (120+ km/h)	40+ kW	$23,000	3 Wheel	Lithium-ion batteries by A123Systems	5000+ charge cycles		120 miles (about 200 km)	video Available in 2010.
Electric GPR-S	70 mph (112 km/h)	14.2 kW	$8,000	Motorcycle	24 Lithium cells	2000+ charge cycles	3.6 kWh	60 miles (economy setting)	Available summer 2008?
Aptera Typ-1e	85 mph (135 km/h)	30 kW	$27,000	3 Wheel	Lithium Phosphate, unknown manufacturer	?	10 kWh	120 miles (190 km)	Production expected in October 2008.
EVC Volta G/T Metro	70 mph (112 km/h)	8 kW	$7,995	Motorcycle	Lithium ion	?	8 kWh	75 miles at optimized speed	Production in summer 2008.
EVC Roadking	91 mph (146 km/h)	15 kW	$9,895	Motorcycle	Lithium ion	?	8.2 kWh	75 miles at optimized speed	Production in summer 2008.
EVC X21	107 mph (171 km/h)	21 kW	$10,950	Motorcycle	Lithium ion	?	8.2 kWh	75 miles at optimized speed	Production in summer 2008.

List of electric motorcycles and scooters

• Zero X from Zero Motorcycles .

References

See also

• Electric bicycle
• Battery electric vehicle
• Electric dragbike
• Electric vehicle
• Killacycle - an electric drag-racer motorcycle
• Plug-in hybrid
• Scooter (motorcycle)
• Zero Motorcycles

External links

• Details on how to build an electric motorcycle including a parts list and links where the parts can be purchased: www.electricmotion.org
• V-EM-60-21 from Elite Power Solutions

News

• Yamaha aims to launch electric motorcycles by 2010 - Sep 2008
• Blackswan to launch electric cruiser,using giant V twin Solenoids