Electric scooters.... WHEN?!

[nushipwright]

Hi all,

Recently I've been looking at electric scooters and so far none has been mass produced. Vectrix Scooters went bankrupt couple of years ago... Which is a shame. I know battery (lithium) is still the killer (expensive, relatively heavy, still provide relatively low range - all this compared to a tank with gas/petrol in it) but I can hardly wait till something like this hits the roads:



http://www.globalsuzuki.com/Burgman_Fuel-Cell_Scooter/index.html

I know it's not a Kymco, so don't throw stones at me now It's not even plug in electric, but the fuel cell + battery combo is the real deal I think. Look at the site I linked in above to see more.

Also recently learnt that there are still VERY FEW hydrogen fuel stations available in the world. I was expecting higher number, since I first heard of Honda FCX and BMW 7H etc. But  s l o w l y  their number will grow and I'm sure we'll reach a point where it will be available.
Who know 5-10 years from now we'll need an electric category on this forum?

[tortoise]

Somewhat related . . Polaris buys Brammo.

[BettinANDlosing]

Kymco actually has two pretty good electric scooters but only available in Taiwan. The guys at Kymco keep telling us "we'll get those next year!". They aren't really high performance, more like moped performance. I've thought about designing an electric scooter. Personally i think the lithium ion technology is AWESOME, Tesla can go 0-60 in under 4 seconds with lithium, and range is over 200 miles.

[nushipwright]

I've been following Tesla since it's beginning. Yes, I agree the Lithium Ion batteries are awesome, I use them in my rc speed boats as well. They provide a drastic change over NiMH or NiCd, not to mention Pb batteries. But still very expensive. And capacity / volume (or weight) is still a bit low. An electric bike can match or even exceed the performance of internal combustion counterparts, but always at higher mass because of battery and/or shorter range.... Not to mention the higher cost.







Just to list a few. Amazing bikes but still not for the budget of most people.

[boo]

Saw on tech news a few days ago. Some new company in Japan is beginning to produce total electric motor scooters.
Two small medium sized Lithium batteries under the seat. Trade stations round the city.
Pull up, swap batteries and go.
These scoots are aimed at large cities with pollution problems.

Cannot remember the name. Might be Robolo or something like that.

[BettinANDlosing]

Have you read about the new Panasonic liIon factory in the US? They are partnering with Tesla to produce much cheaper lithium batteries in the US! So they won't be expensive for long. I've tossed around the idea of creating an electric conversion for GY6 engines, where the brushless motor sits in place of the crankshaft inside the engine case, still utilizing the variator and drive system.

[zombie]

I didn't get most of this. I was burning a pile of tires, and old batteries... Something in my eye.
I'll read it later.

[nushipwright]

Polaris buy Brammo in the news:


http://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/2015/january/polaris-buy-brammo/

[AMAC1680]

http://www.bmwblog.com/2014/03/14/bmw-c-evolution-electric-scooter-will-launch-may/

Be Big,
AMAC

[NeoGenesisMax]

Ahhh batteries that the mining of the raw material and refinement of causes acid rain in china or hydrogen fuel that's refinement polutes more than refining and burning of gas..... I'll stick with my gas scoot until they work out those kinks.

[BettinANDlosing]

Ahhh batteries that the mining of the raw material and refinement of causes acid rain in china or hydrogen fuel that's refinement polutes more than refining and burning of gas..... I'll stick with my gas scoot until they work out those kinks.

Yeah nothin is free....... We live in a funny world!

[nushipwright]

Hydrogen isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's them most abundant element in the universe. So they (astrophysicists) say. If obtained by using renewable energy sources (solar/wind/water) it is a potent thing and has absolutely no bad effect on the planets ecosystem.
We've been used to the dirty stuff for too long. Whole industries based on oil etc. It will take time. But in the long run it does seem very likely to take over. Take a look at Germany. They are slowly but definitely going towards it. Or Norway government standing behind the electrification of cars on their streets. Or the Netherlands. It's just a way of thinking. 

Long read but worth it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_car

Countries with loads of oil reserves both above and below ground are reluctant to change. Those with less, tend to turn to other alternatives.
I wouldn't mind a cleaner world.

[zombie]

I've said this too many times to count...
Electro magnetic pulsed, Hydro Dynamic engines.

Sort of an magnetic hockey puck inside a hydraulic fluid filled sleeve, powering a vane type rotary engine. Hydrogen fuel cells power the generator.

Forget all the battery/ethanol/unicorn pee powered vehicles.

One moving part supplies more torque than anything on the road today.

Someone commission the build, and I'll have it for you in 2 months.