A-to-Z Guide to Green: Electric Boogie
04/01/2008
Availability: Late 2008Price: $11,995
Engine: permanent-magnet DC motor
Power: 12 hp to 25 hp
Torque: 17 ft lbs to 34 ft lbs of torque
Zero-to-30: 3.8 seconds
Top Speed: 50 mph
Range: 35 to 45 miles
Pro: You won’t need to wear earplugs on your ride to work.
Con: With a 50 mph top speed, it is not practical on the highway.
Brammo Motorsports, manufacturer of the sprightly aluminum chassis Ariel Atom (the love child of a go-kart and a sports car if ever there was), provides a way to expiate weekend fuel consumption: ride its aluminum chassis Enertia electric motorcycle the rest of the week. This unique carbon catharsis is derived from a variable-setting 12- to 25-hp permanent-magnet DC motor mounted low on the frame. Power is transmitted directly to the rear wheel by chain—belt drive is also under consideration—without any intervening clutch or gears.
To start the Enertia, simply insert the key and turn the ignition to "on," press the power button, and then activate the throttle with a safety switch on the handlebar. The electric motor’s immediate torque accelerates the machine briskly in almost complete silence—a zero-to-30 mph time of 3.8 seconds is more than adequate for urban environments. Topping out at about 50 mph probably disqualifies the Enertia from safe freeway use, but its 35- to 45-mile range will meet most people’s daily commuting needs.
Including a hefty 80-pound battery pack—comprised of six lithium-phosphate modules mounted along the bike’s spine under the dummy tank—the machine weighs just 280 pounds, making it easy to maneuver with light control effort. Moreover, lithium-phosphate battery cells do not suffer from the vigorous flammability of common cobalt-oxide lithium-ion cell and offer a longer lifespan.
"The battery supplier was chosen based on safety, reliability, and system level integration," says Brian Wissman, Brammo Motorsports’ design director. "[They have] built a complete system designed specifically for use in electric vehicles." Plugged into a standard 110-volt outlet, a full charge takes just three hours.
The Enertia costs $11,995, and one of the 99 special edition models—which come with carbon-fiber bodywork and limited-edition paint options—costs $14,995. Limited edition models will be delivered this summer, before the motorcycle’s regular production run at the end of the year.
Brammo Motorsports, 888.201.6204, www.enertiabike.com