Comments on: Quantya USA Launches FMX Electric Motorcycle in U.S.

By: alex

alex — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 14:41:40 +0000

Why do they use a Brushed motor?? 3 phase Brushless motors are so more more efficient(over 90%). so many companies producing fantastic brushless motors. The Tesla car uses a 3ph Brushess motor. Does anyone know of a Brushless MX bike

haracteristics: Maximum speed: 60 Km/h approx.
Autonomy: 30 – 180 min
Rotor brakes: Front 220 mm
Rear 200 mm
Fork: Marzocchi Shiver 35 mm
Suspension: Sachs

Battery: Technology: Quantya® LiPo
Energy Center
Voltage: 48 V
Recharge 100%: 120 min approx.
Cycles of charge: 1’000
Warranty: 2 Years

Motor & transmission: Motor: Axial Gap D.C. brush
Max power: 14 kW
Max torque: 31.5 Nm
Transmission: First belt
Second chain

Setup: Software: Quantya® Telemetric
System

Dimension: Weight: 89 kg
Wheelbase: 1310 mm
Saddle height: 915 mm
Rim: Front 18″
Rear 18″

By: todd

todd — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 15:50:46 +0000

Street licensing is easy to obtain with a modified off-road bike that already has a title from the get-go. Unless the manufacturer registers the vehicle with the DOT and EPA or provides a certificate of origin that confirm it is, in fact, a motorcycle, this would be like trying to register your kids Barbie Corvette as a car. As far as I can tell, these electric bikes are classified as a retail item, not a vehicle.

I don’t know what sort of rigum-a-roll is required for manufacturers to register a vehicle but aiming for the gray areas will only get the thing outlawed, much like mini-motos, pocket bikes, and stand-up scooters.

I may be wrong. Is this thing really, legally classified as a motorcycle?

-todd

By: Insideous

Insideous — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 18:30:54 +0000

Dont forget about the http://zeromotorcycles.com (aka http://electricross.com ). With 3 possible makers, I want to see some races.

The Quantya’s indoor/outdoor tracks that allow rental of their bikes has really been increasing their exposure and allowing test driving. I can definitely see how riders that may be debating about electric can get a chance to get over their initial apprehension as well as bring in funds. Heck, combined with minimotos on an indoor course, I can see a real venue for expansion.

By: JC

JC — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 03:26:46 +0000

todd,
It really depends on the state, but I assure you in Texas we could get it registered on the street.

to do so you need the appropriate lights and DOT legal tires (and they rarely check the tires) and you pay the money to get the title modified.

Any four stroke dirt bike is A-OK

By: sfan

sfan — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 22:31:34 +0000

These electric bikes are starting to get very real. A Forbes article (http://members.forbes.com/fyi/2007/0917/156.html) on the Electromoto BladeXTZ that Jay listed above includes these excerpts:

“Blade XTZ that equals or outperforms every gas-powered bike in its weight class (200cc–250cc). Best of all, it does so without making a sound. “This isn’t cheap environmental transportation,” says Schless, now CEO of Electric Moto Corporation, a small firm operating out of Ashland, Oregon. “This is a high-performance motorcycle that will go up against anything out there its own size.”

“And at 178 pounds, it’s 25 to 50 pounds lighter and creates more torque (250 pounds) than most of its competition.”

“The bike gets about four hours out of a single charge when ridden off-road; on-road it can travel 60 to 70 miles before recharging. Maximum speed is about 50 miles an hour.”

“The Blade XTZ costs $9,950. Add $475 for lighting package and street tires. http://www.electricmoto.com.”