Brammo Motorsports has just raised $10 million in venture capital funding for the Enertia electric motorcycle. According to Brammo CEO Craig Bramscher, that is enough to bring the Enertia into production.
What is especially interesting is the source of part of those funds, Best Buy Capital, yep, the Best Buy you know as an electronics store. Hmm, … I wonder where those Enertia motorcycles will go on sale?
Over 100,000 people have expressed interest in purchasing the Enertia through the company website. Although that is no guarantee of actual buyers, the Smart car had a similar website campaign and they had a crush of buyers when it finally became available.
Link: VentureBeat and PEHub
Related: Enertia Electric Motorcycle by Brammo Motorsports
Derek says
this is awsome. electric can be very fast.
the last pic looks like a trials bike.
skadamo says
Hmm, no tradtional dealers? That is a bold move. Will this make more enemys than friends in the powersports business? Should it matter to them? I assume thier motivation is saving cost. Wonder how owner or should I say “user” satisfaction will be affected.
Steve says
The Enertia seems to be a potentially great bike for commuting, errands and short rides. I hope they can make a product that succeeds so they can take the next steps to extend the range and capabilities of Electric Bikes.
On the downside, I would prefer to see the rider in their promotional photos wearing proper safety gear. A T-shirt and jeans is not way to be the Best Dressed participant in any kind of accident.
Hawk says
I have to agree with Steve on the issue of proper gear. With gas prices forcing more and more people into tw-wheel commuting, small (under 50cc) displacement and electric bikes are enjoying unprecedented interest. For the most part, these do not require more than a basic automobile license and no specialised training. Couple that with the increased speed differential to other vehicles on the road and we have a serious potential for disaster.
In British Columbia, where I live, we have a government run monopoly for Public Liability insurance. Even though these riders are NOT licensed as “motorcycle operators”, when they crash, the payments are made out of the “motorcycle funds” and guess who’s premiums skyrocket next year?
In my humble opinion, these small underpowered bikes are probably the most dangerous things you can ride in traffic. Mandatory training should be a given. If the operators are not licensed as “motorcycle riders”, then the crash claims should be paid out of the “automobile funds”. We have enough yo-yo’s drawing on the “motorcycle funds” now.
Derek says
i saw a homemade electric gocart beat a VW Bug in an 1/8th mile. I want to see what these things can do on the drag strip, when modified.
todd says
Congratulations. Hopefully this means more and more electric vehicle start-ups get funded.
-todd
todd says
oh, I saw this picture of a more properly clad rider. It makes it look like it’s a more serious bike when the rider has more serious attire.
http://www.pehub.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads//brammo-crop-8×61.jpg
-todd
FREEMAN says
I like the concept, but it needs to work for AT LEAST 150 miles on a single charge for me. As is, I wouldn’t even make it to work.
Tom says
Goes up to 45 miles at 25 miles per hour, costs $12,000.
You realise a $2000 Honda Metropolitan or Yamaha Vino Classic would hold it by the nose and kick it in the seat of the pants, right?
Jeff says
Gotta start somewhere . Then build on that .
B.Case says
I can’t really say anything bad about the company who brought the Ariel Atom to the States. And, I absolutely encourage development in alternative transportation, so I think the Enertia is a step in the right direction. Brammo has my utmost respect.
I can understand that first-run production pricing needs to recoup initial setup, tooling and roll out, and there’s probably a little added for early-adopter cool factor, but, I’m a little concerned about how they can sustain once somebody undercuts them substantially on price. This happens all the time, the cool innovative company leads the way and spends all the money, then the knock-off companies with deep pockets flood the market with cheaper but effective alternatives. I ask, what’s stopping Mattel from re-aiming their muscle at gen-x Joe-blogger? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_Wheels)
Yeah, so right now I can get a pretty spiffy-looking Kymco 4-stroke 125 scooter that gets 75mpg, for $1,999. Then take the $10,000 I’ve saved to plant a few forests and invest in a few emerging energy markets, and I’d feel pretty darn good. If my point isn’t clear, I think Brammo needs to quickly offer a low-cost alternative once they sell a 100 or so loss-leaders. Maybe I’m stating the obvious and they already know that…
If you ask me, American companies need to compete and lead on design. This is what our Industrial Design forefathers determined was the one thing that justified charging premium prices for everyday things (that, and a little Sigmund Freud). So, does the Enertia invoke that must-have check-writing feeling? I haven’t seen one personally, so I don’t know yet myself. But apparently, based on 100 or so pre-orders, some venture caps think it does.
-brian
Azzy says
Start somewhere, and when someone designs a battery that will actually work for this purpose, it will be good.
I just want to see some hapless Geek Squad fixed or built cycle. They cant seem to get the right side of the mouse down on the table 9 oout of 10 times… let alone handle inspections, titling, and service.
skadamo says
Electric Motorsports just announced the GPR-S. $8000. Cheaper but still a lot of dough.
B*A*M*F says
Brian, you sound like a fellow Industrial Designer. At this point, design and engineering know-how are all that separates the US from much of the world.
I’m hoping the American business community doesn’t forget the lessons of the past few boom/bust cycles and forget that spending money on design up front is the cheapest way to a better product on the showroom floor. Design tends to be one of the first things on the chopping block when hard times come knocking.
todd says
B*A*M*F, design gets chopped from the raster only to be outsourced to more competent design houses. Design is still very important to US companies, not necessarily the consumer. Look at Target, it spends millions on design, marketing, and brand identity only to sell millions of generic, faceless Chinese imports. This is why Target does well, the opposite is why K-Mart tanked.
-todd
Tman says
Sounds like an exciting product for a niche market.
Im seriously considering this.
I wish the price point was a little more affordable. *reminder* do a savings plan write up on fuel*
D says
12,000$ ? …really?….really? i wont be investing in that company cause they are not gonna be around long!