Nepenthes

This is a 100% electric motorcycle called the Brammo Empulse. It will be released in 2011. It can go 100+ mph and can be ridden for 100 miles in between charges. It is powered by a type of Lithium battery designed for electric vehicles.

I have used a picture of it for my avatar.

I ride a Brammo Enertia to work as often as I can. It goes 65+ mph and can go 42 miles on a single charge. I am a big fan of zero emission* vehicles.

I have seen a few references to motorcycles here and I assume some of you are ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) motorcycle riders.

For more information, you can visit: 100% Electric Motorcycle : Brammo Empulse and Enertia Home

What do you think? Would you consider buying one if you were able?

Plan9

Yeah, I ride a big noisy pollution-causing (although, really?) motorcycle and I love it. Half the appeal is how it rumbles down the street.

My usual question for electric vehicles is: "How long does it go before I have to replace the battery? Does the battery lose capacity like-whoa over time?"

I just think of my experience with laptops. Battery lasts 6 hours the first 6 months, 4 hours the next 6 months, and then you're lucky to get 2 hours.

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StanT

Interesting technology; but a 100 mile range won't cut it for me.

Willravel

I've been seriously considering purchasing a Brammo for about a year now. The Empulse 10.0 will be about $14,000 and is available for pre-order now. The only thing that's stopping me is really the safety question.

Then again, if I die at age 27 on a Brammo, that means I'll be saving a good 68 years of polluting the planet.

RogueGypsy

That would be awesome for ripping around the bay.

On a safety note though, I'm a little cautious about buying a silent bike. It's dangerous enough on a road bike. One that's silent would definitely keep me alert.

Freakin' sweet looking bike though.

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Nepenthes

The advances in this battery technology make it possible. The estimated life of these batteries is 10 years on average.

I have owned my Brammo electric motorcycle for nine months, use and charge it nearly everyday, and I have not seen any losses like the ones you see in laptop batteries.

---------- Post added at 07:23 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:15 AM ----------

This is still my biggest concern today. You need stay more alert and try to predict dangerous situations before they might happen. I ride as if I am invisible to everyone.

I mostly use my electric motorcycle to commute to work via back roads.

---------- Post added at 07:32 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:23 AM ----------

It is more quiet than gas-powered bike, but only silent at really low speeds. You are able to hear vehicles approaching a blind intersection much better.

For example, there is a certain road where I need to take a left which quickly turns around a corner. I come to a complete stop and listen for cars or trucks coming from that direction, before I take my left turn. I have good visibility on my right in this scenario.

It does come with a horn, and I know other riders who mount a fog horn on their handlebars to be heard when they need to be heard.

Willravel

I should say it's more a general concern about motorcycles, not just the Brammos. If I was seriously going to get a motorcycle, I'd almost certainly get a Brammo.

Nepenthes

I'll clarify, too. Brammo motorcycles are safe, but all motorcycles are more dangerous, in general, due to car and truck drivers not seeing the motorcycle rider.

RogueGypsy

That's my primary concern there. I've been riding down the highway and have some dingbat try to pull into my lane. Either he didn't check his mirrors or he didn't see me when he did. Either way, this has always been on quiet bikes, like rice rockets, never on a piped Harley. If my bike is soooo loud it rattles your fillings, it's unlikely you'll inadvertently pull out in front of me or cut me off.

None-the-less, electric bikes still intrigue me. Maybe I could just record a piped Harley and run the volume control to the throttle.

__________________
Methods, application and intensity of application vary by the individual. All legal wavers must be signed before 'treatment' begins. Self 'Medicating' is not recommend. However, if necessary, it is best to have an 'assistant' or 'soft landing zone' nearby. Any and all legal issues resulting from improperly applied techniques should be forwarded to: Dewy, Cheatum & Howe, Intercourse, PA 17534. Attn: Anonymous.

Nepenthes

Some people I know are planning something similiar to this.

My morning commute is fairly early, and I like not disturbing my neighbors, so I would need to have a switch to turn the extra sound on and off so I could use it when I thought I needed it.

My office is less than ten miles from house. The version of motorcycle I currently ride is a 2009 Brammo Enertia that gets 42 miles of range. Brammo knows that range is a big issue that is holding many riders back from buying an electric motorcycle.