Triumphrat

Lee · 01-12-2007

I would like to know your thoughts on this bikes design. I think they are on the right track. The weight multiple fuels, electric motor all make this an excellent around town bike. If the purpose is to reduce fuel consumption and emissions then this may be what is in store for us.

E-cycle out of Pennsylvania and Machineart has team up to produce these concept hybrid motorcycles.
The e-Cycle Solid Slot brush less motor/generator that has a variety of small displacement gas and diesel engines. The electric motor is used for torque demands such as acceleration and passing and the gas or diesel motor for cruising and charging the batteries. It can be programmed for all electric operation for limited distances.

Performance
E-Cycle estimates the hybrid will have the performance of a 250 cc gas motorcycle, except top speed.
Zero to sixty in 6 seconds and a top speed of 80 mph.
Fuel economy estimated at 150 mpg with significantly lower emissions.
A variety of engines may be used.

Specifications
E Cycle's hybrid power train ideally lends itself to a fork less, single-sided front suspension.
A Solid Slot™ brush less motor/generator provides electric power – 42 VDC up to 400A
A wide range of engines is possible
The battery bank consists of three 12 volt cells
The Wheels are 16 x 3, CNC precision machined from pressure cast aluminum blanks manufactured by
All American Wheel.
The front brake is an inside-out rotor with an opposed piston caliper with Performance Friction pads and
is integrated with the front suspension upright.
The rear brake consists of a single-piston caliper with a floating rotor and Performance Friction brake pad
The tires are Pirelli MT-75; the front is 100/80-16 and the rear 120/80-16
The 2 speed transmission designed by e Cycle
The final drive is Gates Poly-chain 30/71
The fuel tank capacity is .90 gallons
Front suspension is torsion complemented by a coil-over adjustable Penske Racing Shock
The rear suspension is a coil-over adjustable Penske Racing Shock
The wheelbase is 50 inches
Weight is 220 lb (100 kg)

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Nickwiz · 01-12-2007

Its the future.

Either that or for many of us we'll have to replace our bikes with these.

:wink:

Silverado57 · 01-12-2007

Interesting Lee.
If we're smart we have to move away from traditional oil-sucking, internal combustion engines and rely on alternative fuel and energy. It's coming sooner or later.

Until then, I'll continue to be fuel-efficient by riding my Speedmaster instead of driving a car, and using renewable fuels for home heating instead of oil.

HiDesert · 01-12-2007

Are you asking from an investment point of view, or from a purchaseing point of view?

Are we talking about 3 12 volt car batteries? If so, have they done a safety analysis to see what might happen with all that acid in an accident?

All the transmission, final drive, and fuel tank info seems oddly specific for a "slide in any old small engine" design. Actually, who cares about how the wheels are made or what model shock they plan on using when they haven't even specified an engine. Will they use the same suspension components regardless of engine weight?

This looks very preliminary to me.

Lee · 01-12-2007

Hide I was just asking from a point of view, what you think. The engine was not talked about that much and I thought they were utilizing the same engine for fuel they are using, The brushless electric engine is unique and also starts the bike. I also thought the weight was very good (225 lb.). I am still trying to get more information. I will post the additional information as soon as soon as I get it. Thank you Lee

Skibo · 01-12-2007

When the current warming cycle reverses and we go through a cooling cycle, what then? do we start burning everything in site to avoid an ice age?

joe82325 · 01-12-2007

uke:

MES · 01-12-2007

I think it pretty ridiculous really.
The idea of making something efficient isn't, but that isn't really the way to do it. It is certainly better than the alternative.
They are taking a high tech solution for a basic problem.
There is already a company in N.Z. that has basically taken a mountain bike frame and attached a small 4-stoke to it. It retains the option to pedal either as a helper or primary.
front suspension, mono-shock rear, 90lbs. (sorry, no link)

from a practical point of view there are several thing to consider.
No one product will suit everyones needs.

There is a trade off between efficiency and simplicity.

The hybrid bike is probably more efficient than the mountain bike. the Hybrid has many more parts that have to be manufactured. It take energy to make the parts. Does the gain in efficiency over the lifetime of the bike out weigh the extra cost in energy to produce those parts compared to a low tech approach?

Price. At what price point is it a disincentive. Most people can't afford to spend 10K (just a guess) to save 2K.
For the Price of one of the fancy hybrids I could build 50 motorized beach cruisers. Which would save more resources?

All in all, it is just another yuppie feel good toy that will not amount to anything done as a senior project for a design school.

Apparently that boy was absent on the day they discussed the theory that good design begins with the proper approach

Quote:

... coil-over adjustable Penske Racing Shock

and racing shocks aren't the right approach by a good long way.

As a senior adviser I would have asked him these 3 questions
does it cost less that 1K? Can it be repaired and maintained by an untrained "mechanic" in any 3rd world country using only basic tools? can it be manufactured in the 3rd world using existing production facilities?

That company doesn't want to cut emissions in any meaningful way. What it wants is a saleable product that can be marketed as "eco-friendly" to an trendy,rich, feel good niche market .

I'm not impressed.

Lee · 01-12-2007

I am kind of surprised at the responses. I own a R3 so obiviously I would not want to be tooling around on one of these. I thought some of you would look at this as a start of moving int he right direction. As for producing it in a third world country, why so it can fall a part and need to be repaired.
As for the companies intent..may be they want to make money, I would say that is pretty much a given, but I got news for you if they do not make money they will go out of business..This is true for companies, hospitals, etc.
If they develp a bike that has a fair amount of power with a minimal amount of consumption it may not be the answer to all the energy problems, but it is a start.

Nickwiz · 01-12-2007

Possibly true.

Thing is that if we are going to something to cut emmisions we have to take a dual approach. We need to modify existing technology so that it can be affordably cleaned up whilst at the same time introducing realistic non oil burning vehicles that are better and maybe even cheaper to buy and run.

Its like the organic food thing, whilst organic food was more expensive to buy it remained a niche market. Whilst people recognised that it was worth eating healthier they had avoided it cos of cost. Nowadays organic stuff is everywhere and is a growing market because it is more affordable.

Do the same with renewable energy and transport and we might just keep the planet habitable.

[ This message was edited by: Nickwiz on 2007-01-12 19:41 ]