A Canadian company is working on battery technology that will recharge an electric motorcycle in about five minutes without reducing battery life.
The discovery by GBatteries is a potential boost for electric motorcycles and other vehicles as recharging time, not range anxiety, is the biggest hurdle.
Harley-Davidson claims its LiveWire electric motorcycle can be recharged to 80% in about 30minutes using DC fast chargers.
LIveWires on DC fast chargers
Recharge in minutes
However, this process degrades the battery, shortening its life.
Now GBatteries has discovered a process where micro pulses of power will charge batteries quickly without any degradation.
They have filed for 45 patent applications, with 10 patents granted and 28 pending.
“Our mission is to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles, by eliminating the final barrier of charge time and enabling electric vehicles to charge as fast as it takes to fill a tank of gas,” the company says.
“One hour isn’t what we call fast. We’re pioneering technology that will enable electric vehicles to charge as fast as it takes to fill a tank of gas.”
How it works
GBatteries isn’t developing new materials or changing battery chemistry. Instead it is working on new software and hardware.
Their ChargeSense software uses artificial intelligence to create a complex series of small charging pulses and learn about the state of the battery as it charges to avoid degeneration and overheating.
Fast charger causes a fire in the Energica garage housing MotoE race bikes
BMW Motorrad seems to be getting serious about an electric motorcycle, judging by their latest patent application for a frameless motorbike.
The patent drawing, published by Electrek, shows the motor and battery making up the book of the frame, linked via upside down forks and a single 45-degree mono shock to the swingarm.
The Bavarian company already has and electric scooter, the C-Evolution.
But this drawing is a long way from that as well as their electric concepts of the past few years:the boxer-style Vision DC Roadster unveiled in June 2019, the Concept Link electric scooter and the electric S 1000 RR concept called the eRR.
Vision DC Roadster
Concept Link
BMW eRR electric sports bike
Serious spark
But it does lend weight to the likelihood of BMW getting serious about an electric motorcycle sooner, rather than later.
Maybe they will unveil one at the Intermot motorcycle show in Cologne next year.
This is despite managing director Stephan Schaller telling Italian publisher Motociclismo in March 2018 that electric motorcycles are “not in their immediate future”.
Clearly they are now getting serious about electric motorcycles.
Just don’t expect it to be released in Australia soon.
Despite their electric scooter being available for several years, it is still not on sale here.
In 2017, BMW Group Australia boss Marc Werner said Australia needed tax incentives, import subsidies and/or charging infrastructure to catch up with the rest of the world on low-emissions vehicles.
The oil-and-liquid cooling system in the Kawasaki patent drawings are certainly more substantial than we have seen on any other electric motorcycle so far.
That would not only provide more range, but also greater performance.
Australia’s first full-size electric motorcycle, the Savic C-Series, has launched today in Wollongong at the Australian Motorcycle Festival with orders accepted for for first 49 bikes.
The updated prototype revealed today is a far cry from the one unveiled a year ago, thanks to feedback from the public, according to founder Dennis Savic.
Dennis Savic on his original prototype
Prices
Pricing is now $12,990 for the 120km-range Omega, $16,990 for the 150km Delta and $23,9990 for the 200km Alpha. (Range is calculated on 100km/h highway riding at constant throttle without regenerative braking. City range should be higher.)
It’s still much cheaper than the Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle launched last month in the US at about $US30,000 ($A44,000). It will be available in Australia late next year. Pricing is yet to be confirmed.
The Savic range is also competitive on highway range with models such as Harley-Davidson’s LiveWire, and bikes from Zero and Energica.
Savic product spokesman Michael D’Amico says their price rise is “due to an increase in motor torque to better compete with other high end electric motorcycles on the market”.
“So we’ve managed to more or less match performance, for a significantly lower price to customers,” he says.
“Our prices have increased slightly, but they are in the order of $5-10k below our direct competitors.”
Savic is also offering a $2000 discount on Alpha, $1000 on Delta and $500 on Omega Spec models if customers submit an expression of interest for orders at the Australian Motorcycle Festival or online.
Orders
Michael says they currently (sic) have four orders for the founder-edition vehicles and are today releasing 49 orders of the first C-Series production run.
“The Alpha spec is the most asked-about model, however we have high hopes for the Omega as we intend to have it comply with the LAMS scheme.
“Manufacturing will commence in August 2020 with deliveries scheduled for late 2020 through to early 2021.”
Orders can only be placed online and they will be shipped within Australia only for the first production run.
Savic has scheduled their first demo ride day in Melbourne in February 2020.
Updates
The updated prototype is a much more handsome bike than the original.
“This year we completely re-designed and manufactured our own electric motor and battery pack,” Dennis says.
“We developed a liquid-cooled, aluminium-billet, CNC-machined battery enclosure that integrates into the frame.”
It also helps disguise the “brick” battery shape.
The original prototype’s powertrain was assembled from off-the-shelf parts and entry level battery cells.
“We were limited to 40kW and about 100Nm of torque from the motor, but the battery cells couldn’t deliver that power at all,” Dennis says.
“We had to hand fabricate the frame that supported the battery pack and motor, providing a less-than-elegant solution.”
Design
“We learned a lot through 2018 on the vehicle design side of the business,” Dennis says.
“We went back to the drawing board and completely refined the design of the vehicle.
The original had a swingarm from a donor bike, but they have now engineered a tubular single-sided swingarm for a “designer” aesthetic as well as improved handling dynamics.
“Last year we hadn’t engineered our seat at all, and we received a lot of feedback on the narrowness of the seat,” Dennis says.
“We did some vehicle level testing and found it to be uncomfortable indeed!
“We have widened the seat this year and will be tested when vehicle testing begins in December.”
It is still a solo seat, but Dennis says they plan to bring out a pillion option next year.
The bolt-in Motec dash has also been replaced with Savic’s own dash software and the body and frame finishes have been improved for aesthetics and rider comfort.
There is also now a lower fairing option.
Manufacture
The Savic Prototype was designed, engineered, developed and built in Australia.
However, it now includes pre-production parts from suppliers in Taiwan and China.
“We are also looking to engage further supply networks in India,” Dennis says.
“The reality is that we have to manufacture our components overseas, but we will be assembling all our vehicles locally for the Australian market.”
If range anxiety is the biggest hurdle for electric motorcycles, Italian company Energica, who supplies the bikes for MotoE, may have the answer.
Their new Ego and Eva have a larger battery with up 400km (250 miles) of range.
Now that’s a substantial amount and it should ease any range anxiety you might feel about electric motorcycles.
As far as we can see it’s the best on the market beating Zero motorcycles with 360km if you use their optional Charge Tank which costs an extra $US2295.
2020 Energica Eva Ribelle in the city
Range anxiety
However, Energica’s quoted 400km range is for city riding only.
As we know, regenerative braking helps replenish a battery, so stopping and starting actually provides more range than a steady throttle. It’s the opposite of petrol-powered vehicles.
Harley-Davidson trademarks often end up as names for their motorcycles, but in this case, Rude Boy will be used for their upcoming range of electric bicycles.
The bike was delayed a month going into North America dealerships;
Several dealerships refused to pay big money to instal DC fast chargers in order to sell them;
Sales have also been a disaster as customers have baulked at the $US29,950 (about $A44,000 when it arrives in Australia late next year) ticket price; and
The company has filed its application for the Rude Boy trademark with the US Patent and Trademark Office for use with “electric bicycles; electric bicycle parts and accessories”.
Harley already has a Fat Boy Softail motorcycle which has been a huge success over the years, so they will be hoping for the same with with Rude Boy.
With Harley sales down and an ageing demographic, the company is keen to bring in new, younger customers.
This shift toward two-wheeled electric bicycles is part of their future-proofing strategy.
Harley electric mountain bike
Harley has previously shown their electric mountain bike (above) and their electric bicycle prototypes (below) under the “Future Vehicles” tab on their website.
We expect the latter will be the Rude Boy bikes.
It says they are not yet available for sale, but “coming soon” and “future models shown may not be available in all markets”.
They include mid-mounted electric motors, belt drive and one with a step-through “female” frame.
After all, the LiveWire has limited range (about 150km highway and about 235km city) yet they are riding thousands of kilometres from the bottom of South America to ether LA or Alaska.
PR disaster?
While Harley must be hoping it will encourage people to ride electric motorcycles, we doubt it will.
In fact, it may be an unmitigated PR disaster for both Harley and electric motorcycles in general.
We can just see them running out of juice while riding up the Andes and having to wait hours for their huge contingent of back-up vehicles to arrive.
Then they will sit around for hours while their bikes are charged up using DC chargers on the backs of their support vehicles.
Yes, we can see that could be HUGE turn-off for potential electric motorcycle customers. A PR disaster, in fact!
So if Charley and Ewan want to motivate riders to go electric, it could be a big fail.
Entertainment boon
But if they want to entertain, it could be a huge boon for their Long Way Up series.
Their 2004 Long Way Round and 2007 Long Way Down series were entertaining because what they did was difficult and had minimal back-up.
These days, adventure bikes are much better equipped and accessories, cameras, intercoms, etc are so much lighter and cheaper, anyone can do the same.
That’s why Charley and Ewan needed to do something different, something difficult and something that we mere morals could not do.
They have done more than just strap on some dual-sport tyres and wire wheels.
The Long Way compatriots have cleverly organised a real adventure.
It will present heaps of dramas that will make great viewing.
In fact, we are interested to see how the cold temperatures will further erode the LiveWire’s range as batteries don’t like cold.
Tech and crew
The adventure started in September when some of the crew posted the Instagram images on this page.
Since then things have been quiet so we don’t know where they are.
There have been a few modifications to the bikes for this adventure and there is quite an extensive back-up crew involved.
Apart from new wheels, other bike modifications include: windscreens, engine guards, highway pegs, bash plates, auxiliary lights, saddlebags and fender bags.
They also seem to have removed the rear guard and plate holder.
The crew consists of two electric Rivian R1T pick-up trucks which have 650km of range.
They are also supported by two Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 4WD vans and a Ford F350 pickup truck.
So we suspect they are carrying DC fast chargers with them.
Mobile DC fast chargers at work
Harley claims their Fast Charge (DCFC) technology will recharge a flat battery to 80% in 40 minutes and full in 60 minutes.
Charley told us last year that Ewan’s relationship with Moto Guzzi would not necessarily foil their plans:
We’ve been talking about it a long time and if the stars align we will do something like a Long Way up from Tierra Del Fuego to Alaska in the next couple of years. It really is close now. Ewan’s always had a loose relationship with Moto Guzzi so there’s no conflict there.
But rather than Moto Guzzi and Triumph, the pair have opted for the new Harley-Davidson LiveWire.
While it was thought they would go all the way to Alaska, Charley recently said the ride would go from Argentina to LA.
Maybe they don’t want to cover the same territory through Canada and Alaska that they did in the Long Way Round.
Long Way Back
It’s been a long time between trips for Ewan and Charley.
From 14 April 2004 to 29 July 2004, they rode across Europe and the USA in Long Way Round and from 12 May to 4 August 2007 they rode from the top of Scotland to Cape Town in South Africa for Long Way Down.
With Ewan becoming increasingly busy with Hollywood movies, Charley squeezed in the 2006 Dakar rally for his series, Race to Dakar, and has produced several other travel shows.
Scooters are not just meant for kids. If you want to avoid the hassles of parking your car or being stuck in traffic, then you should invest in buying a scooter. Electric scooters also come with a variety of features allowing you to choose one that will suit your needs. Whether you are an urban commuter or you want to take on nature travel, you must get a scooter suitable for your needs. Also, the engine noise associated with motocross tracks is a bit of a turn-off; hence, you must replace your old electric scooter with a better one.
1. Improvement in battery technology
More companies today are producing better electric scooters. This has increased competition in battery production. These recent years have been characterized by environmental-friendly and economical scooters. It is, thus, necessary for you to change your old electric scooter to allow yourself to experience the joy of these newer, improved batteries. These electric scooters have long-lasting batteries, which enables you to travel for up to 43 miles per charge. Also, battery consumption when the scooter is motionless remains minimal, so your charge will last longer.
2. Affordability
The electric cars are pricey, and biking is exhausting. Consequently, scooters are the most viable option. This means that to save some cash, you only have to change the old scooter for a newer model. Also, if you do not take a long-distance journey, scooters are better than electric bikes. They are available at affordable prices with great qualities. If the scooter is damaged, it is easier for you to get spare parts. The repairs will also not cost as much as they used to for the older models; click here for more information on repairs and pricing.
3. Speed Increase
With many electric scooter models released recently, most companies are competing to provide higher speeds and more control to the buyers. There are scooters, today, that go at an average speed of 60mph. This is why you should replace your old scooter and increase your speed. You cannot afford to miss the new upcoming powerful motors, which are equal to 400cc engine hence guaranteeing you great speed.
4. Better Appearance
You can change your scooter and get a better and fancy looking one. Most of them now come with a pillion passenger seat. They have stylish and contemporary designs. This means that they are more elegant and boost your self-esteem when you are riding around the city. The new models are equipped with a larger cargo box hence allowing you to carry more luggages.
5. Greater Control
The upcoming scooters are equipped with powerful motors, thus allowing the users to handle all acceleration of the motor. This means that you will not need a clutch and a gearbox. Besides, the scooters are environmentally friendly. This makes the new electric scooters efficient hence fun to ride.
Features To Consider When Buying a New Scooter
Ducati Super SOCO electric scooter
· Electric Motor
Before you choose a scooter for yourself, you need to consider whether you can climb mountains on the scooter. If your grounds are not smooth, then you need to choose an electric scooter with a motor that is powerful enough to allow you to climb fast without any issue. At least a 350-watt motor should do the trick.
· Range
You will have to consider how far the batteries can go on a single charge before you buy one. The range will also vary depending on whether you will be riding on flat ground or rough terrain. Temperatures will also affect the mileage of the scooter. You should put that into consideration too.
· Portability
The last thing you want is an electric scooter that is too heavy to carry around. One thing is for certain; you will not always be riding your scooter. Sometimes you will have to carry it around. While all scooters are relatively smaller, some are heavier than others. This difference could cause a huge problem for you. Whether you are buying online or from a brick and motor store, you need to consider how much weight you can handle versus how much the scooter weighs.
Conclusion
Old electric scooters put you at high risk of an accident. Also, sticking to your old machine limits you from experiencing the great power that comes with the new upcoming one. The British government is now subsidizing the production of electric scooters. Hence, they are inviting more innovation and more producers to enlarge the Market. You cannot afford to miss such new inventions, which will be revolutionary in the upcoming days.
Production of the Harley-Davidson electric LiveWire motorcycle has started again after being stalled a few days this week over a problem with one home charger.
The company says it was only a “single occurrence”. There was no problem with the motorcycle, only the charger.
“We take pride in our rigorous quality assurance measures and our drive to deliver the world’s best motorcycles,” their press statement says.
They had asked owners only to charge their bikes with the DC fast charger supplied at some HD dealerships. However, they say it is now safe to use any method to charge them.
LiveWires on DC fast chargers
Even though it doesn’t arrive in Australia until late next year, Harley-Davidson Australia had issued this statement:
As we lead in the electrification of motorcycles, we have delivered our first LiveWire motorcycles to authorized LiveWire dealers. We recently discovered a non-standard condition during a final quality check; stopped production and deliveries; and began additional testing and analysis, which is progressing well. We are in close contact with our LiveWire dealers and customers and have assured them they can continue to ride LiveWire motorcycles. As usual, we’re keeping high quality as our top priority.
We also asked how many Aussie orders they had and how many dealers were installing the DC fast charger:
We are not in a position to share any specific details and we are currently working closely with our dealer network as we get ready to welcome what will be a very exciting product for Australian and New Zealand customers.
Phone and other electrical devices can have issues with chargers overheating and causing a fire.
Electric vehicle and charger fires can be caused by short-circuits, power surges, impact, excessive discharge or overheating.
They also cause special concerns for fire fighters.
Lithium batteries are obviously made with lithium which is highly flammable and stored in mineral oil.
Tesla goes up in flames
While it is not toxic, it can cause nausea, diarrhoea, dizziness, muscle weakness, fatigue and a dazed feeling.
Electric vehicle and battery fires can also release sulphuric acid, carbon monoxide, copper and cobalt.
Fire fighters can’t douse the flames with water as the high voltage can cause an electric shock or electrocution.
Instead, they have to disconnect the power supply (usually an orange plug) and contain the fire to let it burn itself out.
LiveWire short circuit
Riding the LiveWire in Orgeon
This temporary hiccup with Harley’s electric motorcycle program follows a month delay in deliveries to US dealerships where it has created a lot of interest, but not a lot of sales.
Buyers are apparently baulking at the $US29,990 price (about $A44,000).
Some dealers are even rejecting the expensive DC fast-charger installation which is a requirement of being able to sell the bike.
PR exercise
So Harley has two major PR exercises going at the moment to rescue the LiveWire.
Charley Boorman and Ewan McGregor are currently shooting Long Way Up from the bottom to the top of the Americas, riding LiveWire motorcycles.
Ewan and Charley pack their LiveWire bikes for the trip
And now HD has brought in Hollywood action star Jason Momoa who plays Aquaman and Khal Drogo to test ride the bike.
“Harley wanted me to test one of the new LiveWires, I was kind of like ehhh. I like the idea of it but I wanted to hear it,” says Jason who is more at home on pushrod fuel burners.
Instead, Yamaha will unveil two electric scooters, an electric bicycle, an electric mobility scooter and an electric personal scooter at next week’s 46th Tokyo Motor Show.
Yamaha has not revealed many details of its new electric program at the Tokyo show, but they do promise fast-charging, extra range and removable batteries.
Electric program
So far, Yamaha has only produced the electric PES1 (Passion Electric Street) road bike and PED1 (Passion Electric Dirt), but neither is available in Australia.
In Tokyo they will unveil the small E02 scooter and classic-looking E-Vino, both with removable batteries.
There will also be a YPJ-YZ pedal-assisted e-bike, an electric tilting three-wheelers mobility scooter, and the electric Land Link Concept.
The latter uses artificial intelligence image recognition technology to autonomously move over “vast” outdoor terrain. It is likely designed to transport cargo.
Manufacture
