Zephyr Boy

E-bike's big brother...

tpreitzel

Now, just imagine this concept extended somewhat with a retractable canopy lined with solar cells.

With all the new research into battery chemistries with vastly improved energy density * and solar cells, we'll see some really fantastic machines within 10 years, i.e. by 2020.

* Certainly NOT LiPo4

Llamero

If you do out the math though, E-motorcycles are doomed to failure, except in the midwest and Florida, with the current battery chemistries. If you even assume a highly efficient motor running at peak efficiency, and LiPO batteries, a bike with any range beyond to the local grocery store will not have the power to climb hills at current speed limits. A big leap forward in electrical energy storage is needed (as well as electrical infrastructure to charge an endless number of vehicles) to make e-vehicles truly practical.

This is why I like the idea of e-bike, the human contributes some of the power needed, which allows for a smaller battery pack, and therefore improved range and performance. They also really help to solve the obesity epidemic within the US.

f0x

I thought a lot of ebikes have at least 10miles per charge?

Llamero

That's what I meant. With modern commute distances, not many people could find practical use for an e-motorcycle. If you live in SF, you have to carry an extremely small pack to be able to climb hills at traffic speeds, which means very low range. However, if you live in Florida, for example, this may be practical since there are practically no hills, so vary large battery packs could be used giving excellent range.

Unfotunately, the flat states tend to be of the political spectrum that would never buy such a device, and the hilly states aren't practical places to use it.