looks like Bultaco will be back next year with an electric bike too http://www.gizmag.com/bultaco-rapitan-sport-resurrected/32117/
G'Day Fellow 2fiftycc'ers. Just want to your input on what would make you consider buying an electric powered bike. Have riden a few when I was overseas and was quite impressed with the performance considering the current technology. They look like the size and performance of a 250cc but have zero emission. They do not have any transmission with just a varying throttle and is absolutely silent, which is a strange but nice sensation. It feels like flying a glider low on the ground. I'd rather enjoyed it and am wondering why is there so few suppliers of electric powered bikes in Australia with the ones in the market being so expensive. Current ones on the market have the performance of a 650cc but need only register it as a 250cc with the RMS. What are your views on this topic fellow citizens.
Hi and to the forum. Not heard much about these electric bikes yet but I'm intrigued. I'd love to test ride one!
You can buy a lot of petrol for $20,000! There is a common misconception (possibly spread by people with something to gain) that electric cars/bikes are zero emission. The day that they start mining for the raw materials pollution is created. Then how much more is pumped into the atmosphere in the transport, manufacturing and distribution of the finished product to the end consumer. We then have the fact that most electricity in Aus is made by burning coal (with associated pollution in mining and transport) to get those electrons to your power point so you can charge your bike. Electricity production is a very dirty business, just ask anybody who lives in the Hunter Valley in NSW, because so much more has to be produced due to the losses in transmission to the major cities that are the biggest users. When we can make solar panels with less pollution than burning petrol, that can take our bikes/cars the same distance as the petrol, then we may be getting close to zero emissions. I remember reading a story about the Toyota Prius when they were first released where somebody has worked out the pollution created in building a Prius (with all its precious metals) was more than a Kenworth truck. The difference was at the end of the vehicle life where the truck could be melted down and used again, but a lot of the Prius had to go to landfill because of the toxic bits used in it. I could be wrong on all this but you need to see the full picture when thinking about 'zero' pollution.
all i can say is the coal mining in the hunter valley is environmental vandalism and future generations will rue it but sydney cannot see it and the royalties keep the govt going.coal has a short future and the mining companies know it. deead heads get 150k a year as labourers, 12 hour shifts and huge rents.
This is the most unbiased review I've seen on electric bikes. Don't get me wrong, great concept - but like electric cars I'm prepared to be disappointed. The thing that scared me the most is how seemingly abruptly they wind down when they're out of power.
li-ion batteries last till no power left but holds a charge well. maybe a generator can be built in the non powered wheel to charge the battery or a reserve one.
hahahah that is a grouse review !!! . and now , I actually really want one hahhaha , I had an electric go-kart which hammered every other go-kart , so no doubt that thing would be a little machine.
