Check out the world's fastest production electric motorcycle, the Brammo Empulse R, carving up the twisties in Malibu and cruising the mean streets of LA. She's a thing of beauty... and the bike's pretty nice too!
"We have a very intense competition now in the electric bikes market - we hope that it will bring the best quality at affordable prices. Lithium Battery technology is making a very important step in its reliability and performance by meeting the very tough demands of the motorcycle world."
"We would like to talk today about the Lithium Batteries and Electric Powertrain durability or should we really do it? Just watch the video of Zero MX Electric Bike hitting the dirt track."
Check out the world's fastest production electric motorcycle, the Brammo Empulse R, carving up the twisties in Malibu and cruising the mean streets of LA. She's a thing of beauty... and the bike's pretty nice too!
"We have a very intense competition now in the electric bikes market - we hope that it will bring the best quality at affordable prices. Lithium Battery technology is making a very important step in its reliability and performance by meeting the very tough demands of the motorcycle world."
"We would like to talk today about the Lithium Batteries and Electric Powertrain durability or should we really do it? Just watch the video of Zero MX Electric Bike hitting the dirt track."
"Now you can check our progress towards the brick wall. As you already know, the recent nosedive in the markets and economic indicators is the reflection of the Oil price above 100 dollars. FED is not controlling the economic cycle any more - Oil does. FED and all other central banks now will backstop the insolvent financial system and provide liquidity in order to control "the run on the banks", consequence will be the explosion of our Mega Trend: Peak Oil multiplied by Inflation.
"This animation deserves to be posted one more time.Post Carbon Institute has produced a brilliant documentary "There Is No Tomorrow", which we highly recommend to watch everybody. You can personally judge our progress now."
The 2012 Empulse has a 6 speed transmission as standard equipment. The Integrated Electric Transmission (IET™) - IET™ is a mechatronic propulsion unit that emulates the feeling and performance of a traditional internal combustion engine, with a specially developed electric motor, clutch and gear shift, that enables the 2012 Empulse to accelerate hard from the line up to a high top speed, something that is just not possible to achieve with a single ratio electric motorcycle. The 2012 Empulse is also the world's first production electric motorcycle to feature water cooling.
China has the money, political will and the technology to leapfrog into the post carbon world. Oil is the geopolitical issue already and it will define the sharp edge between the state of War and Peace in the nearest future. As one very wise and honest person has put it: "How to stop wars and terrorism? - Stop using Oil." We will paraphrase it here: How to Survive? - Stop using Oil - at least for transportation.
We hope, that China is transforming "The Art Of War" into the Art Of Survival for the benefit of all, but the Western world which is teared apart by the latest financial structural crisis is falling dangerously behind now.
"All our estimations about the Electric Cars and their adoption rates will be proven wrong in the end. It have happened with all technology, we can not really predict the future here. We can only estimate the trend. And here is another reason to move to Electrification of our transportation - Clean Air. When you have it - you never need it. Just the look at the picture from Beijing tells you why China is so anxious to move fast in the electric cars space. Question is not only about survival economically in the Peak Oil environment, but about surviving physically in our mega cities and China will have majority of them on its soil very soon."
"We are talking a lot about the economic benefits of electric cars here, and that they will be the only economically viable solution for our personal mobility after the Oil Crunch. Unfortunately, there is another side of the oil - nobody is talking enough about, oil kills and not only on the battle fields far away during the "liberation" military occupations, but literally on the streets every day. If this price was seriously accounted among the other considerations about electric cars, we think, that our tipping point for the mass market for electric cars would be already here.
We all have the right for the Clean Air, but why not on the streets? We do not think that the air quality in Los Angeles is any better than it is in London - all mega cities in the world are killing thousands of their residents by allowing to drive ICE cars slowly day by day."
Imagine all of the cars and light-duty trucks in Washington and Oregon combined. Then imagine them all being either battery-electric vehicles or plug-in hybrids. That's what Chinese leaders have in mind by the end of the decade. The China State Council is pushing for a combination of automotive industry production and public acceptance to allow for as many as five million plug-in vehicles to be on the roads in China by 2020, Green Car Congress reports.
The Chinese government is also looking to boost average new-car fuel economy to about 47 miles per gallon in 2020 from about 34 miles per gallon in 2015, when the State Council is targeting for about a half-million vehicles to be electric drive.
China will enact a combination of research and development funding and subsidies that will be used to boost sales of plug-ins. The government will also speed up the development of an electric-vehicle charging infrastructure and will tilt tax policies to be more plug-in friendly.
China was already expected to account for a substantial chunk of the more than 600,000 plug-in vehicles expected to be sold in Asia Pacific by 2017, as forecast by green-technology research firm Pike Research last year. The auto industry is certainly getting ready. This month, General Motors debuted a demonstration fleet of Chevrolet Volt extended-range plug-in vehicles in China. GM and the China Automotive Technology Research Center (CATARC) will operate and study the fleet for about a year. At the Beijing Motor Show this week, a number of plug-in vehicles were on display, like the CH Auto Lithia and the Venucia E-Concept."
We have a very intense competition now in the electric bikes market - we hope that it will bring the best quality at affordable prices. Lithium Battery technology is making a very important step in its reliability and performance by meeting the very tough demands of the motorcycle world.
"We would like to talk today about the Lithium Batteries and Electric Powertrain durability or should we really do it? Just watch the video of Zero MX Electric Bike hitting the dirt track."
The 2012 Empulse has a 6 speed transmission as standard equipment. The Integrated Electric Transmission (IET™) - IET™ is a mechatronic propulsion unit that emulates the feeling and performance of a traditional internal combustion engine, with a specially developed electric motor, clutch and gear shift, that enables the 2012 Empulse to accelerate hard from the line up to a high top speed, something that is just not possible to achieve with a single ratio electric motorcycle. The 2012 Empulse is also the world's first production electric motorcycle to feature water cooling.
"We would like to talk today about the Lithium Batteries and Electric Powertrain durability or should we really do it? Just watch the video of Zero MX Electric Bike hitting the dirt track."
"LITO's expert team of engineers and industrial designers is proud to introduce a new generation of electric motorcycle. With its sleek design, state-of-the-art engineering and superior speed and performance, the SORA superbike is an unparalleled riding experience.
We have pushed the limits of cutting-edge design to create a bike that respects the environment without ever compromising style, speed or power. Because it's electric, the SORA is quiet, clean and efficient. It can be charged and/or quick-charged at home. The Sora can also be charged at a level 2 charging station for long-lasting performance and requires next to no maintenance.
Take the SORA for a test drive and experience the effortless handling, seamless full-throttle cornering, explosive acceleration and phenomenal torque that catapult this bike into a league of its own. Built for people who love the thrill of the ride, the SORA is the epitome of pure performance and power — the ultimate adrenalin rush."
A trend toward the adoption of electric cars may be foreshadowed by the growth of electric bicycles and the global shift in transportation that has already demonstrated an impact on the lithium industry. A recent report from Pike Researchforecasts that the global market for electric bicycles will climb at an estimated compound annual growth rate of more than seven percent over the next six years, which could reflect global annual sales of over 47 million vehicles by 2018.
Lithium battery technology is currently used in 65 percent of operating electric bicycles in Western Europe, compared with North America at 56 percent and Asia at four percent. Demand for electric bicycles in Western Europe is expected to climb at an annual rate of 11.8 percent over the next six years for an estimated total of 1.5 million electric bicycles sold in 2018.
Alternative power source
The majority of the electric bicycles sold in China use sealed lead acid batteries; however, the report forecasts that global penetration of lithium batteries will grow from six percent this year to twelve percent over the next six years. The primary limit will be set by cost pressures on sealed lead acid batteries in Asia through this decade. Last year China represented approximately 41 percent of global lead demand. Pike Research believes that once manufacturing efficiencies have driven down the costs of lithium battery technology, the market will start to see the decline of sealed lead acid as the battery of choice in electric bicycles.
Demand driver
Electric bicycle sales volumes are being driven by macroeconomic trends, such as the growth of urbanization, in addition to the need for convenient, low-cost transportation in developing markets. This point is of interest since more than 1.5 billion individuals in China and India are still living in rural areas, which in recent history have often been considered the most dominant economic development contexts.
The research report anticipates that in six years Chinese demand for electric bicycles will account for 42.4 million, with an estimated 89 percent of the total global market share. The total number of electric bicycles currently operating in China is estimated at between 120 and 140 million, compared with total automobile ownership of approximately 72 million passenger cars.
Potential risk
In an interview with Lithium Investing News, Dave Hurst, senior analyst at Pike Research, discussed the repercussions of a possible economic slowdown in China for the county’s adoption rates. Hurst conceded that “a slowdown or contraction would have to include unemployment and a decrease in the population growth of some of China’s cities. Most e-bicycles are purchased for commuting and transportation, so an economic slowdown could have one of two effects: it could decrease the purchase of e-bicycles as there is less need for transportation in the cities, or alternatively, it could shift some of the car demand to e-bicycles, which are significantly less expensive to operate.” Under the premise that Hurst developed, “this result would likely be a wash. We could see demand slow as unemployment creeps higher, but then you would have some additional demand return from those that still need transportation replacing that lost demand.”
Impact for lithium producers and exploration companies
Hurst explained a muted positive benefit for both lithium producers and junior exploration companies, commenting that “the upstream implications for the lithium market will be positive, but not huge. The batteries in e-bicycles are small in comparison to other forms of transportation, and the largest market, China, will be still dominated by lead acid for the next several years. As a result, I anticipate that the demand for lithium-ion battery storage is going to grow at a healthy, yet not phenomenal, rate of 22 percent, growing from one million kilowatt hours of batteries in 2012 to 3.4 million kilowatt hours by 2018.”
Hurst indicated that larger-weighted aggregate demand from automobile manufacturing “is anticipated to reach 3.6 million kilowatt hours this year. So, bottom line, I anticipate that e-bicycles will be helpful early on for some battery manufacturers and lithium producers that need whatever volume they can get, but e-bicycle batteries are not going to be the difference between success and failure for most large lithium producers, exploration companies, or battery manufacturers.”
Securities Disclosure: I, Dave Brown, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
We would like to talk today about the Lithium Batteries and Electric Powertrain durability or should we really do it? Just watch the video of Zero MX Electric Bike hitting the dirt track.
Responsive. Planted in the corners. Tuned for flight. Twist the throttle and start carving the track. Silent and powerful, the Zero MX opens a visceral new world of moto possibility.
The Zero MX takes revolutionary electric motorcycle technology to the track, trail or even your back yard. Incredibly tough and lightweight, the Zero MX uses a finely tuned and fully adjustable suspension system to absorb aggressive terrain and give you an edge. Combined with state of the art Z-Force™ technology and an ultra-light frame design, the Zero MX is agile and fast where it counts.
Speaking of fast, the Zero MX will spin heads as well as laps around the competition. Based on the 2011 World Electric Indoor Motocross championship winning machine, the new Zero MX has taken huge leaps forward in terms of power and response. Finely massaged by the Zero engineering team, the new MX demands attention. Track tuned suspension and an industry leading power-to-weight ratio results in a dirt bike with uninhibited responsiveness. Alloy motocross wheels take the hits while smoothly maintaining control. Intensity combines with silence to open up a new world of riding possibilities. Think about it: if no one heard you riding, where would you ride?
WHAT'S NEW FOR 2012
The new 2012 Zero MX is more fun to ride than ever before. It shares many of the same improvements as the Zero X, but is stripped down to be lighter, faster off the line and have more traction in the dirt. Designed exclusively for off-road and motocross track usage, the 2012 Zero MX provides 75% more range, leverages Zero Motorcycles’ revolutionary new Z-Force™ battery technology and is more powerful than ever before. In addition to improved performance, owners will be pleased to know that the Zero MX’s Z-Force™ power pack now lasts the life of the motorcycle with the ability to ride upwards of 3,000 track hours while still retaining 80% capacity. To give the Zero MX a bold new look, it now has more contemporary bodywork and stylish graphics.
Our Lithium developers are waiting for this technology confirmation to break out from the consolidation stage now.
It looks like Warren Buffet will be right on the money again with his call on Electric Cars!"
We have a report from Pike Research about new potential market for the lithium batteries in North America and Europe. Electric Bikes are already a very fast growing business in China and rest of the Asia is waking up to this idea as well. The main drivers there are the expensive fuel and very cheap home-made electric bikes. Technology and safety is getting better in Asia and now major motor and auto makers are announcing electric scooters and bikes for the Western market as well.
While two-wheeled transport remains the primary means of transport for millions of people in China and other parts of Asia Pacific, most consumers in North America and Europe have remained committed to their passenger cars. Now, however, high petroleum costs, improved customer perception, and government incentives are all contributing to a growing demand for motorcycles and scooters – including those powered by electricity. Particularly in areas where the population is increasingly moving into cities, where large vehicles are often impractical and expensive to own, operate, and park, density has become a driving force for the e-motorcycle and e-scooter markets. According to a recent report from Pike Research, sales of these vehicles will rise sharply in Europe and North America over the next six years.
In Western Europe, for example, annual sales of e-motorcycles will essentially double each year through 2017, the cleantech intelligence firm says, with some countries, such as Italy and France, seeing compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) of greater than 120%. The nations of Eastern Europe will see even more explosive growth, with e-motorcycle sales increasing by 138% annually from 2011 through 2017. CAGRs for e-motorcycles in North America will surpass 71%.
“For now, sales numbers are low, but manufacturers of two-wheeled electric vehicles are finding specialty niches that will provide solid growth early on in the next decade,” says senior analyst Dave Hurst. “E-scooters, for example, are effective for small parcel deliveries, while police forces are gravitating toward e-motorcycles to save money on fuel.”
By far the largest market for e-motorcycles and e-scooters is China, where Pike Research forecasts that 2.3 million and 13.5 million vehicles, respectively, will be sold by 2017. This growth is driven by the huge existing market for two-wheeled vehicles and by the fact that many e-scooters are sold as bicycles, so they do not have to be registered. China, however, is a relatively mature market; the CAGR for e-motorcycle sales through 2017 will be under 2% and, for e-scooters, under 5%.
The total number of e-motorcycles and e-scooters on the road, worldwide, will increase from 17 million in 2011 to 138 million by 2017.
Pike Research’s study, “Electric Motorcycles and Scooters”, provides a comprehensive examination of the market forces, technology issues, government incentives and regulations, and key drivers of the growth of e-motorcycles and e-scooters. The report includes e-motorcycle and e-scooter sales forecasts and battery technology forecasts through 2017, as well as profiles of key industry players. An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the firm’s website.
Pike Research is a market research and consulting firm that provides in-depth analysis of global clean technology markets. The company’s research methodology combines supply-side industry analysis, end-user primary research and demand assessment, and deep examination of technology trends to provide a comprehensive view of the Smart Energy, Smart Grid, Smart Transportation, Smart Industry, and Smart Buildings sectors. For more information, visit www.pikeresearch.com or call +1.303.997.7609."
