ImaginativePRO Blog

THE "ELIO," A THREE-WHEELED CAR FOR THE MASSES THAT COSTS JUST $6,800, GETS 84 MPG AND GOES 672 MILES ON A TANK OF GAS

The Elio is technically a motorcycle, but is a whole lot easier and safer to drive.

Most Americans--about 93%--drive to work alone. So why use a car that’s big enough for four? A new vehicle that’s half-motorcycle and half-car is designed to replace sedans and SUVs on morning commutes and help save money and emissions in the process: The Elio costs $6,800 and gets 84 miles to the gallon. It’s possible to drive 672 miles on a single tank of gas. That's the distance from New York City to Detroit.

Paul Elio, the founder and CEO of Elio Motors and inventor of the Elio three-wheeled car. (Click Image To Enlarge)

Paul Elio, founder of Elio Motors says.

“The premise behind the concept is that most households have at least one vehicle that’s single occupant.  Even if you have kids, you probably have an SUV or minivan, and then a small sedan with dust on the backseat. We can be that car.”

The Elio actually has two seats, set front to back for ideal aerodynamics, in case the driver needs to give someone a ride. Inside, it looks and acts pretty much like a car; it’s fully enclosed and has car seats and seatbelts, air bags, and options for manual or automatic transmission. It's more like a car than this somewhat similar vehicle from Lit Motors. But because it has three wheels, it’s classified under law as a motorcycle.

 

The motorcycle classification leads to some strange consequences--in a few states, under current law, you’d have to wear a helmet even though the vehicle is enclosed. But it also has benefits. Elio says. 

“As a motorcycle, you can go in the HOV lane by yourself.”

It also meant the vehicle can come to market more quickly, since there’s less red tape involved in manufacturing a motorcycle.

The Elio three-wheeled car (rear view) (Click Image To Enlarge)

Even though regulations don’t require it, the company plans to comply with all standards for cars that apply. Elio says.

“We’re engineering to achieve a 5-star crash rating in all directions.  We’re going way beyond the minimum.”

Still, there are a few idiosyncrasies--the headlights, for example, can’t comply with car standards because motorcycle lights are required to be brighter by law.

 

Because the vehicle is so lightweight--about half the weight of a typical small car--the company can save on materials costs. Elio has also tried to optimize other steps in manufacturing to keep costs down.  He says.  

“We get all 34 of our suppliers together once every four to six weeks and we work on the vehicle as a group. That’s never been done before. All of these things add up to a lower price.”

There are no guarantees of success. Aptera Motors developed a three-wheeled electric vehicle with much fanfare, but the company shut down in 2011.

When the vehicle comes to market next year, the Elio plans to have innovative financing to make the vehicle even easier to buy.   Elio says.  

“It’s actually cheaper to drive a brand new Elio than a clunker.”

The company will offer the option to buy the car with nothing but a special credit card for gas; every time someone buys gas, they’ll pay extra to make a car payment.

Elio explains.

“If you buy $10 of gas, it will show up as a $30 charge on your statement--that $20 extra is your vehicle payment.  As long as you drove into the dealership with something that gets 27 miles per gallon or less--and we know there are 100 million of those cars out there--you’ll be paying less, and you’ll have a brand new vehicle under warranty.”

You'll also be helping reduce pollution.  Elio says.  

"If you drive it 20,000 miles per year, an Elio produces less emissions than one cow’s flatulence during the same time.  We’re cleaner than a cow. After 10 years of sales, we expect to save 8 billion gallons of gas."

COMMENTARY:    Because it has three wheels — two in front and one in the rear — the Elio is actually classified as a motorcycle by the U.S. government. But Elio Motors founder Paul Elio says the vehicle has all the safety features of a car, like anti-lock brakes, front and side air bags and a steel cage that surrounds the occupants.  According to Paul Elio, the company hopes to ultimately achieve a five-star safety rating.  Drivers won’t be required to wear helmets or have motorcycle licenses.

 

The Elio’s two seats sit front and back instead of side by side, so the driver is positioned in the center with the passenger directly behind. That arrangement, plus the low seating position — the Elio is just 54 inches tall — and the lack of power steering take a little getting used to.

But after a couple of spins around the block in this Detroit suburb, it felt like any other small car. That’s partly because its two front wheels stick out by a foot on both sides, aiding balance and preventing the vehicle from tipping. The Elio has a three-cylinder, 0.9-liter engine and a top speed of more than 100 miles per hour. It gets an estimated 84 mpg on the highway and 49 mpg in city driving.

Keeping Costs Low

Elio keeps the costs down in several ways. The car only has one door, on the left side, which shaves a few hundred dollars off the manufacturing costs. Having three wheels also makes it cheaper. It will be offered in just two configurations — with a manual or automatic transmission — and it has standard air conditioning, power windows and door locks and an AM/FM radio. More features, such as navigation or blind-spot detection, can be ordered through Elio’s long list of suppliers.

Germany’s Daimler also promised to revolutionize American commutes with the Smart car, but that hasn’t panned out, says Karl Brauer, a senior analyst with Kelley Blue Book. Smart sold just 9,264 cars in the U.S. last year.

The Smart has a starting price of $13,270 for a gas-powered car and gets 38 mpg on the highway — not enough savings or fuel economy to justify sacrificing comfort in the tiny car. But, Brauer said, the equation might work in the Elio.

He said.  

“If it really gets 84 mpg and doesn’t drive terribly, it would justify the compromises you’re making in size and comfort.”

Elio will also save money by selling the cars directly through its own stores and not through franchised dealers, similar to electric car maker Tesla Motors. Elio plans stores in 60 major metropolitan areas. They’ll be serviced by car repair chain Pep Boys.

The Entrepreneur Behind The Elio

Paul Elio, a one-time stockbroker and New York City cab driver, dreamed as a kid that he would one day own a car company called Elio Motors.

Elio told The Associated Press. 

“As I matured I decided that was as likely as playing in the NFL.”

But he did earn an engineering degree at General Motors Institute — now Kettering University — and started his own company engineering products like children’s car seats.

In 2008, tired of high gas prices and the country’s dependence on foreign oil, he started working on a fuel-efficient car. Equally important to him was creating U.S. manufacturing jobs and making the car inexpensive enough to appeal to buyers who might otherwise be stuck in old, unreliable clunkers.

He said.  

“Whatever matters to you, this can move the needle on it.”

The recession killed his engineering company, but it also provided the opportunity to buy the Shreveport plant when GM filed for bankruptcy protection. Elio Motors plans to employ 1,500 people at the plant.

The company has also applied for a $185 million advanced vehicle development loan from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Paul Elio said so far, reservation holders are older, more affluent buyers who will use the Elio as a second or third car for commuting.

He said.

“It’s an ‘and’ purchase for a lot of folks.  So keep your SUV or your minivan or your large sedan, and when you’re driving back and forth to work all by yourself, take the Elio. At this price point and this mileage, that works financially for folks.”

Eventually, though, he believes the car will appeal to high school and college students as well as used-car drivers who want something newer and more reliable. He also hopes to eventually export it to other countries.

Elio Motors Makes Progress in Helmet Exemption Legislation

Louisiana is the most recent state to declare helmet exemption exemption for the Elio, which is federally classified as an enclosed motorcycle. House Bill 218 was unanimously approved in Louisiana, where the Elio will be manufactured, in late June. New York also has an exemption on the books, allowing the Elio to be driven around the progressive state without a helmet.

Another legislative success is quickly emerging. Michigan Senate Bill 390 was recently passed, and is expected to pass through the House unanimously, following Louisiana’s lead. This is good news for the company, which will base their corporate headquarters out of the state. Louisiana, New York, and Michigan join 42 other states which allow the Elio to be driven sans helmet.

There are only 4 or 5 states left that technically require a helmet with this vehicle, since its licensed as a motorcycle. They've managed to get exemptions in numerous states already. (Click Image To Enlarge)

Among the 5 states that technically require helmets to be worn while driving the Elio, are Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, West Virginia, and Nebraska.

Elio Motors’ Vice President of Government Affairs, Joel Sheltrown says,

“We are actively working with the five helmet states’ legislators to work through any issues they may have. Given our success in the other 45 states, we are optimistic about solving any issues we may face.”

Sheltrown adds that Missouri, a helmet-state, has already identified bill sponsors and drafted legislation to exempt the Elio from their helmet laws.

Big Plans To Expand

Phoenix-based Elio plans to start making the cars next fall at a former General Motors plant in Shreveport, Louisiana. Already, more than 27,000 people have reserved one. Elio hopes to make 250,000 cars a year by 2016. That’s close to the number Mazda sells in the U.S.

Elio Motors executives placed a temporary sign outside the former General Motors plant in Shreveport, La. (Click Image To Enlarge)

The Caddo Parrish's Revitalizing Auto Communities Environmental Response (RACER) Trust is responsible for selling and cleaning up former General Motors properties and has agreed to sell the shuttered General Motors plant near Shreveport, La., to Elio Motors.  The start-up carmaker plans to hire 1,500 new workers.

Elio Motors will rent approximately 1.5 million square feet of the 4.1 million square foot building from Industrial Realty Group, who leases the GM plant.

The deal was heralded by Louisiana politicians as an economic victory for a community devastated by GM's contraction. The state was expected to provide incentives for the project, but details were not immediately available.

Closing Statements

I remain skeptical that Elio Motors can raise sufficient startup capital to modernize and equip their plant in Shreveport, Lousiana in time to begin production of the Elio car by fall 2015.   According to Paul Elio, Elio Motors CEO, the company is trying to raise $165 million.   

By comparison, Tesla Motors had to raise over $500 million, which included a $465 million direct loan from the Department of Energy, just to have sufficient capital to hire plant workers, modernize and equip their plant in Fremont, California in order to build the Roadster, their first all-electric car. 

Tesla Motors required much more startup capital because the Roadster, a four-wheeled and all-electric sports car was a far more complex automobile to build, requiring parts from hundreds of vendors.  The Roadster is a two-seater sportscar that weighed over 2,700 lbs, could travel about 245 miles on an electrical charge, has a top speed of 187 mph and could do 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds. The price tag: $109,000.  

By comparison, the Elio is a three-wheeled car/motorcycle that uses a three-cylinder motor and weighs only 1,600 lbs, with a top speed over just over 100 mph, and a range of 672 miles (highway) on a tank of gas.  The price tag:  $6,800.   According to Paul Elio, Elio Motors CEO, the majority of key parts and components are sourced from about 30 vendors.

If Elio Motors can raise the startup capital they need (see above), they could conceivably begin limited production in late 2015, but I doubt they can deliver 27,000 vehicles (their current pre-orders, but I wonder how many of those pre-orders are solid)  in 2015.   It takes time to hire plant workers, especially skilled factory workers when the U.S. auto industry doing so well, and workers will be reluctant to leave a well established, well-financed employer for a startup like Elio Motors.    

Courtesy of an article dated March 31, 2014 appearing in Fast Company Exist, an article dated January 18, 2014 appearing in the Shreveport Times, an article dated September 30, 2013 appearing in Technology Tell, and an article dated January 8, 2014 appearing in USA Today 

 

HARLEY-DAVIDSON UNVEILS THE 'LIVEWIRE', ITS FIRST ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLE, AND SURPRISINGLY IT DOESN'T SUCK

The LiveWire, Harley-Davidson's first electric motorcycle (Click Image To Enlarge)

Harley-Davidson is more than a motorcycle, or even a brand. It is an icon, one that brings to mind big, loud bikes ridden by burly men with tattoos and beards.

The company has long been known for rumbling V-twin engines and the open road. All of which makes the idea of an electric Harley seem downright absurd.

It’s actually pretty cool.

The LiveWire is the first electric two-wheeler out of Milwaukee. We spent an afternoon riding one amongst the weeds and broken glass of an abandoned Marine Corps runway outside Los Angeles last week and came away impressed. The Hell’s Angels aren’t going to be riding them anytime soon, but the bike offers an entertaining blend of power and comfort. It doesn’t sound anything at all like a proper Harley—or a “fighter jet landing on an aircraft carrier” as Harley brass say—but it’s got a futuristic sound that brings to mind an airliner taking to the air.

The LiveWire may not rumble like the Harleys everyone knows, and it doesn’t perform like them. But it’ll hit 60 mph in under four seconds and it’s got more style than other electrics we’ve ridden. Now Harley has to find out if anyone actually wants the thing.

Cutting weight and potatoes

If Harley-Davidson isn’t the world’s most famous motorcycle, it’s close. The company has been building motorcycles since 1903, and typically subscribes to the bigger-is-better school of engineering. But even Harley-Davidson knows the times are changing, and it recognizes the need to diversify a customer base dominated by middle-aged white guys.

The Los Angeles Police Department has bought a Zero MMX electric motorcycle, that offers the advantages of a regular motorcyle with the addition of stealth. (Click Image To Enlarge)

Upstarts like Zero Motorcycles, BRD RedShift and Brammo have proven one way to attract younger, urban riders is selling small, compact bikes powered by batteries.

BRD RedShift all-electric motorcycle. (Click Image To Enlarge)

Even major players like Yamaha are giving electrics a go. So Harley is trying it out, too.

Mark-Hans Richer, Harley’s top marketing guy, says. 

“Any business has always got to look ahead to see where customers are interested in going, and see where society might be going,” 

 

That said, this isn’t a production model. Not yet, anyway. Harley is taking a few dozen LiveWires on a tour, dubbed Project LiveWire, of the United States and Europe. It will invite people in each city to check out the bike and provide feedback. The tour starts Monday in New York.

The key challenge in building the LiveWire was the shift from building a bike around an engine to building one around a battery.  A battery is heavy—Harley wouldn’t say what the pack weighs, but one EV expert told us something with the range and recharge time Harley claims would be around 250 pounds—so engineers had to cut weight elsewhere. The cast aluminum perimeter frame wrapped around the battery box weighs just 14 pounds, which makes it a full eight pounds lighter than the Zero’s frame. The wheels have hollow spokes, and Harley claims they’re among the lightest aluminum wheels it’s ever produced. There’s no need for an exhaust system, which not only saves weight but gives the bike a sleeker look. The result is a clean, tightly packaged bike without frivolous details.

 

Harley did most of the chassis work—it’s been building bikes since the dawn of internal combustion, so it’s got that down pat—but brought in experts like Mission Motors for help with things like the motor controller.

Speaking of the motor, the LiveWire marks quite a departure from Harley’s signature sound. You don’t get the syncopated “potato, potato, potato” that is synonymous with a 60-degree V-twin engine. But even though it’s electric, and therefore has no engine, the LiveWire had to live up to Harley’s “look, sound, and feel” mantra. That took a lot of work, but company president and COO Matt Levatich insists the result is “not contrived.”

The high-pitched whir of the longitudinally-mounted, three-phase AC induction motor reverberates through the chassis, amplifying the sound. It starts off quietly, then builds in pitch and volume as the bike gains speed. It’s louder than you’d think, and though it’s not going to set off any car alarms, it’ll definitely make you smile.

Click Image To Enlarge

What customers want

The LiveWire offers 74 horsepower, 52 foot-pounds of torque and a (governed) top speed of 92 mph. It’s more powerful and quicker off the line than the $13,000 Zero DS, but it’s got less torque and range. That said, it’s got more torque and power than Harley’s Iron 883.

Still, Harley execs and engineers don’t like talking about specs. They don’t want potential customers making judgments based on what the LiveWire offers right now. The LiveWire is a work in progress, based on “what we think our customers are looking for,” Richer says. The company hopes to glean more info during the LiveWire tour, and iterate accordingly to suit consumer tastes. Think of this as LiveWire v1.0.

Harley isn’t saying much about the drivetrain beyond saying the bike uses a lithium-ion battery with a range of 53 miles. It charges in 3.5 hours at 220 volts. Assuming the bike has a 3.3 kw charging system like other electric motorcycles, some back-of-the-envelope math suggests the LiveWire uses a 10 kilowatt-hour pack. Twist the throttle and the bike leaps forward with authority. Roll off the throttle and the regenerative braking kicks in, bringing the bike down from speed with due efficiency.

Click Image To Enlarge

Harley emphasizes its excitement over the LiveWire, but downplays its importance. An electric bike is just an idea, something that could draw younger, urban buyers to the brand. Companies like Zero have had some success with that strategy, and even convinced a few police departments to add electrics to their fleets.

Richer says.

“This is just part of us understanding where the world might want to go.”  

The upside of so cautious an approach, of course, is there’s less fallout if the bike is a flop.

New direction

That’s not out of the question. Harley’s past forays into the potentially lucrative market for smaller, city-focused bikes have ended poorly.  That hasn’t kept it from trying again this year with the launch of the Street, a simpler, cheaper, bike made for city riding.  The LiveWire is another step in that direction.

Levatich says.

“Why can’t Harley do some of these other cool things, too, and see where it takes us?” 

COMMENTARY:   Now that's what I call a cool looking all-electric motorcycle.  What I don't like about Harley-Davidson's new all-electric motorcycle is the 53-mile range on a battery charge. That's just not going to cut it if you start using it for commuting long distances like here in the San Francisco Bay Area.  You might be able to make it from Walnut Creek to San Francisco on a charge, but you would have to recharge it there, in order to get back home.  

Harley-Davidson did not provide any prices, but I would like to know what the LiveWire is going to cost owners initially.  I don't think it is going to attract hardcore Harley riders, who prefer the loud roar and rumble of their choppers, a principal reason why they bought one in the first place. The LiveWire does not live up to the Harley image, so it makes sense to introduce the bike to younger, more environmentally conscious, urban riders who travel short distances close to where they live.  

From a strictly marketing standpoint, I would not produce the LiveWire under the Harley-Davidson brand, because the brand is too closely identified with loud rumbling motorcycles, not electrics.  So marketing the LiveWire under the LiveWire brand name makes more sense to me, because it distances itself from Harley-Davidson's image.  

Courtesy of an article dated June 19, 2014 appearing in Wired 

HOW LIT MOTORS HOPES TO REVOLUTIONIZE CITY COMMUTTING WITH THE WORLD'S FIRST GYROSCOPICALLY-STABILIZED, ALL-ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLE

 

A San Francisco startup has created the C-1, the world's first gyroscopically-stablized "rolling smartphone".  The C-1 comes the efficiency and freedom of a motorcycle with the safety and convenience of a car.  

SAN FRANCISCO — Zipping around on a motorcycle can be fun, but being in a downpour or an accident on one is not. Driving a car is safer and more comfortable, but traffic and parking can be annoying.

Click Image To Enlarge

What if you got rid of the bad parts of both?

You might end up with something like the C-1, an electric motorcycle that looks as if it came out of the movie “Tron.” For protection, the bike is encased in a metal shell, and it is controlled like a car, with a steering wheel and foot pedals. Two big gyroscopes under the floor are designed to keep it from tipping over, even when a car hits it from the side. The C-1’s top speed is 120 miles an hour, and it can travel 200 miles on a full charge.

 

A small start-up called Lit Motors is developing the C-1 in a three-story warehouse here. Its 33-year-old chief executive, Daniel Kim, was tinkering with a biodiesel sport utility vehicle eight years ago when a 500-pound chassis nearly crushed him. The experience got him thinking about cutting out the bulk.

Click Images To Enlarge

Mr. Kim said in an interview.

“Most people drive alone.  Why not cut the car in half? I was really into bicycles at that time and I thought, Why can’t we have the efficiency of a bicycle and motorcycle but all the amenities of a car?”

Fully electric vehicles have long been a dream among environmentalists and technologists, but companies have found it hard to deliver affordable and practical vehicles to the mass market. One of the biggest names in this field is Tesla Motors, which makes expensive sports cars and has had trouble increasing manufacturing.

But Lit Motors, which has just 10 people on staff, thinks it can bring the benefits of an electric vehicle even to those who aren’t rich. Mr. Kim says his motorcycle will be money-saving, safe to drive and simple to build.

Click Images To Enlarge

The main culprit in the high price of electric vehicles is the battery, said Dan Sperling, a professor of civil engineering and environmental science and policy at the University of California, Davis and director of its Institute of Transportation Studies. Unlike computer chips and digital storage, which have improved rapidly while dropping in price, battery technology has made slow progress, he said, so vehicle batteries are still bulky and pricey.

The other challenge, Dr. Sperling said, is that most people are not ready to embrace electric vehicles yet. Consumers could be nervous about the reliability and maintenance of such an expensive purchase — buggy software, for example, could lead to more serious consequences than it would on something like a smartphone. That’s why many auto companies have stuck to making hybrid vehicles, which use both gas and electricity and are more affordable, easier to produce and more familiar to drivers.

See-through image of the C-1 showing where the electronics and battery are stored (Click Image To Enlarge)

Dr. Sperling said.

“It’s not like when you buy an iPhone and you throw it out or don’t use it as much when it gets old. Unlike an iPhone or Windows system, it can’t crash — it has to perform with high reliability all the time.”

Mr. Kim, who dropped out of Reed College and the University of California, Berkeley and later studied industrial design at the Rhode Island School of Design, has plans to overcome those obstacles. The motorcycle is lighter than a car so its batteries can be smaller and cheaper. And to improve reliability, the system is equipped with more components than it actually needs, Mr. Kim said.

The C-1’s secret weapons are the gyroscopes that allow it to balance itself, similar to the approach used in the Segway scooter. In a video, the company shows the bike remaining upright as a car yanks it from the side. Only one gyroscope is needed to maintain balance, but there are always two running; each gyroscope has redundant computer chips, controllers and sensors, so if any one of those fails, there are extras to back it up.

Click Image To Enlarge

The bike is made up of 2,200 parts, or one-tenth the number in the average car, which should make it easier to mass-produce, Mr. Kim said. He plans to start manufacturing the motorcycle in the United States.

There are two main target markets for the vehicle, said Ryan James, chief marketing officer for Lit Motors:

• Motorcyclists between 45 and 60 years old who are concerned about safety but don’t want to give up their two-wheeler.
• Younger commuters who live in urban or suburban areas where driving a car can be a bother or feel wasteful.

So far it has raised just $720,000 from early investors and another $80,000 from family and friends.  Still, Mr. Kim’s start-up, which is on a hiring spree, faces some tough hurdles.   

• It will have to get people to buy a vehicle they haven’t had a chance to drive or even see in real life. 
• Future customers will need to spend some serious money on one. Each motorcycle will cost $24,000 for the first production run of 1,000 in 2014, Mr. Kim said, and he hopes to bring the price down to $14,000 by around 2016, putting it in the range of a nice Ducati motorcycle or an entry-level car like a Honda Fit.

The company is already taking early orders and down payments on its Web site. About 250 people have signed up.

Mr. Kim said the company plans to team up with car dealerships in California, San Francisco and Los Angeles, in addition to selling the bikes online. And next summer, Mr. James will be driving an early version of the electric motorcycle to college campuses and conventions to show it to people and let them test-drive it. The company is also working on smartphone apps so C-1 owners can be part of their own social network.

Mr. Kim has his doubters. Kevin See, an analyst with Lux Research, which studies electric vehicles and alternative energy, said the motorcycle might appeal only to a small niche, and the initial price tag would be much higher than most people were willing to pay for a two-wheel vehicle. There are also plenty of more affordable vehicles on the market that perform well and already have a trusted brand.

He said.

“It’s very tough to roll out a vehicle of any kind with such a significant price premium versus an incumbent.”

Mr. See said the C-1 reminded him of Aptera Motors, a start-up that tried to sell a futuristic car but went out of business in December. (Steve Fambro, a founder of Aptera, is listed as one of Lit’s technical advisers.)

Dr. Sperling of the University of California said the biggest challenge for Mr. Kim would be finding buyers for the vehicle and then finding the means to deliver it.

Dr. Sperling said.

“He’s got some clever ideas, and it really comes down to questions that all these companies face, and that is can they find a market for the product, and can they actually do the manufacturing in an efficient and effective way?” 

Still, he said he was optimistic about the company’s chances.

He said.  

“There are people who want to do something to save the world, make a contribution to it, do something both in terms of energy and climate.  If it’s cool and good for the world, you’ve got a winner.”

COMMENTARY:

The Specs

There are supposed to be a number of different versions of the C-1, aimed at different markets. Differences include the battery pack (8-10 kWh for developed countries and 4-6 kWh for others) and the range (somewhere between 150 and 220 miles for the bigger-batteried bike). Both models will have hub motors in the wheels and reach a top speed of 120 mph (yes, you can break all the speed limit laws).

Flywheels below the vehicle floor, as previously mentioned, will help stabilize the vehicle and generage 1300 ft/lbs of torque. Kim told Gizmag that the C-1 will not be unstable when going really fast around corners (a problem with some previous attempts at gyroscopically stabilizing bikes).

The bike will also stay connected to the internet, in order to monitor traffic, construction, and weather. I have to wonder if, like the Audi A2 concept, it will also automatically connect to social media like Facebook. I can’t see that as being a positive. Traffic updates, on the other hand, are pretty awesome.

The first run of vehicles is expected to be about $24,000 USD, and the bike is supposed to go on sale late next year if all goes according to plan. Once the vehicles are in full production, the price should drop to $16,000 USD.

I love the C-1, but the price tag of $24,000 is a deal-killer for potential buyers.  Even at $16,000, when the C-1 goes into full production, the price is still too high.

Courtesy of an article dated October 10 2012 appearing in The New York Times and an article dated March 8, 2012 appearing in TheArrowsOfTruth.com

REDSHIFT: AN ALL-ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLE THAT BREAKS THE RULES (AND SPEED LIMITS)

HOW DO YOU SELL RIDERS ON ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLES? JUST SELL RIDERS ON A FASTER MOTORCYCLE.

When most consumers think “electric car,” they’ve been conditioned to think green, to think “Prius” and “limited range” and “braking efficiency.” But electric’s greatest advantage isn’t necessary an environmental one; it’s that an electric motor isn’t limited by the physics of combustion. Rather, just like an electric screwdriver, an electric car can go full throttle, instantly, without switching gears. Smart designers can take advantage of that.   Marc Fenigstein, CEO of motorcycle startup BRD says. 

“We didn’t set out to build a bike for the masses.  We set out to build a bike for a very specific format where we knew electric was the best option.”

 

BRD developed a groundbreaking electric motocross bike called the RedShift. Fenigstein tells Co.Design.

“It looks familiar because in function it is the same as gas motocross bikes.  It looks different because it doesn’t need an exhaust or gas tank anymore.”

Some may see the bike as green. Others may recognize its economic savings--despite the relatively high $15,000 price tag--as an electric bike pays for itself by sidestepping oil changes and constant engine rebuilds. But instead of using these features as a marketing crutch, BRD designed and sold for speed. 

Fenigstein writes. 

“The major breakthrough is simply the approach.  BRD doesn’t assume that anyone needs electric. Gas bikes kick ass, and none of us would trade our gas bikes for anything that is slower, uglier, or less fun. We set out to build a bike that was prettier, faster, and more fun than what was in our garages.”

BRD RedShift all-electric motorcycle (Click Images To Enlarge)

By using gas performance as their design standard rather than some arbitrary engineering metric, BRD created a bike that was 100lbs (or 30%) lighter than competing electrics in their class and a bike that one-ups gas competition by putting out peak horsepower at will and requiring no shifting. It’s also just a beautiful vehicle to look at, with a surprisingly unique, almost anime color scheme in a field filled with eye-punishing chroma.

Fenigstein writes. 

“The motorcycle market has very strong brand associations for the primary and secondary colors (Red = Honda and Ducati, Green = Kawasaki, Yellow = Yamaha and Suzuki, Blue = Yamaha, Orange = KTM) so we had to find something off the beaten path.  We drew from some of our favorite racing liveries and played around until we found something that stood out for its subtlety, rather than competing for ‘OMG LOOK AT ME AAAAAAHHHH.’"

 

I’m not sure that you can call anything about the RedShift subtle, but it is a gorgeous bike that’s hiding at least one awesome feature that your eyes can’t see: It sounds like a Star Wars podracer in action.

COMMENTARY:   Now that's what I call a super-cool all-electric motorcycle for the masses.

About BRD

"BRD is a team of riders, racers, designers, engineers, makers, builders, thinkers, mechanics and troublemakers. We build motorcycles because it's what we were born to do."

"We love motorcycles. The best ones make you tingle when you look at them, giggle when you ride them, and scare you just a little bit (i.e. score a 90 or above on the Tingle-Giggle-Scream Index). We love going fast. And we love finding new ways and new places to go fast. Our goal from the beginning was to create motos that are easier to ride fast than anything else out there. We build electric bikes because we are in love with instant throttle response and flat, endless torque. Because we want the next bike we purchase, gas or electric, to be faster than our last one."

"Though it didn't yet have a name, BRD began in about 2007 when two riding buddies, Derek Dorresteyn (CTO and co-founder) and Jeff Sand (CDO and co-founder), who happened to have an unbelievable amount of fabrication, engineering and design experience and expertise between the two of them, fell in love with the idea of the smooth, perfectly responsive torque curve of an electric motor and started kicking around the possibilities for building their own electric motorcycle... a motorcycle that could be faster and more rideable than their gas bikes."

Management Team

• Derek Dorresteyn, CTO and Co-Founder
• Jeff Sand, CDO and Co-Founder
• Marc Fenigstein, CEO and Co-Founder

BRD Bike Models

The RedShift MX is barely legal - a race bike with lights. Designed for MX2/Lites class racing, the MX light and quick, without the lost seconds from hunting through gears trying to find torque. With 200 hour maintenance intervals, you'll also spend more time riding and less time wrenching. 

Specifications

Power (hp):  25/40 hp *

Battery capacity (kWh):  5.2 kWh

Est. range:  2 hours **

Top speed:  80 mph ***

Street weight (lbs):  260 lbs +

Race weight (lbs):  250 lbs ++

Front suspension:  12" fully-adjustable

Rear suspension:  12" fully-adjustable

Front wheel:  21" spoked

Rear wheel:  19" spoked

Wheelbase:  57.3

Seat height (in):   37 ins

* Continuous/Peak (10s)

** Based on recreational trail or mixed road use

*** Redline based on standard gearing;

+ With lighting and switchgear

++ With lighting and switchgear removed

Estimated retail price:  $14,995

The RedShift SM is a race sumo without the oil changes. It is designed for everything a city can throw at a bike. Because of its off-road roots, it may be pretty but it's not precious. Feel free to beat on it, but remember: just because it is fully capable of launching stair gaps and airing out the crests of San Francisco hills does not mean we condone that use or behavior in any way.

Specifications

Power (hp):  25/40 hp *

Battery capacity (kWh):  5.2 kWh

Est. range:  50 miles **

Top speed:  85 mph ***

Street weight (lbs):  265 lbs +

Race weight (lbs):  255 lbs ++

Front suspension:  12" fully-adjustable

Rear suspension:  12" fully-adjustable

Front wheel:  17" spoked

Rear wheel:  17" spoked

Wheelbase:  56.6

Seat height (in):   35.5 ins

* Continuous/Peak (10s)

** Based on recreational trail or mixed road use

*** Redline based on standard gearing;

+ With lighting and switchgear

++ With lighting and switchgear removed

Estimated retail price:  $15,495

BRD is now taking advance orders for delivery in 2013.

Courtesy of an article dated April 25, 2012 appearing in Fast Company Design 

CONFEDERATE MOTORCYCLE DESIGNER ED JACOBS DESIGNS THE MEANEST BIKE IN THE WORLD

How Confederate Motorcycles' head of design creates "heirloom" bikes that look like nothing else on the road.

What kind of motorcycles do you get when the head of design at your company used to design furniture at an architecture firm and spent a year living off the grid in India?

If you're Confederate Motorcycles, and that designer is Ed Jacobs, you get the X132 Hellcat -- a street bike stripped down to its pure functional essence. Jacobs tells Co.Design about his design philosophy.  

"We don't cover anything. That structure is real, it's not wallpaper.  You really see the truth of what's going on, not a candy coating.  I have a universal design philosophy that I've believed in for years:  to listen to what the product wants to be.  Don't force your aesthetic on it. Allow the intent of the structure to be the aesthetic."

Ed Jacobs | Design Process from Confederate Motors, Inc. on Vimeo.

 

That philosophy informs the Hellcat's design, which is built around a solid aluminum engine case with elements of the frame bolted directly onto it.  Jacobs explains.

"Usually the frame is a cradle for the engine.  Here you bolt the frame to the front and rear of the engine and the whole thing is a working structure."

The result looks like something out of The Dark Knight, all black and gray and pure, fearsome function, but Jacobs ads.  

"It's not meant to look 'techno' or futuristic.  It's meant for the parts to speak to each other -- that's what makes it look that way."

 

The Hellcat grew out of a Confederate R&D project called Renovatio, which reimagined the motorcycle engine case as a "utilitarian structural foundation, a superstrong base that you could bolt anything onto it you wanted -- create any bike you wanted.  Jacobs adds.  

"With the Hellcat, that experiment became a reality. It allows you to come up with new bikes that are different from each other, but with the same heart." 

The same philosophy might also be a metaphor for Jacobs' path as a designer himself. A longtime motorcycle enthusiast, he studied architecture and industrial design at Pratt, which led him to work at an architecture firm designing furniture and fixtures. He also spent 11 months traveling in India.  He says.  

"I had my first motorcycle there. I lived in a mud and stone house on the side of a mountain, and relied on my bike for everything."

When an opportunity arose to join Confederate, he jumped at it.  He says.  

"My philosophy is that I can adapt to work anywhere, but I appreciated that the thing I felt so strongly about in the field of design, the longevity and quality of a product, was shared at Confederate and that really drew me to the company."

Jacobs joined Confederate six months before Hurricane Katrina "crushed the factory to the ground"; the company relocated to Alabama, and Jacobs with it. The company's philosophy of "heirloom" design -- parts and bikes that are created to last as long as their owners, if not longer -- is not surprising given that history.  Jacobs talks about production.

"We don't cast parts, we machine them out of solid aluminum. The molecular structure of cast parts is much more brittle. Ours are much tougher."

But tough doesn't mean uncomfortable -- or (hopefully) unaffordable. The Hellcat won't be anywhere as inexpensive as an off-the-rack Honda, but Jacobs says that Confederate plans to expand production beyond its usual "small batch" runs to reduce cost and make the Hellcat more accessible. (For now, the custom bikes run upwards of $80,000.)  He says.  

"It's a street bike, it's very light and very fast.  The seating position is very comfortable, the geometry is very functional -- it's not arbitrary to the motorcycle's needs. That erases the whole chopper genre, which has nothing to do with ergonomics. Here, the mechanics are the aesthetics. You engage with it physically and mentally and even spiritually."

When I asked him about influences, he didn't rattle off a laundry list of other designers and motorheads, but instead cited Lao Tzu and remarks.  

"Inspiration is a matter of lifestyle.  It's about trying not to be a hypocrite. If you walk the walk, that'll translate into your work. I'm just a child with so much to learn."

[Read more about Ed Jacobs and the Hellcat at Confederate Motorcycles]

COMMENTARY:   That's what I call one badass motorcycle.   It's  celebrity bike.  Brad Pitt rides one.

Here's a shot of actor Tom Cruise riding an earlier generation Confederate Hellcat motorcyel.

Soccer star David Beckham is seen here riding a Confederate Hellcat.

Courtesy of an article dated August 11, 2011 appearing in Fast Company Design

 

 

THE AUTO MOTO: A COOL THREE-WHEEL SCOOTER WITH A CANOPY, CAN BE DRIVEN IN THE RAIN, AND GETS A WHOPPING 83 MPG

Three-wheel rides aren't big surprises in Asia.  Thailand has its Tuk-tuk, Southeast Asia its rickshaws or trishaws, the Philippines has its tricycles.

However, we're more familiar with these chariots as taxis for commuters. For personal transportation, the West, during the throes of the Great Recession, turned increasingly toward affordable and more economical vehicles, particularly the three-wheel variant.  While similar outings like Peugeot's HYmotion3 compressor concept vehicle look a lot yummier in the design department.  

On December 17, 2008, theAutoMoto.com Corporation announced the introduction of the Auto Moto  an unintimidating and zippy three-wheel scooter covey. 

The Auto Moto has two major distinct advantages:

• Gas Economy - A bang-for-the-buck fuel system that coughs up 83mpg on the 150cc Honda-designed GY6 engine. 
• Canopy - A full windshield and sunroof seen only in the two-wheeled Honda Gyro Canopy on Singapore roads, to keep out the elements.

The economical Auto Moto packs a surprising wallop in features for its size. For one, it unselfishly sits two in a tandem seat design that provides comfortable armrests for the rear passenger. There's also a lockable trunk for storage, four speakers with MP3 connection, and a carbon fiber-style dashboard that should be familiar enough with motorists.

 

For those of you worried how the Auto Moto handles being driven in the rain check this video:

 

For handling, the onboard Automatic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) gives optimal engine rpm, while a tilting "rocker system" offers enough traction for this scooter to take on corners and turns just like its bigger motorcycle cousin. The 2.1 gallons of fuel capacity is expected to provide about 160 miles of cruising range. And for a bit of personalization, you get a choice of nine colors to pick from.

GadgetReview took The Auto Moto scoother for a ride and gave it an excellent rating.

 

The best thing about the AutoMoto is the price - $3,800.  Considering that the Xnovo was looking more like US$10,000, and this actually exists,  that’s quite an achievement. Would we buy one? Nah, we get our giggles from fun factor, handling and hooliganism - but with its little windshield wiper pumping, some nice tunes on the stereo, no helmet (in some states, where it can be ridden on a car license) and standard ABS, it would sure be comfy in bad weather.

So how does The Auto Moto compare with other scooters?  Let's take a look.

COMMENTARY:    What's not to like about this super-cool three-wheel scooter.   I love the low price, canopy, windshield, mobile device friendliness, automatic transmission, anti-lock disk brakes, dual seats, storage trunk, windshield wipers and driveability in the rain and that you don't need a motorcycle license to drive the damn thing (at least in California).  A regular automobile driver's license will do just fine, thank you very much.  The bike looks sharp and comes in several colors to suit your personal taste.

 

Here are some of The Auto Moto's advantages and features: 

AFFORDABLE

The Auto Moto is an economical choice for personal transportation to save on gas, insurance, maintenance, parking, and overall monthly payments.

• Affordability - The Auto Moto comes standard with features that put it in a league of its own, and at a price of only $3,800, it begs to be compared with other scooters and motorcycles on the road.  
• Gas Economy - The Auto Moto achieves a remarkable 83 MPG meaning it can travel roughly 160 miles on just one fill of its 2.1 gallon tank.
• Low Insurance - Insuring The Auto Moto is simple and inexpensive. Supported by almost every big name in the insurance industry, getting the best rate is merely a phone call away.
• Low Maintenance - The Auto Moto is built with industry standard components and a widely popular single cylinder 4 stroke engine, making maintenance easy and affordable.
• Warranty - The Auto Moto comes standard with a one year Limited Power Train Warranty. Your dealership will assist you in registering for your warranty at the time of purchase.

CONVENIENT

The Auto Moto includes an assortment of features that shatter consumer expectations and surpass industry conventions.

• Ample Storage Space - The Auto Moto comes equipped with two lockable dashboard storage compartments and a large lockable trunk. The volume of the trunk is an impressive 72 liters, making it an industry leader in storage capacity.
• Stereo System with MP3 Connection - The Auto Moto has been equipped with a stereo system, FM radio player, and a hookup to connect your MP3 player or media device (Apple iPod-friendly).
• Cell Phone Recognition - When your cell phone rings in the dashboard storage compartment, the built in cell phone recognition system alerts the rider that a call is being received through a flashing light displayed on the instrument cluster.
• Seating For Two - The Auto Moto comes with fold out armrests, a spacious back seat, and a padded backrest to ensure the comfort of the second passenger.

SAFE & COMFORTABLE

The Auto Moto was designed to provide the comforts of a car with the convenience of a motorcycle, but more importantly strives to offer a greater level of safety than the average scooter.

• Three Wheels - The stability of three wheels offers increased safety and it’s so easy to ride that some states only require a regular driver license to operate The Auto Moto.
• Rocker - The Auto Moto is equipped with a rocking mechanism that allows the rider to lean the cab from side to side when turning while the engine and rear wheels stay firmly planted on the ground.
• Anti-Lock Braking System - The anti-lock braking system allows the driver to maintain complete control of the vehicle under heavy braking to prevent a skid and maintain traction.
• Dual Piston Caliper - The front dual piston caliper and drilled rotors for cooling and ventilation provide extensive stopping power.
• Limited Slip (Posi Traction) - The rear differential displaces power to both rear wheels simultaneously, allowing for added traction and stability under the most adverse weather conditions.
• Visibility - The Auto Moto’s attention-grabbing cab not only turns the heads of pedestrians on the sidewalk, but also that of the drivers on the road.
• Alarm System - An integrated alarm system ensures the security of the vehicle at all times.
• Partially Enclosed Cab - A full roof and windshield keep the driver and passenger protected from exposure to the elements.
• Wheel Configurations - Two different rear wheel configurations are available for The Auto Moto, a wide 7” diameter rim and a narrow 10” diameter rim.
• Windshield Wiper with Sprayer - The windshield wiper with three-directional high-pressure sprayer is ideal for maintaining clear visibility.

IMAGES

There Auto Moto scooter dealers in all 50 states, and you can lookup if there is one close to where you live.  This is not an endorsement of The Auto Moto, but I do like this scooter very much.  There's no shortage of three-wheel scooters and bikes these days, in fact all you have to do is look at the selection available at the Scooter Depot.   

There are a few scooter's similar to The Auto Moto that come equipped with canopies, but most are two-wheelers, including the Xnovo, Peugeot HYbrid3, Honda 750, Adiva, BMW C1-E and Benelli,   A few are hybrids or electrics like the Peugeot HYbrid3 and BMW C-1E.

Courtesy of an article dated January 5, 2009 appearing in CNET News, an article dated January 9, 2009 appearing in MotoType, an article dated January 5, 2009 appearing in BikerzBay.com