Mission One Electric Sports Bike
Motoring Channel Staff - 5/February/2009
|
Mission One Electric Sports Bike
Though it uses cutting edge technology, the
design seems to have a heavy 1908s influence
With 135Nm of instant torque on tap, Mission
One's new motorcycle will go like lightning
The Aprilia-inspired instrument panel looks iffy
|
California, America – The race to have the world's first electric car on the market has been well-documented, but what we have here could one of the first electric bikes. While
two-wheeled vehicles are already highly efficient because of their
ultra-low weight (usually 10 times lighter than cars), the idea of an
electric bike has gained momentum in a number of quarters. Californian company Mission One could be one of the first companies to offer a zero emissions 2-wheeler. "As a motorcycle enthusiast and engineer I knew I could combine my
passion for motorcycles with my passion for innovation and create a
motorcycle that truly sets a new standard in the perception of electric
vehicles," said Forrest North, the founder and CEO of Mission Motors. "With
the Mission One, we're writing the next chapter in motorcycle design,
delivering a new riding experience without sacrificing performance or
design in a zero emissions vehicle," added Mr North. Powered
by a liquid-cooled three-phase induction motor hooked up to a
lithium-ion battery pack, the silent sports bike generates 135Nm of
torque from standstill and uses a single speed gearbox. The vehicle is expected to blitz the zero to 100km/h sprint as a result of this instant torque. The
American company is targetting a top speed of 241km/h (150mph) and
a range of roughly 240km (150 miles) for the electric motorcycle. Mission
One claims the batteries can be fully charged in under 2 hours with a
240V outlet, which would make the bike very practical (it takes 8 hours
to recharge with 120V mains). The bike's vital statistics are as follows: Powertrain
 Battery Pack High Energy Lithium-Ion with Integrated Safety
Motor Liquid-cooled, 3 phase AC Induction
Torque 135Nm @ Zero RPM
Transmission Single speed, #525 O-ring chain Chassis
Front Suspension Ohlins, 43mm inverted fork, fully adjustable
Rear Suspension Ohlins, single shock w/piggyback reservoir
Front Brakes Brembo forged 4 piston calipers.
Rear Brakes Brembo, 220mm disc; single-piston caliper
Wheels/Tires/Front Marchesini forged Al 3.5"x17", 120/70Z
Wheels/Tires/Rear Marchesini forged Al 6.0"x17", 190/55 Target Performance
Top speed 150mph
Range 150 miles per charge (Est. under EPA drive cycle)
Recharge Under 2 hours @ 240V (8 hours @ 120V)
Features: Adjustable regenerative braking,
Intuitive/adjustable data acquisition system As the specs show, the bike will feature regenerative Brembo brakes that will recoup energy, plus high quality inverted Ohlins forks and light weight Marchesini wheels which should please enthusiasts. The
new electric motorbike is rumoured to be pencilled in for performance
tests in front of thousands of eager motorcyclists at the Isle of Man
for the Time Trials Xtreme Grand Prix in June. If everything goes
to plan, Mission One hopes to have its ultra-green, high performance
bike on sale late this year or early 2010, but it won't come cheap. Prices
are expected to be higher than industry exotica such as limited edition
Bimoto and Ducati models, and early estimates suggest a US$70,000 price
tag, which works out to about $108,000 in local currency. Forrest
North and Mission One turned to Yves Béhar's fuseproject
team to create Mission's unique design, believing the motorbike makes a
'bold statement about performance, technology, sustainability and
design'. "This project was a dream come true: a statement about
how design can make performance and sustainability come together
without compromise," said Yves Béhar. "I believe Mission is an icon for a new era of efficient and exciting vehicles. "Designed
to express speed and efficiency in it's overall sharp lines, the
Mission bike is also highly detailed with special attention to a riders
needs, bringing a high level of product design and ergonomics to a new
generation of performance transportation." Headquartered in San
Francisco, California, Mission One could be onto something with its new
motorbike and never having to pay for petrol again will work in its
favour. Related Links:
- Suzuki GSX-R600 (2008)
- Volkswagen Motorbikes (2010)
- Triciclo Pompéo (2008)
- Monster Motorbike (2008) |
