Forum

[Lucy Lastic]

I feel the quietness of an electric bike may be an issue. Many a time has the sound of my Bullet been enough to make the 'blind' notice me, and prevent an accident.
How many times have you been pulling into a side road and some pedestrian doesn't look, but just walks straight across. That doesn't happen when they hear me coming !
Maybe they should have some sound effect device fitted to them. Those revvy up things that you used to fit to kids push bikes ! )

[Alan R]

Hi guys--------LES H, ---thanks for that, must have missed it earlier on.... I think the ZERO people have missed a trick here ie Not producing a basic, urban / commute vehicle with useful rack, panniers etc..... Something akin to the HONDA CG125 OR Bergman structure...... Their two models currently (Yes, I know !!) offered are very much in the sports bike image.... Later, maybe ??... Evolution, by its' very nature is a long-term affair and none more so than trying to alter the personal transport habits of an open and free society. I think that for the next 2,3 or even 4 generations ahead there will be a tenancy towards owning one chemical fuelled and one electric fuelled machine.... As I mentioned earlier hopefully the electric for urban/commute use with the chemical reserved for week-end, holidays etc. Notice my use of the word "machine"--- it could be two cars if you wanted, one of each propulsion type. Whichever way things pan out it will be (or already is--) the dwindling stocks of fossil fuels that determine the timing I suspect... Remember the last few Tanker driver disputes ?? It clearly demonstrated that us Urban dwellers live on a week to 10 day lifeline.... Finding the Holy Grail of energy supplies---the "New Type" of energy ?? well, maybe----but in the meantime we have to go with what we have---or can develop. In America there are towns and villages that can actually hire a small, portable Nuclear Generator (housed in a container similar to a freightliner ) and are buried underground on the outskirts. Put this into your Google Search box}----portable nuclear power generators ---------- and follow the headings. Hopefully Superconductor research will produce more results in the near future. How about a "Nuclear" Bullet ?? Maybe Allan H's great grandson will be offering "SUPER-ENRICHED" Uranium 239 pellets in place of Chennais' low-emmission ones ??------------ Brave New World indeed !!

[Norm]

At the moment out here in Victoria we have brown coal fired power stations to produce the power to charge the electric low emission vehicles. Kinda defeats the purpose.

[Riggers]

And China opens one new coal-fired power station every week....

[Alan R]

-----------yes, I agree entirely. Let's hope that in the long term, we of the developed countries can persuade the emerging Far Eastern industrial societies not only by word but by deed as well, that fresh air and clean seas are beneficial to ALL, not just the greedy few....We can but hope !!

[trevorch]

In Switzerland and suppose ROTW, Renault have introduced a semi covered four wheel electric 2 seater. Costs about 12,000 Chf. Has a roof, windscreen, side doors but no side windows yet. I think the range is about 100km, 3 hour charge and you lease the battery for 38 quid/month. If the battery capacity drops below 60%, after a full charge, you get a new one. Oh, of course you also have to pay for the energy you put in. Cheers TrevorCH

[grunda 12]

diesel power you know it makes sense and you,ll always hear it coming with 1 of my special cement mixer exhausts ,don,t worry about the environment i,ll only be around about another 20 years if i,m unlucky ,so stuff electric vehicles make smoke burn diesel ,i loved the horror on peoples faces when they see me hurtling down the motorway even dogs in cars go mental when they hear the clatter happy non electric days "still smoking"

[Chris [Stockport]]

Now, I can't quite agree with your comment about stuffing electric vehicles. I have in my shed the remnants of a pushbike that I converted about 30 years ago. It had a car battery mounted on a frame that I made from the brass curtain rail I ripped down to make its holder, and a starter motor that rubbed on the front wheel. People hadn't much thought of electric bikes then and I did get some strange looks as I would glide uphill without pedalling. I never refined it much; range was NOT LIKE A DIESEL, ie sh!%3. Lots of fun though. Ahhhh. My brother in law borrowed it one evening and was stopped by the police. Demonstrated OFF ie jump lead connected to handlebar rubber, and then to the poor old chrome for ON. Disappeared in a shower of sparks. They could have caught him easily, of course, but think of the paperwork... OK, Paul, you win on range alone. But it was quite a talking point in a County Durham village for a while nevertheless..... Regards, Chris

[Grumpy]

I'm not sure there's a market.

Young people aren't interested in motorcycles - and if thery are they can't afford to get licensed and insured!

Old people (!) want something fun. If you were completly logical about motorcycling you would all be riding a nice Honda. We ain't because bikes are about "feel" or maybe "soul" not a logical kitchen utensil!!!

And why call it Zero? I guess they are pretending that it's zero emissions. A power station with zero emissions? Now there's a novelty!

[Bertie the Bullet]

Unfortunately even electricly powered bikes have to get power from somewhere, so until we find a cleaner and more practical source we will have to stick with coal or nuclear, but then if an electric motorbike is not green because it needs a power source then the same could be said for electric lights, your 14 kw electric shower, your electric fan oven and so one, why not have all of these converted to gas so that they don't need a power station either then we can return to the dark ages when all of the natural sources have run out, sorry guys but the future is definetly electric how ever it is produced?..Mad Mike , before calling me gullible, like I said, I hadn't checked his figures, I have since then and it turns he was exaggerating quite a lot, anyway even if 900,000 was correct, a daily commute of 100 miles a day means an annual commute of 26000 miles, that 34 years from the battery..do the math yourself "old thing"..