I recently read an
article titled "For Some Drivers, an Electric Motorcycle Could Be the Best
of Both Worlds" by Brian Cheng of the New York Times. The article
is about how there is a new invention from a small company called Lit Motors,
who have started to design and produce an electric motorcycle that may be what
customers have been looking for. Many people enjoy riding on regular
motorcycles, but there is always the risk of an accident or getting caught in a
downpour. For those who ride in cars, finding parking and traffic can get
very annoying. The electric C-1 motorcycle could be the new,
environmentally friendly solution to many of these problems.
The motorcycle is
steered like a car, with a gas pedal and steering wheel, and is encased in a
metal shell for protection. Two large gyroscopes are placed on the bottom
of it to always keep it stabilized and upright, even if a car hits it from the side.
The chief executive David Kim says that the motorcycle will help save
money, is safe to drive, and is simple to build. The only main challenge
is the cost of the battery, which could be a setback from the product.
Despite other technological advances made in computer chips and digital
storage, vehicle batteries are still very bulky and pricey. The other
difficulty is that people are not completely ready to embrace electric vehicles
yet, and consumers could be worried about the reliability and maintenance of an
expensive purchase. "It's not like when you buy and iPhone and you
throw it out or don't use it as much when it gets old," Dr. Sperling, a
professor of civil engineering and environmental science and policy at the
University of California says. "Unlike an iPhone or Windows system,
it can't crash- it has to perform with high reliability all the time."
The bike is only made
up of 2,200 parts, which is one tenth the amount in an average car, making it
easier to produce, says Mr. Kim. Each motorcycle should cost around
$24,000 when it comes out for release in the United States in 2014, and he
hopes that the price will be brought down to $14,000 by 2016. The
main age group targeted by the vehicle include motorcyclists between ages 45 to
60 who are concerned about safety, and younger commuters living in an urban or
suburban area where driving a car can feel bothersome or wasteful.
On his invention, Mr
Kim says, "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," he said. "If it's cool and good for the world, you've
got a winner."
The author of this
article seems really supportive of this invention, and I definitely agree.
This could be a great thing for everyone, and really help the
environment, too. Electric cars are so much better than regular cars
because they do not produce the harmful exhaust, nor do they use as much
energy. It also connects to the story of the Lorax because one of the
main pollutants was the smog that ruined the air and harmed the animals.
The electric motorcycle is only the beginning, as we could learn to
produce more electric cars to better suit people's needs and the environment.
Link to Article: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/
Link to image: http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2012/10/10/business/video-media-tech-121010-cycle/video-media-tech-121010-cycle-thumbWide.jpg
This was an interesting article. It is so great that the vehicle has two benefits; it does not produce exhaust that can be harmful to the enviornment, and uses less energy than regular motorcycles do. If you think about, vehicles including cars, motorcycles, trucks, and buses are things that we see on highways and roads all the time, and their exhaust is really bad for the air, and animals that are exposed to it. An invention such as the electric motorcycle, is a great way to reduce air pollution. Hopefully, we'll start seeing more enviormental-friendly vehicles being made in the near future next to this incredibly cute motorbike!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great idea! But I don't think it'll really take off until demand is increased. Most people's main problem with buying an electric car is the efficiency, so they'd have to improve that, and recharging stations for electric batteries are apparently rare. Also, the design is futuristic and cute, but it might look a little out-of-place on the street. Maybe a little dorky? That's my opinion, though. They also have to think of how the vehicle's look would appeal to a wide audience, although the closed design is way safer than your average bike. So although it's really neat, they also have to make it appeal to cynical people, or people who want to be "cool". The kind of cool that goes into quotation marks, because True Cool is a platonic ideal. No one has ever actually been True Cool. Not even this rad bike.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I feel that this is a great concept. For those who are one person commuters, it would greatly reduce their environmental impact. With a starting price at under $15,00 it is possible for the average person to buy. Currently, this type of vehicle sells for much more and is not readily available. Overall, good job and great topic.
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