Magnetic hybrid motorbike unveiled in Japan
A Japanese vehicle manufacturer unveiled the prototype of a new electric motorbike carrying a hybrid magnetic motor, which can run almost noiselessly up to 180 kilometres (112 miles) on one charge. Tokyo-based Axle Corporation says that the battery of the next-generation electric vehicle motorbike can be charged at home, in the same way as a cellular phone. It takes a little over 6 hours to fully charge the battery, and the vehicle’s maximum speed is capable of reaching 150 kilometres per hour (93 miles per hour).
The company says the futuristic motorbike enjoys high energy efficiency thanks to a state-of-the-art magnetic motor which is a hybrid between a electromagnet and a permanent magnet.
The new motor, called SUMO, short for “super motor,” is housed inside the bike’s rear wheel. The manufacture says the new motor is seven-times more cost efficient than gas-powered scooters. “I just feel that in the near future, we’ll be seeing these kinds of electric motorbikes running all around town. And when that happens, conventional vehicles could disappear from motor racing, too, and well be competing only in electric vehicles.”
The company plans to start selling a mini-scooter version of the magnetic-powered bike in 2007.
Thanks for the scoop Fritz!
***UPDATE***
The original video I had must have died, but Honky-Tonk Dragon found a fresh copy and I’m posting it here.
24. January 2007 at 5:20 pm
Dude, I am so ready with the Akira paint job.
I gotta get one of those.
24. January 2007 at 6:18 pm
Agreed. Akira was the first thing that came to mind.
24. January 2007 at 11:50 pm
You guys beat me to it!
TETSUO!!!
25. January 2007 at 12:39 am
KANADA!!!
25. January 2007 at 5:25 am
Symbolic green seat too… too cool!! I like that scoot!
25. January 2007 at 6:26 am
I haven’t a clue what they mean by a “hybrid magnetic” motor, but those range and speed numbers are the kind of performance that electric scooters are going to need to gain real acceptance. Assuming they use lithium batteries, I would estimate that scooter weighs about the same as the comparably-sized Honda Helix but costs at least twice as much. There’s really no telling unless they decide to put it into production.
I never could figure out how the bikes in Akira were supposed to work, either. They seemed to have electric hub motors like this scooter, but they also seemed to have gas engines that could stall when changing gears. I doubt the animators even cared, as long as it looked cool.
25. January 2007 at 4:31 pm
The Akira bike, if I remember correctly had a 200hp BMW engine but used “twin ceramic rotor drive.” Not a clue what that is, but it’s sure futuristic sounding.
25. January 2007 at 7:12 pm
That’s one of the coolest scoots I’ve ever seen. It would be GREAT to ride around the countryside in almost complete silence. ‘Course I’ll probably be dead before something that neat shows up here in the USA, but if I’m not……Sign me up! Heck YEAH!
Susan_NJ
26. January 2007 at 5:06 pm
In the comic books, weren’t a few of the bikes, Kaneda’s included two-wheel drive? One wheel was gas, the other electric with electric assisted brakes IIRC.
30. January 2007 at 1:14 am
It would be nice if somebody would produce something in that form factor with current tech…though I guess the Gurney Alligator comes close.