High School Students Invent Electric Motorcycle
by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY on 06.20.08
With gas prices and global warming becoming more and more of an issue every day for average Americans, a group of talented high school students on the Experimental Vehicle Team from Saint Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights, Minn., has applied its ingenuity to develop, from scratch, a lithium-phosphate-ion-powered motorcycle that can travel at speeds of 60 miles an hour for 50+ miles before needing to be recharged.
Of course, they’ve also worked to address consumers' safety concerns by designing this commuter bike with "crush zones" formed by compressible materials, and other safety features to protect the driver by keeping their eco-conscious traveler inside the vehicle in a collision.
What's Next for the Electric Motorcycle?
The team was one of 16 high schools to receive an InvenTeams grant of up to $10K to identify a real-world problem and invent a practical solution to it, and is expected to show off the bike at MIT next week.
Afterwards they’re expected to invent a solar-charging station to make it truly carbon free. So congrats to these creative engineers in training for coming up with a terrific idea to help green the Planet!
Via: Press Release
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Needs much better aerodynamics
Very impressive. If anyone knows of any sites with more info. on this, please post. The real innovation as I see it is the "roll cage" approach. If 2 wheeled vehicles are going to be a big part of the "transportation solution", then a lot of people who are afraid of 2 wheeled vehicles are going to need some convincing. While this design may lack some technical expertise, these students have correctly determined that the technology doesn't matter unless you can sell it. Speed, range, and safety. These kids are brilliant!
I've seen some crazy "capsuled" cycles before, but this is the first one that looks like it'd be easy to mount/dismount. I think part of the design is so the rider can sit upright (more visibility, maybe?) instead of "hugging the cycle"?
Still cool that "kids" came up with it.
Designed, Built, Innovated but not Invented!
Invented means that they were the first to come up with the idea.
It is a great example of an electric motorcycle and I applaud the high school team's effort.
People who don't ride motorcycle shouldn't "invent" new motorcycle designs.
I not too sure how this is anymore environmentally friendly than a gas powered motorcycle. Where do they think the electricity comes from. Nearly half of the electricity in America comes from burning Coal, another 20% from burning natural gas.
So, for the sake of argument, lets say that everybody starts driving around on electric motorcycles. What is going to happen to the price of electricity and the price of gas? Can you say "Supply and Demand"... Electricity gets more expensive, and gas becomes dirt cheap because nobody needs it.
When did we abandon basic economics?
Besides, It has been proven that Every Planet in our solar system is getting hotter, not just Earth, so don't you think that maybe the Sun might be to blame, instead of my motorcycle, or Chevy Pickup?
Seems like it might be significantly safer than your average motorcycle, what with a) a low top speed, b) rollbars/head protection, c) side door things. Don't virtually all motorcycle deaths involve head injuries? I imagine a lot of people would never consider a motorcycle instead of a car due to the perceived danger... building them a bit sturdier and safer might convince people to switch from a car or use one as a 2nd vehicle.
This is very similar to the BMW C1 (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_C1), which was never released in the US. It looks like it might also have door bars, kind of like the Smart Crossblade (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_(automobile)).
The rollcage idea is a good one, and I do like the idea of electric motorcycles/scooters. Of course, I'd want a full windscreen like the C1, and you do have to take into account where you get your energy. But if you already have solar power, or you buy your power from a provider which sources it from solar, I think this should be a great combination.
If Highschool students can do this how come profesional designers limit their vehicals to 30mill per charge.. I live 120 miles round trip to the nearest city and can't use a electric vehical untill there is w one with that mile range..