If you’re looking to take advantage of the federal tax credit extension for electric motorcycles, we’ve found a few new models from leading electric motorcycle manufacturers that are worth a test-ride.
Ashland, Oregon-based electric motorcycle manufacturer Brammo has a new a model that Aaron Frank of Motorcyclist magazine calls its “most ambitious electric motorcycle yet.” Designed to ride like a traditional motorcycle, it has something most electric motorcycles don’t have: gears and a clutch. (Electric motorcycles don’t need transmissions because, as Frank writes, “torque in an electric motor is a function of current and not rotational speed, there’s little need to manipulate engine rpm to build or control power.”)
Here’s what motorcycleusa.com had to say about the Empulse R:
> “The Empulse R is more than freeway capable…. It hums along at 80 mph without trouble, and gets up to that speed at a rapid clip. Top speeds saw us able to crest the low 90s, which takes a bit longer to reach – but if we had a barren road ahead, the ton-up seems more than doable on the Brammo.”
The Empulse R has a top speed of 100 mph and a range of close to 100 miles. It retails for $16,995.
Zero Motorcycles</a></span>Zero Motorcycles are fast, super sleek and all electric. They’re also lightweight and fun to ride. Since 2006, when the first prototypes were introduced, this Santa Cruz, CA-based company has been growing exponentially.
Zero Motorcycles recently received attention when they announced the release of their “first ever completely internal and purpose-built electric motor.” This new motor offers improved throttle and acceleration and has doubled the horsepower than its previous line.
According to their website:
>The Z-Force™ motor was developed from the ground up by Zero Motorcycles to be highly optimized for efficiency, power and size. With nearly the same weight and volume as a typical brushless motor, the revolutionary Z-Force™ motor can produce 125% more power and 91% more torque.
The top-of-the-line Zero S model gets approximately 137 miles per charge and retails starting at $13,995.
Sustainable America has a stated goal of reducing oil usage for transportation in America 50% by 2035. One of the ways we will achieve this is through an increase in vehicles powered by alternative forms of fuel - electricity, natural gas and advanced biofuels. The breakthroughs in technology and design continue to show that electric can still be fun, it can still be fast and it can definitely still be sexy.
