Electric motorcycles and scooters

Power source
Yamaha FC Aqel


                          
Generally, the source of power for the electric motor has been batteries, but development in fuel cell technology has created several prototypes. Some examples are: the ENV from Intelligent Energy, Honda's scooter using the Honda FC Stack, and the Yamaha FC-AQEL. Also, petroleum hybrid-electric motorcycles are under development. Some examples are the Ecycle, and Yamaha's Gen-RYU.

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Advantages and disadvantages This article or section reads like a review and may need a cleanup.
Please help improve this article to make it neutral in tone and meet Wikipedia's quality standards. (April 2008)


Electric motorcycles and scooters are rising in popularity because of higher gasoline prices. Battery technology is gradually improving making this form of transportation more practical.[1]

Advantages of electric over gasoline power:
The fuel costs for electric power are approximately 25% the cost of gasoline power (US, mid-2008; see Electric car, "Running costs" for the calculation)[2]
Nearly silent.
Environmental friendly (no exhausted gases at point of use)
Can ride indoors.
No trips needed to a gas station. Plug in and recharge at home.
Lower maintenance costs and fewer maintenance activities. For example, there is no need to change the oil.
Using grid power to charge batteries displaces less pollution than gasoline scooters. The amount of emissions displaced depends on the sources of electricity. Check your electricity bill to see where it comes from.

Disadvantages:
Up front costs are higher than comparative gasoline powered motorcycle or scooter.
Shorter range before refueling.
Longer "fill up" or recharge time.
Comparatively lower maximum speed. In other words lower speeds at similar price points.
Few electric power outlets are conveniently located near streets or driveways. It is often difficult or impossible to bring the battery into an apartment, for example, for recharging.
Battery capacity can be as low as 20% on a cold winter day with -20 °C (lead battery)

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History
Electric scooter at the 2005 Vancouver EV gathering
Main article: History of electric motorcycles and scooters
Late 1860s: Earliest references to electric motorcycles can be found in patents.
1911: Electric motorcycle available according to early Popular Mechanics article.[3]
2007:
A123 Li-Ion cell-powered Killacycle makes new quarter mile (400-metre) record of 7.824 seconds and 168 mph (270 km/h) in Phoenix, AZ at AHDRA 2007.[4]
Axle Corporation plans to start selling a mini-scooter version of the EV-X7 in 2008, which will be priced at about $2100.[5]

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Types
50+ mph fun-ev electric scooter

A scooter is a type of motorcycle with a step-through frame and usually with smaller wheels designed for urban transportation.

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Various types of scooters

Scooters are divided into categories as per the particular niche that they are designed to operate in and speed requirements:
2 wheeled Vespa-styled scooters 0-60 mph (0-100 km/h)
2 wheeled Stand-up scooters (like a kick scooter) 0-25 mph (0-40 km/h)
2 wheeled-side-by-side stand-up scooters like manufactured by Segway PT 0-10 mph (0-15 km/h)
2 wheeled Seated scooters 0-25 mph (0-40 km/h)
3 wheeled standup scooters like manufactured by Zap 0-15 mph (0-25 km/h)
3 through 4 wheeled Mobility scooter (disability riders) 0-10 mph (0-15 km/h)
3 through 4 wheeled Seated scooters/golf carts 0-25 mph (0-40 km/h)

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Electric motorcycle or electric bicycle
Electric motorcycle "Electrocat"

2 wheeled motorcycles are generally differentiated from motorized bicycles and mopeds (motorized pedal cycles) by speed, with motorcycles having greater speeds—usually greater than 30 mph (about 50 km/h). Although, this line for what constitutes a 2 wheeled motorcycle has blurred due to marketing, styling, and public opinion.

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Main categories of 3-wheeled motorcycles

Due to vagueness in motor vehicle laws, any 3-wheeled vehicle that can travel over 30 mph (50 km/h) may be classified as a motorcycle. This classification does not depend whether the operator is fully enclosed by a "cage" or exposed to the elements. But for design purposes, three wheeled vehicles are divided into 2 categories:
1 wheel in front and 2 in back, known as a delta design or the traditional trike (tricycle) design
2 wheels in front and 1 in back, known as a tadpole design.

Some three wheeled motorcycles enclose the rider in a "cabin" or cockpit. These include the Gizmo, Twike, NmG.

Some three wheeled motorcycles have independent suspension allowing the vehicle to tilt or lean.