Zero Electric Motorcycles Will Play A Supporting Role In Amgen Tour Of California

Electric motorcycles from Zero will play an important role in this year’s Amgen Tour of California professional cycling race. They will be used as part of the race’s motorized support fleet during the men’s Big Bear Lake Time Trial stage. Zero electric motorcycles are especially well suited for supporting bicycle racing since there is no exhaust or noxious fumes for the athletes to inhale. Because they make almost no sound, the athletes will be able to hear clearly any team instructions given by radio.

This will be the first time an electric motorcycle has been used in the eleven year history of the Amgen Tour of California, the most prestigious international cycling event in North America. Together, the seven day men’s and the four day women’s events attract world champions, Olympic medalists, and Tour de France stage winners from around the world. They will compete on one of the most scenic and challenging courses on the international racing calendar.

Starting in Sacramento and finishing in Pasadena, the men’s race will be contested by 16 teams along 575 miles of coastlines, highways and mountain roads. The 16 women’s teams will compete across 257 miles through South Lake Tahoe, Elk Grove and Sacramento. This year’s event will feature top UCI WorldTour teams with some of the world’s best riders.

“The Amgen Tour of California is proud to partner with best-in-category companies, and Zero Motorcycles will be a valuable addition to the Big Bear Time Trial stage this year, while also furthering our sustainability efforts for the race overall,” said Kristin Klein, Amgen Tour of California president and executive vice president of AEG Sports.

The Big Bear Lake Time Trial is 14.2 miles long and has 400 feet of elevation change. The cyclists depart the starting line one by one in a race against the clock. The short distance course allows cyclists to “drain their tanks” with one, huge effort, with most riders averaging speeds of about 30 miles per hour. mph. If only gasoline powered support vehicles were used, the race would have a significant carbon footprint. Using electric vehicles instead will dramatically shrink that footprint and permit the athletes to perform at the highest levels.

“We’re thrilled to partner with the Amgen Tour of California in bringing electric motorcycles to this prestigious race,” said Todd Andersen, vice president of marketing, sales and aftersales at Zero Motorcycles. “Our powertrain’s relative silence and zero emissions are particularly well suited to the needs of elite athletes in competition. We’re excited at the prospect of growing our relationship to expand the use of Zeros across even more stages of the Amgen TOC in the coming years.”

Source: TransWorld Motocross  Photo credit: Amgen Tour of California

Fuel Efficient Motorcycles: Obstacles and Trends

Fuel efficient motorcycles are in great demand in the Asia-Pacific region. That part of the world is also the largest motorcycle market in the world with more than 70% of the global market. Motorcycle engine R&D is directly influenced by demand as well as sales and emission regulations in different parts of the world. If we can learn what’s happening in the Asia-Pacific motorcycle market today, it could help us figure out what the motorcycle market in the U.S. might look five to ten years from now. Fuel efficiency is a major driver for the global motorcycle engine management system market, according to Persistence Market Research, which provides market intelligence to transportation industries.

North America and Europe are much smaller markets for motorcycles than Asia-Pacific, but the demand for advanced and energy-efficient motorcycles is also increasing in the western world.  Thus, the opportunity is there for engine management system suppliers as well as larger manufacturers in these regions to respond to a consumer demand for increased motorcycle fuel efficiency.

For example, India has a significant demand for motorcycles, and, combined with the need for economizing fuel in often high-density traffic, this region could be one of the most lucrative markets for engine management systems. Urban environments have a big effect on efficiency. First the rider puts energy into accelerating, then, when that energy is wasted in braking as kinetic energy is converted to heat by the brakes. (The exception to this equation is a hybrid/electric car with regenerative braking). The more starting and stopping, the lower the overall fuel economy.

The European and North American motorcycle market mainly consists of sport and touring bikes, each of which is high performing with advanced engine technology. The Asian motorcycle market mainly consist of two-wheelers with engine capacity less than 250 cc.

So What are the Hurdles to Improving Motorcycle Fuel Efficiency?

Jeromy Moore, Porsche racing engineer and former race engineer for V8 Supercar star Craig Lowndes, says it is difficult for motorcycles to match a car’s aerodynamics, because they are too short. “With aero, it will be hard to get a bike’s Cd down as it is quite short so the air has to deflect at larger angles to go around and rejoin,” he says. Moreover, why does a bike use more fuel? The engine simply isn’t as efficient at that load. According to Moore, cars are judged much more heavily on fuel consumption. “They aren’t trying to get 200hp per litre.”

The other hurdle is weight: the combined bike and rider’s weight is an important factor in racing. According to Moore, a 160 lb. driver represents just 8% of the combined racer/car weight. A similar motorcycle rider adds a massive 35% to the gross vehicle mass of a 500 lb. motorcycle. Weight has the biggest impact on fuel economy around town. “In terms of the effect of mass on fuel consumption it depends on the duty cycle,” Moore says. “That is, at constant speed on the highway more weight has an almost negligible effect due to an increase in rolling resistance of the tires.”

How to Begin the Process toward Greater Motorcycle Fuel-Efficiency

A major answer to better motorcycle fuel economy lies in forced induction in smaller capacity and, therefore, lighter engines. Other answers include reducing motorcycle weight with new materials.

One step toward greater motorcycle fuel efficiency is taking place through technology R&D. Companies are focusing on integration of smartphone mobile applications with engine management system to help track the real time performance of a vehicle. Also, aftermarket installation of engine management systems may contribute positively in the global motorcycle engine management system market.

The increase in demand for environment friendly electric bikes and scooters is putting traditional motorcycle engine manufacturers on alert. But, for the time being, most motorcycles around the world lean more towards performance than good old fuel efficiency.

Photo credit: Turismo Emilia Romagna via Foter.com / CC BY-NC-SA

EICMA 2016 Will Feature Electric Motorcycle Reveals

The US has SEMA, where automakers and aftermarket suppliers gather to show off their wildest, craziest new, new things. Italy has EICMA, the Esposizione Internazionale Ciclo Motociclo Accessori, an annual show where motorcycle manufacturers bring their latest creations to present them to the public for the first time. The theme of this year’s EICMA show is “Bikes Never Seen Before.” One of those will be a new electric motorcycle from Energica.

Photo by the author.

Let’s begin by saying that Europeans take their motorcycles seriously. In September, I spent a lovely afternoon eating gelato on the shores of Lake Orta, which is nestled at the foot of the Italian Alps.. Across from me was a parking lot filled with sport bikes — Ducatis, Moto Guzzis, BMWs, and Hondas. They had all been driven along sinuous Alpine roads that morning to come watch a MotoGP race at a local ristorante. 

I watched as they drove up. Every rider and passenger was dressed in full leathers. All wore helmets. All had proper gloves and footwear. Off in one corner was one Harley Davidson, but its rider was also fitted out in full riding gear. There was no one dressed in shorts and a T shirt, wearing sandals. Every one of those bikes had been ridden hard and put away wet, still tinkling and crackling with the sound of cooling exhaust pipes as they sat in the sun. Riding a bike on the Continent and riding a bike in the US are two distinct and separate worlds.

Energica, the Italian electric motorcycle maker, promises to unveil a new concept at EICMA this year. Sources expect the concept to be built on the company’s two current offerings, the Ego sport bike and the Eva street fighter. The electric powertrain will likely be very similar to 136 horsepower unit with 145 lb-ft of torque that propels the Ego to 60 mph in 3 seconds and a top speed of 150 mph. It will also introduce a new color option — Lunar White — for its two production models.

Zero, the American electric motorcycle manufacturer will launch its 2017 lineup at EICMA this year. Zero has added two new models — the supermoto-based Zero FXS and max adventure Zero DSR. The new model line also offers faster charging, thanks to the Charge Tank accessory.

“Europe represents about half of our global business, and the 2016 model line reflects our commitment to appeal to an increasingly diverse range of discerning riders,” said Richard Walker, CEO, Zero Motorcycles. “With increased performance, up to 317 km of city range and greater value, we look forward to many more people experiencing the thrill of electric.”

EICMA runs from November 19 to 22 in Milan. If you go, drop me a line. I know a great restaurant there. Ciao!

Source: Auto Evolution, Car and Bike