Zongshen PEM Doesn’t Want Warren Buffett, They Want Mission Motors
Toyota has nothing to do with this article really, but remember the 1980’s Toyota commercials? No? OK, never mind the photo.
Last month rumors were flying about Zongshen PEM president Zou Zongshen traveling to the United States to meet billionaire investment legend Warren Buffett. Buffett has a 10% stake in Chinese Automotive manufacturer BYD and it was assumed he may want to get his hands on some of Zongshen because of its potential to capitalize on the crowded Chinese eBike market. Zongshen never denied meeting with Buffett but it appears the purpose of Zou’s visit to the States was to meet with American motorcycle business Mission Motors.
It seems Zou liked what he saw (if my assumptions are correct) at Mission’s San Francisco headquarters as on January 31 a strategic partnership agreement was penned between Zongshen PEM and Mission. The intent is for Zongshen to take a majority stake in Mission and inject capital into the American startup by June 2010. Later, “high-performance electric power systems” will be developed in a new R&D center in Chongqing with a global target market.
Mission Motors is the company behind the land speed record holding Mission One. Referred to as the “Tesla of motorcycles”, the no-compromises electric superbike is slated for release in mid to late 2010 at a retail price of $68,000.
Zongshen is one of the many Chinese motorcycle brands that take credibility from the popular generalization that Chinese motorcycles are all junk. They have partnerships with Harley Davidson and Piaggio and the Zongshen Racing Team has race experience dating back to 1999. The team has experience running bikes in MotoGP, CSBK and a 2002 World Motorcycle Endurance Championships win. For larger displacement motorcycle racing they use other company’s machines and are in it for the experience gained from racing. Zongshen PEM specializes in small displacement motorcycles and is working to capture the huge and fragmented Chinese market for small electric motorcycles where 1200+ manufacturers compete for business.
Looking at the two companies it is easy to speculate on what might come from such a partnership. Will small affordable electric scooters end up in the US under the Mission Motors name? Will Zongshen enter one or more of the electric motorcycle racing series on a Mission-engineered bike? Will Mission Motors branded bikes make it to China? Maybe none of the above. Regardless, it is an interesting development and a great opportunity for Mission Motors.
Click below to see a video of the Mission One in action.
In: Mission Motors · Tagged with: Blue Sea, business, electric motorcycle industry, Industry, Mission Motors, Red Sea, Warren Buffett, Zongshen electric moped, Zongshen electric scooter, Zongshen Motorcycles, Zongshen Nice, Zongshen PEM, Zongshen Zou, Zou Zongshen
snowXbike Snow Bike Developed For snowXpark Concept
snowXpark is a snow bike riding park and rental concept developed by Adrian Barmettler and Silvan Studer. The idea is to designate a trail circuit at ski resorts for motorized electric snow bikes similar to the Quantya Snow X. snowXpark developed the 15 hp, 22 mph snowXbike for this purpose by converting a Snow Hawk to electric drive using Quantya electronics. The two early thirties entrepreneurs have already held demo events at ski resorts near their Sachseln, Switzerland headquarters with interest from over 200 eager snow riders.
Inspiration for the snowXpark came from the popularity of snowmobile rentals in areas such as Finland and Canada. In Switzerland however, gas powered snowmobiles are prohibited. So, Adrain and Silvan went looking for a sled they could offer for rent and still stay legal. They experimented with a Snow Hawk and eventually hooked up with Quantya who converted it to electric using Quantya electronics.
Compared to the original two stroke engine that takes some time to build RPM’s and “get on the pipe”, the Quantya electric drive delivers power instantly. Adrain and Silvan were impressed enough to build a brand around the setup which they are calling snowXbike.
Apparently Quantya was impressed with the snowXbike enough to build their own prototype model, the Snow X which I wrote about yesterday. The snowXpark concept is very similar to Quantya’s own Quantyaparx concept that allows for rental of Quantya Track dirtbikes for use at Quantyaparx motocross facilities.
Check out the video of the snowXbike in action after the break and find out more about snow X park on Facebook.
In: Other Makes · Tagged with: Adrian Barmettler, electric snowbike, Quantya, Quantya Switzerland, quantyaparx, Silvan Studer, snow bike, Snow Hawk, snowmobile, snowXbike, snowXpark, snowXtrack, Switzerland
Quantya Snow X Prototype In Development
Quantya is experimenting with a prototype snowbike called the Quantya Snow X. The Snow X is a Quantya Track with what appears to be something similar to an Explorer Smart All Terrain System fitted. The system consists of a specially designed ski attached to the forks and a snowmobile-like track attached to the swing arm. The prototype develompent started after Quantya supplyed electric drive to the snowXpark team for creation of the snowXbike.
Conventional dirtbikes do fine on ice and soft snow with ice screws installed. Once the snow gets packed and deep it doesn’t matter if your running a sand paddle. Once the front wheel digs in your weight goes forward and the back wheel looses traction. It becomes very hard to keep your momentum up and hold a line.
The ski and track on the Quantya snowbike are designed to tilt to optimize traction as the rider leans the bike. The wide, dual runner front ski and the rear tread provide a large surface are to keep the bike floating on top of the snow. The tilting design and the large surface area combine to give a motorcycle like experience that a conventional snowmobile can’t provide.
Testing of the now prototype Quantya Snow X is currently in progress. Quantya HQ in Switzerland are experimenting with different power and drive setups with the hope of having the bike available for sale by the fall of 2010 or earlier. No price is currently set.
Hit the break for video and pics of the Quantya Snow X.
In: Quantya · Tagged with: AD Boivin, AD Boivin Design, axpo, electric snow bike, electric snowmobile, Elektrotöffs, Explorer, Quantya, Quantya Snow X, Quantya Switzerland, quantyaparx, snow, snow cross, snow cross bike, snow riding, snowmobile, snowXbike, Switzerland, Video
Craig Vetter Joins The eGrandPrix Rules Wiki
Craig Vetter and Azhar Hussain (image credit CraigVetter.com)
The TTXGP Technical Rules Wiki exists to tap the vast knowledge of the race enthusiast community to help shape electric motorcycle race rules for 2011. Of course we can’t assume the people who had a hand in writing the rules in the first place won’t want to have a say. I guess it makes sense that Craig Vetter would become a member of the wiki as he wrote the TTXGP and FIM streamlining rules for zero emissions racing.
If you click on “recent changes” in the left navigation of the wiki you will see the following…
27 January 2010
(User creation log); 23:25 . . Craig Vetter (Talk | contribs) New user account
Craig Vetter is a member of the TTXGP Technical Rules Wiki!
Why Is It A Big Deal To Have Vetter On Board?
Fifty years ago, the FIM banned the use of streamlining in motorcycle racing. They felt the high surface area of the fairing might cause instability in certain wind conditions and cause a rider to lose control of the bike. As a result, today’s race bikes are much slower and less efficient than they could be with proper streamlining. And of course, motorcycles designed to mimic race bikes now suffer lower fuel economy than they could achieve with a streamline influence.
Vetter's Image Of A Streamlined Electric
No one knows the benefits of good motorcycle aerodynamics better than the legendary Craig Vetter, the father of the equally iconic Windjammer windscreen. When the FIM started working with the TTXGP in 2009 to pen streamlining guidelines for their zero emission race series, Vetter became a key contributor and basically wrote the rules as they currently stand.
Considering Vetter’s history and high profile in the world of motorcycling, I was quite shocked to see Vetter does not have a page on Wikipedia. That’s not a big deal; he is a member of a more important wiki now. I guess he can always build himself a wikipedia page with all the wiki experience he will get over the next year helping fine tune the 2011 TTXGP rules. That is if David Herron and other Vetter fans do not get to it first.
For more information on streamlining see Craig’s article on TTXGP streamlining.
Source: TTXGP Technical Rules Wiki via: eMotoRules (Rules Wiki Moderator)
In: TTXGP · Tagged with: brammofan, Craig Vetter, David Herron, FIM, FIM streamlining, Harry Mallin, rules, streamlining, streamlining ban, TTXGP streamlining, TTXGP Technical Rules Wiki, wiki
TT Zero Replaces TTXGP for 2010 At The Isle Of Man
The Isle of Man announced they will add the TT Zero clean emissions class to the historic TT race program. It will run under the ACU Events Ltd using FIM rules and be promoted by the Department of Tourism and Leisure. The TTXGP will not be involved in the 2010 series but the DTL’s Martyn Quayle said in the press release he acknowledges their hard work in the first zero emissions race at Isle of Man in June 2009.
The TTXGP still has three series they are running in the United States, UK and Italy that culminate in one championship race in Spain. They also have a handful of riders signed on to compete in their races. However, the race at the Isle Of Man set the standard for electric motorcycle racing and there are standing records to be broken on the Mountain Circuit. The draw for electric motorcycle race teams to the TT Zero will be great but the localized TTXGP series will also be attractive to low budget race efforts. As the slicing and dicing of alternative fuel motorcycle racing continues I just hope the electric motorcycle racing does not lose momentum from all the dilution.
See the full press release after the break.
In: Racing, TTXGP · Tagged with: ACU, ACU Events Ltd, clean emissions, DTL, eGrandPrix, Isle Of Man, TT Zero, TTXGP
You Write the Rules – TTXGP 2011
Motoczysz E1pc At 2009 TTXGP Start
One week before the 2009 TTXGP at Isle Of Man, Ultimate Motorcycling interviewed Michael Czysz at the Miller Motosports Park WSBK round and got his thoughts about alternative energy and electric powered motorcycles. After mentioning the e1pc had 15 miles of testing, Czysz summed up the Alternative Fuel market and the push to make an electric race bike in 6 months by saying “Most of the motorsports industry was taken by surprise how quick the market is available for this”.
FIM, the worlds largest road racing governing body quickly teamed up with TTXGP to leverage their electric motorcycle racing experience and later broke off creating thier own e-Power series.
For 2010 we have 2 paralellel alternative energy race series at different venues with almost identical rules. Azhar Hussain and his team wrote these rules with the help of industry experts such as Craig Vetter, an expert in streamlining, to help get the most out of electric power in the safest way possible.
Now Azhar is looking to race enthusiasts to help bring the race rules to the next level for 2011 and further set the TTXGP apart from the FIM. eGrandPrix set up a wiki where anyone with a computer can modify the rules and make suggestions for additions and enhancements. Harry Mallin (aka brammofan and eMotoRules)was brought on to moderate and keep the ball rolling. Have a look at the eMotoRules blog for more information and tips on how to get started.
Source: eMotoRules Blog
In: Racing · Tagged with: alternative energy race rules, brammofan, Czysz, eGrandPrix, emotorules, Harry Mallin, Michael Czysz, race rules, Racing, rules, TTXGP, wiki
Electric Cruisers Get No Love, Not Even On eBay
The number of companies competing for the electric chopper and cruisers market does not seem anywhere near as large as the number of companies wanting you to buy their scooters, dirtbikes and sportbikes. OCC built the Siemens Electric chopper (“the Smart Chopper”) which you can’t get unless you are a popular charity. Only two companies come to mind that will sell you an electric chopper: Blind Spot Cycles will build you a cruiser from an existing rolling chassis starting at $5000. Or, for $24,900 you can buy an LIV Ryder from EV Innovations.
If none of these options fit your style or price range you can either build your own like WWC did or buy a one on ebay.
A nice custom electric cruiser called the Amp-Hog is on eBay right now with a starting bid of $5499 and no takers yet. You might recognize it if you are a Popular Mechanics reader as it was featured in the July 2007 issue. The aircraft aluminum frame and wood accents make for a sharp looking bike that no one will mistake for gas powered. The bike is capable of a 10 to 20 mile range and over 60 mph from its LEMCO LEM200 motor and 72 volts of PC680 lead acid batteries. Unfortunately, the bike is not quite street legal on paper but it sounds like it’s close. Seems to be a fair price for a custom build, drag strip proven electric bike but no bids yet.
In: Industry, Other Makes · Tagged with: 72 volt, Amp-Hog, bobbers, choppers, cruisers, eBay, electric bobber, electric cruiser
Plugbike And Harry Mallin Talk Electric Motorcycles On EVcast
As many of you probably know, EVcast is the podcast started by Bo Bennett and Ryan Levesque that covers the latest EV industry news. Over time it has grown to have multiple hosts and some amazing guests which brings the show 1000 unique downloads and 2500 listeners.
I was pretty nervous but jumped at the chance to be on the show and talk to Saturday’s host, Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield, and with Harry Mallin of BrammoFan and eMotoRules. Public speaking is not my strong suit but hey, if you read my earlier posts it’s obvious blogging wasn’t either :D
Click the break to listen to the podcast.
In: News, People · Tagged with: Bad Boy Buggies, brammofan, emotorules, EV News, EVcast, Gene Banman, Harry Mallin, interview, Jody Foster, Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield, podcast, Puffinpoo, skadamo
Jackie Chan’s JCAM To Distribute Brammo In ASIA
Just when you think Brammo has taken a breather on their marketing and game changing developments in powersports they decide team up with a master of motion picture martial arts. Jackie Chan apparently co-founded JCAM Advanced Mobility Company Ltd., the Hong Kong distributor of Segway for South Korea, China PRC, Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Philippines, and Indonesia. Now JCAM are adding Brammo electric motorcycles to their distribution in Hong Kong and Singapore.
More after the break…
In: Brammo · Tagged with: ASIA, ATGATT, Brammo, Chinese Zodiac, Craig Bramscher, distributors, Hong Kong, Jackie Chan, JCAM, JCAM Advanced Mobility Company Ltd., movie appearances, movies, Segway, Singapore, stars
Brammo’s Wismann Responds To Carrera’s Take On Brammo Electrical And Mechanical Design
Skadamo published an article on Friday, January 22, about a blog post by DERBI project manager Carles Carrera, detailing the DERBI GPR EV. Most noteworthy was the following paragraph from Carrera:
Current production electric motorcycles as Quantya, Brammo, Vectrix or Zero, motorcycles that I love for being pioneers, have in my opnion two recurrent problems.
- They have a poorly developed mechanical platform, I mean all of them have been developed my electric experts without insight on motorcycle development, so they are heavy, or awful or difficult to ride or even worse, not fun to ride.
- On the other side, all the electric components are not developed as a whole, and although all of these companies are ran by experts on batteries, controllers and so on, I think they have lots of problems with all the components talking each other: the controller must talk to the batteries and the motor to tell them what to do and how to do it. And that’s not easy. In fact, generally the controller and the batteries don’t talk to each other at all.
Soon after this post, a user by the name of www.efmotion.com (we can safely assume it’s Mr. Carrera, right?) posted on the elmoto.net EV forum and provided a link to his blog. He asked forum members to “pay a visit” to his blog and let people know what they thought.
Which they did.
The post caught the attention of user BrammoBrian, better known as Brammo Lead Designer Brian Wismann. Here’s his response to Mr. Carrera’s post:
BrammoBrian
Lots of opinion here as well as some very broad statements that I would contend against, of course. Here are some points to ponder:
1. Communications – The Enertia features 3 separate CANbus networks on the bike (to isolate system critical vs. non-critical data) and every electronic component has a communication connection to the rest of the bike. We have a sophisticated Vehicle Control Unit that receives communications from all of these devices (batteries, motor, motor controller, charger, dash, handlebar controls) and makes system level decisions. We also log nearly 100% of this data in real time to an on-board memory card to allow quick and easy diagnostics of any fault.
2. The component suppliers you’ve mentioned have been working with Brammo for quite awhile – Perm Motors and Sevcon (who was just here this week helping with some integration issues on their side) have been working with us for 4 years and 1 year respectively.
3. The Enertia and Enertia TTR platform were developed from the ground up to be an electric motorcycle, this Derbi is a conversion. Converting a vehicle’s powertrain WILL lead to packaging compromises, whether you’d like to admit it or not. The Enertia was developed by a team of mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, and software engineers.
4. Cost – I would also contend that Brammo’s platform was developed from the ground up specifically to be fun to ride AND affordable… what is the cost of the Derbi prototype? I know the cost of the components, and I’d guess a retail version of that bike will run upwards of $20k and this prototype well over $50k if not more.
5. I do agree with you that it’s “not easy”. Welcome to the big time… jump in, the water’s warm. We placed 3rd overall in the TTXGP last year. Where did you place?
I’ll only assume that the statements you’ve made were made in ignorance or lost in translation. In my opinion, it is professional courtesy to stick to discussing what you are fully knowledgable about – in your case the prototype you’ve built, in my case I talk about the Enertia. Welcome to the forum.
We look forward to Mr. C’s equally measured response to Mr. B’s reply.
Harry Mallin is the moderator of the TTXGP Technical Rules Wiki, blogs at Brammofan(Brammo-related) and eMotoRules (TTXGP-related) and you can follow him on Twitter at@brammofan and @emotorules.
In: Brammo, Derbi · Tagged with: Brammo, Brammo Enertia, BramoBrian, Brian Wismann, CANbus, Carles Carrera, Carrera, cost, Derbi, Derbi GPR EV, diagnostics, electric drive integration, elmoto, fault, integration, integration issues, Perm Motors, Sevcon, Vehicle Control Unit
