Voltra Electric Motorcycle Concept – Look Ma, No Tank!
Ironically, one of the features designers of electric motorcycles seem to have the hardest time getting away from is the gas tank. My hunch as to why is a motorcycle just looses too much of it’s identity as soon as you take away the tank. Eventually our minds may learn to accept the tanks absence. Until then Dan Anderson‘s Voltra electric motorcycle concept, with it’s trellis frame forming the skeleton of a gas tank lets our minds wander just far enough to be comfortable with the no tank look.
Suspended on the end of the vestigial tank structure is a cafe racer inspired seat and tail section hinting at Dan’s inspiration for the bike. This 4th year University of Western Sydney Industrial Design student has a deep rooted respect for the culture of ICE motorcycles and their design. His father Chris successfully raced Norton Manx in a classic race series in Australia in the late 80’s and early 90’s and currently owns a Commando and a few Ducati’s. He was Australian champion 
In: Design · Tagged with: AUS, cafe racer, concept, Dan Anderson, Dan Anderson Design, Design, Industrial Design, University of Western Sydney, Voltra
TTXGP UK Championship Dates Announced
TTXGP announced the dates and venues for the planned TTXGP UK Championship 2010. Four dates were originally planned but it appears they have settled on three. The first at Cadwell Park July 3-4, the second at Snetterton July 17 – 18 and Castle Combe September 11. The events will be sanctioned by the Auto-Cycle Union (ACU) and British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) as planned but will not involve the FIM as they are starting their own series called e-Power.
Team Agni, the winners of the 2009 TTXGP at Isle Of Man will field 2 bikes in the TTXGP UK Championship and Isle Of Man. They mention exclusive entry in TTXGP so they will not be racing in the FIM e-Power series. This brings the 2010 TTXGP team count to 2 as Betti Motors, no stranger to electric motorcycle racing, already announced their participation. Azhar is quoted as saying we will see more teams announced shortly.
Source: eGrandPrix
In: TTXGP · Tagged with: ACU, BMF, dates, eGrandPrix, FIM, races, Racing, Team Agni, TTXGP, TTXGP UK Championship
CRP Racing To Build Bikes For TTXGP Competition
CRP Racing announced it will join the likes of electric race motorcycle manufacturer Mavizen as a builer of electric motorcycles exclusively for competition in the TTXGP electric race series. CRP Racing has history in multiple disciplines of motorsport including manufacturing parts for F1, entries in Road Racing Italian Championship, Honda Trophy and two wild cards in MotoGP.
In: Racing, TTXGP · Tagged with: bikes, Cleaner Racing Conferance, CRP Racing, eCRP1.0, eGrandPrix, manufacturer, Racing, TTXGP
TTXGP Responds To FIM e-Power Series
Azhar Hussain, Founder Of TTXGP
Mary Donovan of TTXGP posted a response today to the FIM press release announcing e-Power electric motorcycle race series. It turns out the FIM decided to move forward without the involvement of TTXGP. Azhar was humble in his response but pointed out that his organization shared a lot of knowledge and lessons learned on electric motorcycle racing with FIM. He also feels running two parallel electric motorcycle series will dilute the efforts of both organizations. Mr. Hussain went on to mention the many achievements of TTXGP and he sounds determined to push forward and succeed.
In: Racing, TTXGP · Tagged with: Azhar Hussain, e-Power, eGrandPrix, FIM, Mary Donovan, TTXGP
FIM Announces e-Power International Championship Without TTXGP
TTXGP FIM Breakup?
The FIM recently issued a press release detailing a new electric motorcycle race series called FIM e-Power International Championship. At first glance this sounds like old news. After the success of he TTXGP at Isle Of Man in June, the FIM had announced an all electric race series in collaboration with TTXGP under direction of Azhar Hussain, founder of the eGrandPrix organization. If you look closely at the e-Power FIM press release attached below, the TTXGP brand, eGrandPrix or Azhar himself are strangely absent.
In: Racing, TTXGP · Tagged with: Azhar Hussain, breakup, CCR, e-Power, e-Power International Championship, eGrandPrix, EV Racing, FIM, Jeremy Burne, Racing, split, TTXGP, TTXGP FIM split, Vito Ippolito
Jay Leno’s Electric Motorcycle Collection
“If this is the future, I’m not that worried”
If you are into cars and motorcycles you probably know Jay Leno has one of the largest collections out there and many can be viewed at Jay Leno’s Garage. His video reviews and interviews make it obvious he is a true enthusiast.
Jay also openly and actively promotes alternative fuels. On the Leno Show he as a spot called the Green Car Challenge where he has celebrity’s run a road course in an all electric Ford Focus.
Over the past few years Jay has acquired a Vectrix Maxi scooter, Zero X, Zero S and most recently a Brammo Enertia. They are all documented on videos shot on location in his garage. Check out the clips after the break.
In: Motorcycles · Tagged with: Aptera, Brammo, Enertia, Jay Leno, Jay Leno's Garage, Neal Saiki, reviews, Tesla Roadster, Video, Zero Motorcycles, Zero S, Zero X
Zero S Test Ride Review
A chilly, overcast November afternoon in the corn fields of Illinois set the perfect stage for my first meeting with the Zero S. I had been on the fence about the styling of the S but now that I’ve ridden it it seems the designer was truly inspired. The white flowing lines of the bodywork sitting on the angular bones of the chassis perfectly visualize it’s eerily silent, ghostly movement. A surreal incarnation of what we once knew as motorcycle freed from the rules of it’s previous life on earth.
In: Zero Motorcycles · Tagged with: Chicago, Forest City Riders Dual Sport, IL, Mike Mastrangelo, review, supermoto, Zero Motorcycles, Zero S, Zero S review
Brammo Enertia Now $7995 Or Less
Does that blow yer mind? That just happened!
Today Brammo announced a staggering 33% price drop on the Brammo Enertia. The once $11,995 electric motorcycle now retails for $7995 before tax credits. The federal tax credit brings it down to $7195 and aggressive tax incentives in states like Oregon will see $5695. 24 month 0% financing is also available with $2000 down and $250 / month.
The only reason this is not a total shock is that Bramscher had hinted at the price coming down drastically after a battery exchange program was implemented. Could a battery exchange program take the price lower? Considering batteries are the bulk of the cost I would guess it could. Even components could be made cheaper. The 60 mph Enertia is speced with Brembo brake calipers that could be easily and safely downgraded to ease up on the retail price.
In: Brammo · Tagged with: Brammo, Brammo Enertia, price, Ricky Bobby, shake 'n bake
Video of Mavizen TTX02 Unveil At SEMA
Mavizen TTX02 TTXGP Electric Motorcycle
Mavizen and TTXGP founder Azhar Hussain was joined by the Minister of Environment of Isle of Man yesterday to unveil the Mavizen TTX02 electric supersport motorcycle at SEMA show yesterday. Azhar is calling it a “laptop on wheels” to reflect the bikes concentration on shifting motorsports to be both connected and modular by design.
This is not a new theme in electric motorcycles, 3rd place TTXGP finisher Brammo has been beating the same drum for their electric Enertia commuter. However, Mavizen takes it a step further. The entire drivetrain can be swapped out in 5 minutes and the bikes system bus and integrated web server are built on Linux. Linux is an open source operating system which allows developers to modify it to suit their needs. The bike has a dedicated IP address and can be accessed remotely via PC for real diagnostics and tuning. Be sure to check out the Tradition Is Not A Business Model series on Asphalt And Rubber for more on modular design trends for electrics. See the TTX02 unveiling video after the break.
In: Mavizen, TTXGP · Tagged with: connectivity, eGrandPrix, EV Racing, Infineon Raceway, Linux, Mavizen, Mavizen TTX02, modular design, programming, Race Bike, Racing, SEMA, support, TTX02, TTXGP
Mavizen TTX03 Motorcross Derived Electric
Today is a big day for Mavizen and TTXGP founder Azhar Hussain. They are unveiling the Mavizen TTX02 at SEMA show which looks to be based on the KTM RC8 superbike chassis and the Team Agni X01.
After taking a look at their website it appears they are also working on a dirtbike called the TTX03. Like the TTX02 electric road racing bike, Mavizen plans for the TTX03 electric dirtbike to be an inexpensive entry into electric racing.
Mavizen is currently evaluating a project for a motocross derived product for 2010. TTX03 allows participation in the growing TTXGP racing programme for 2010/2011 season. Using commonality of the parts and processes where possible, this is designed to be an affordable route to competitive standard on electric motocross.
Though the site does not say specifically, it will most likely be a supermoto bike. TTXGP.com did mention they were working on a supermoto event for the 2010 Isle Of Man TTXGP. There are no published plans currently for offroad/MX being added to the TTXGP road race series. However, I would be very surprised if it did not happen as Zero and Quantya already produce the bikes and participate in offroad racing events.
Stay tuned for pictures of the TTX02 as they start to surface from the SEMA show unveiling.
Source: Mavizen
In: Mavizen · Tagged with: Azhar Hussain, eGrandPrix, electric dirtbike, Electric Motorcycle Racing, electric mx, Mavizen, Mavizen TTX03, Racing, SEMA, TTX03, TTXGP
