Earlier this month, Japanese media reported Honda and Yamaha were each planning a line of electric motorcycles by 2010. The new bikes, which reports say can travel up to 60 miles on a charge, will use lithium-ion batteries for power. Now, word from Japan's Mainichi news service is Honda is also planning new gas-electric hybrid motorcycles.
Electric Motorsport Inc., of Oakland California produced the first freeway capable production Electric Motorcycle called the "Electric GPR" back in 2002. At that time the vehicle used Lead Acid batteries and range was limited. The 2008 and 2009 Electric Motorsport GPR-S models are now available with Lithium batteries which significantly extend range and performance. It is interesting that Honda and Yamaha are talking about releasing Electric Motorcycles in 2010. I guess that means Electric Motorsport will have had 8 years of track practice and tuning before Honda and Yamaha ever show up. Although they are late to the party we look forward to seeing what their cubic dollars can do. Sincerely, Todd Kollin CEO Electric Motorsport Inc. electricmotorsport.com
Among his other unusual hobbies (he also builds sculptures featuring fire-spewing robots), 32-year-old Justin Gray makes custom electric motorcycles. To create his latest drag racer, the R144, Gray tore the motor and gasoline systems out of a 1999 Yamaha R1, a bike with a frame large enough to hold the extra parts he needed for the conversion. Since the gas engine had been an important structural element in the original bike, he built his own aluminum motor bracket to hold the modified bike together.
ELECTRIC MOTORSPORT INC. of Oakland California comissioned Justin Gray to build the R-144 and as always he did an excelent job on the conversion. We whould also like to thank Jeff Hagan AFM rider #42 for supplying us one of his old R-1 race bikes for the build. Electric Motorsport sells EV parts and is also the manufacture of the first freeway capable production electric motorcycle. It is our goal to provide Zero Emissions Transportation solutions to the general public with out compromising fun. Sincerely, Todd Kollin electricmotorsport.com
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