By Ben Purvis
Moto Future
MOTO
FUTURE
Opibus - a part-Kenyan , part-Swedish company aiming to create low-cost electric transport for the masses - has rebranded as ' Roam ' as its first fullscale production bike gets closer , and these registered designs appear to show the final look for the machine . Named as one of Time magazine ' s 100 most influential companies of 2022 , Opibus ( now Roam ) appeared alongside much more familiar names including behemoths like Apple , Microsoft , Meta and Amazon - perhaps a hint as to how big this brand could become if its plans come to fruition . It already has a deal in place with ondemand taxi service Uber , and the
Although every Japanese bike manufacturer has made moves towards the electric bike market - whether via concept machines or full production models - Suzuki ’ s approach has been an unusual one with a focus on ambitious hydrogen fuel cells rather than commonplace batteries . We ’ ve seen fuel cell electric concept bikes dating back as far as 2007 ’ s Crosscage and a pilot production run of fuel cell powered Burgman scooters , which were type-approved in the EU way back in 2011 - and even trialled by police forces including London ’ s Metropolitan Police . However , Suzuki ’ s first stab at a mass-made electric bike looks set to follow much more conventional design ideas , ditching the hydrogen fuel cell and replacing it with much more mainstream rechargeable batteries . Currently under development in India , the electric Suzuki is heavily derived
Roam motorcycle promises to provide a 21st century equivalent to the sort of entry-level transport that Soichiro Honda built his empire on . At the moment , Roam has around 150 testbed bikes in daily use in various African nations , but plans to start mass deliveries in 2023 , selling them all over the globe . The intention is to offer a single battery model with a 100 km range for $ 1,500 , with a dual-battery version essentially doubling that range at $ 2,050 . The first 3,000 examples are due to be made before the end of 2022 as a limited series model , costing an additional $ 500 before full scale manufacturing begins the following year . While the prototypes seen so far have had a very angular ' tank ' section above the batteries , these new images show a more attractive , sculpted design . It ' s still extremely basic , with conventional forks , twin shocks and
Battery-powered Burgman close to production ? By Ben Purvis
www . idnmag . com from the existing Burgman Street 125 , but switches the four-stroke single for an electric motor and an under-seat battery pack . The Burgman Street is already manufactured in India , also its main market , and the electric model is clearly aimed at a similar set of customers - targeting low cost over cutting-edge technology . The Indian development programme also means the bike has to face additional challenges including extremely high temperatures , which make for a tough trial for the electric powertrain . Patents published in Japan show cable-operated drum brakes at either end , but it ' s intended to be transport rather than a fashion accessory . The dual batteries are mounted in simple boxes with handles on the right-hand side allowing them to be slid out and exchanged for charged ones - removing the need for a fast-charging ability and allowing nearly instant ' refuelling ' provided there ' s a supply of charged battery packs on hand . The electric motor on the new designs is mounted concentrically with the swingarm pivot , ensuring a consistent chain tension to reduce wear and simplify adjustment . As well as electric bikes , Roam intends to offer electric conversions for buses and 4x4s , but the motorcycle part of the business and its potential to bring clean transport to a vast number of people is what earns its spot on Time ' s list and could make it a household name in the future .
details of the bike ’ s construction , including a conventional steel chassis similar to the existing Burgman Street ’ s , but a different swingarm and rear suspension arrangement . Where the Burgman Street follows the usual scooter practice of having its engine bolted directly to a CVT transmission inside the swingarm , the electric version uses a more motorcycle-style arrangement with the motor mounted on the frame , driving the rear wheel via a chain or belt . Suzuki ’ s patent confirms it uses an AC motor , with a DC-AC inverter under the footboards and a permanent battery pack mounted under the seat . That ’ s at odds with the swappable batteries that are favoured by rivals including Honda and Yamaha for smaller electric scooters , although the Suzuki uses a surprisingly large battery that hints it will have a substantial range between charges .
Energica Motor Company has a signed a collaboration agreement with Siemens Digital Industries Software . As part of the collaboration , Siemens will provide technical expertise and knowledge along with solutions from the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio - to enable Energica ' s continuous growth in the field of battery technology and thermodynamic control innovation .
A Cambridge university professor has raised £ 50m for battery technology that could slash the time it takes to charge an electric car to less than five minutes . Nyobolt , a Cambridge start-up developing electric vehicle batteries , raised the cash from Vietnamese materials supplier Masan High-Tech Materials . It values Nyobolt at £ 300m . Nyobolt ' s battery anodes use niobium , a grey , crystalline metal , and tungsten , which charge batteries more rapidly - up to 90 % capacity in just five minutes .
According to a published interview with Dr Alexander Wehr ( BMW ' s Vice President of Customer , Brand and Sales ), BMW has no intentions of debuting a hybrid bike in the foreseeable future . In 2019 , BMW patents showed a flexible gas tank concept that makes way for a potential removable battery . " The hybrid solution has always been an important step , but it has always been an in-between step ," admits Dr Wehr . " We can see on the car side of the business that the trend is towards fully electric . In motorcycles there is no upside to a hybrid drivetrain if you can have an electric . We will keep pursuing both internal combustion engines and electric , and they both fit very well - not only to scooters but to motorcycles ."
Mike Donoughe , Polaris ' Chief Technical Officer and Head of Electrification , passed away unexpectedly on July 2 , 2022 . " His spirit for innovation was inspiring and his leadership helped his team achieve a record-setting year . His passion , however , shined brightest when it came to showcasing the success of his team , which he had the opportunity to do at the 2022 Patent and Innovation Awards event held in June , when Polaris marked a record year for U . S . patent awards - 70 in the prior 12 months , with nine of them going to just one engineer .
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