| Global warming, high gasoline and oil prices have | | | | Electric motorcycles are practical today because |
| several companies and many experimenters | | | | of advances in battery technology. Lead-acid |
| working on battery powered Motorcycles. | | | | batteries, which have been used in electric |
| Advances in battery technology and super | | | | motorcycles in the past, are very heavy, provide |
| efficient motors have made the electric | | | | a short range, and last for only a couple of years. |
| motorcycle practical. Also fuel cells have started | | | | Some of the commercial models uses nickel metal |
| to appear on some models. Thin film fuel cells and | | | | hydride batteries. This type of battery is lighter |
| other fuel cell technology promise an exciting | | | | than lead-acid batteries and more durable |
| future. | | | | Lithium-ion batteries, in turn, are lighter than nickel |
| The first mention of electric motorcycles in | | | | metal hydride, and new chemistries have made |
| patents was in the 1860's but we have come a | | | | them durable as well, lasting as long as or longer |
| long way since then. Modern electric motorcycles | | | | than nickel metal hydride batteries. |
| are super efficient, have almost no emissions and | | | | These cycles are powerful and capable of high |
| require less maintenance. | | | | speed. In 2006 the word speed record for the |
| The advantages of electrics are Lower fuel costs. | | | | quarter mile was set at 9.1 and 135 miles per |
| It cost about one tenth as much to ride an | | | | hour. Later that year the record was broken |
| electric. They are almost silent with almost no | | | | again by the same team, this time 8.9 seconds at |
| emissions and lower maintenance costs. The | | | | 145 moles per hour. |
| disadvantages are higher up front costs, and | | | | Most of the production models are limited to 70 |
| shorter range. | | | | miles per hour or less. This is because they are |
| Although Gas powered motorcycles get | | | | set up for city riding. This helps extend the range, |
| extraordinary gas mileage--with many getting | | | | which is one of the weak points now. |
| more than 50 miles per gallon--they emit more | | | | Major advances in fuel cells promise an exciting |
| pollution than even large SUVS because they | | | | future for electric cycle and cars. In one university |
| aren't equipped with equivalent emissions-control | | | | study shows that it should be possible to make |
| technology. | | | | thin skin fuel cells the size of a couple of cans of |
| With new emissions standards, SUVs are 95 | | | | coke that would power a whole house. |
| percent cleaner than motorcycles, according to | | | | Many companies are using hydrogen as a fuel, but |
| the Environmental Protection Agency. While | | | | ethanol and many other substances can fuel |
| motorcycles could help reduce oil consumption and | | | | them. The major thing that is holding back |
| greenhouse-gas emissions, these gains come at | | | | electrics right now is price. With some of the |
| the price of dirtier air. | | | | models selling for $15,000 they're not exactly for |
| Electric motorcycles eliminate tailpipe emissions, | | | | everyone. |
| keeping pollution out of the city, and they can be | | | | But prices will drop, batteries will improve and new |
| powered with clean sources of electricity. What's | | | | technology in fuel cells will make the electric cycle |
| more, electricity costs less than gasoline. Most of | | | | and car a practical reality soon. |
| the advances have been in battery technology. | | | | |