Swiss-Made Quantya Electric Bikes Get Tested By California Riders

Reading about cutting-edge motorcycle technology on the internet or in magazines can't match the thrill of actually taking it out for a ride. The Redwood Times in Garberville, California, reports on how some lucky California residents took a pair of electric motorcycles for a tryout.


The bikes were manufactured by Quantya motorcycles, a Swiss-based company that launched operations in the United States in 2007.

According to the story only 35 of the bikes have arrived in the United States so far, with two of them in Southern Humboldt, California for the test rides.


The Quantya bikes are street-legal and dual-sport, designed for both dirt and road use, and feature a top speed of 40 mph with a 20 mile range after a full charge.


According to a press-release from last year, when Quantya lauched US operatons, Quantya was the first electric competition ready electric motocross bike.


Quantya FMX Motorcycles use advanced Lithium Polymer Batter technology with proprietary electronics to power its 14KW motor with a 47V or 74V battery.


“We are seeing many new exciting technologies emerging and we will continue to utilize only the latest such technologies to deliver the absolute best quality and efficiency to our customers”, says Dario Trentini CEO Quantya USA.  Quantya SA is already a huge success in Europe where riders can go to local “Quantya Parks” and enjoy the thrill of these electric motorcycles on a rental basis.


Source: Quantya and The Redwood Times

The Best Electric Scooters Of 2008

The humble motor-scooter has received more attention lately thanks to rising fuel costs and frugal consumers looking for cheap transportation.

Electric scooters have now matched gas-powered models for speed and distance. Metaefficient.com features their ranking of the best electric scooters of 2008.

The juice to drive electric scooters comes from standard nickle-metal hybrid (NiMH) batteries, often upgradable to lighter but pricier lithium-ion batteries.

The Vetrix scooter (pictured left) is fast enough to rate as an electric motorcycle.

Source Metaefficient

The Electric Motorsport Electric GPR-S races against a gas-powered Honda

Can an electric motorcycle beat a gas-powered motorcycle in race?

Oakland-based Electric Motorsport's Electric GPR-S took on a Honda CBR street bike in a demonstration in Bangkok, Thailand. TGdaily.com features details and video of the race.

The Electric GPR-S in the race used a 60 volt battery that can reach up to 100km or 70 miles per hour, with a range of up to 40 to 60 miles.

According to the Electric Motorsport website, the Electric GPR-S made its debut at the International Motor Show in Bangkok, Thailand. Orders are being taken for the first 100 production units.

Source: Electric Motorsport and TG Daily

Vectrix Electric Motorcycle: The Greenest Ride in the World

While most motorcycles like to have a reputation for being tough, Vectrix electric motorcycles are trying to build a reputation for being gentle...to the planet that is.

According to the Vectrix site...

The Vectrix is the first high-performance electric motorcycle with performance and style along with a clean, efficient, electric motor.

The Vectrix offers all the benefits of a traditional gasoline-powered two wheeler but without the noise, pollution, expensive maintenance, oil changes, and expensive trips to the gas station. Vectrix is engineered to provide an eco-friendly, powerful alternative for commuting and recreational needs, Vectrix has superior handling.

With the Vectrix motorcycle you’ll be free to move, free from traffic jams, free from oil changes, free from rising gas prices, free from pollution, and free from guilt about damaging the planet.

The city of Sacramento is planning to use the Vectrix for parking enforcement. Getting a parking ticket has never been so Earth friendly.

The City of Sacramento will be hosting a press conference to announce their latest initiative towards sustainability, The Vectrix Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV).

This fully electric, highway legal, zero-emission motorcycle will be used by the City of Sacramento's Department of Transportation for Parking Enforcement and by the Police Department as part of their fleet. The Vectrix ZEV will be on-site to test drive with knowledgeable representatives to answer questions and take interviews.

Source: Vectrix Motorcycles