We are aware of big auto companies coming up with new electric concept vehicles everyday. But away from all the hoopla surrounding these auto giants, there are common people who are working quietly behind the scenes to build electric vehicles on their own without any big funding or infrastructure. Here is a glimpse of 10 electric motorcycles which were built by ordinary people in their garages without any help from outside.
Electric motorcycle by Tom Miceli:
This electric bike made by Tom Miceli is basically a modification of a Kawasaki Ninja ZX6. He replaced the Ninja’s 600cc engine with two dozen lithium-ion batteries. Apart from replacing the engine, Miceli also replaced the transmission and frame of the Ninja to create this “green” motorcycle. Even after these changes, the weight and center of gravity of this motorcycle is not much different from the original Ninja.
Solar powered motorcycle created by a student from Purdue University:
Tony Danger Coiro, a student from Purdue University, has created a motorcycle which runs on solar energy. The bike is actually an old 1978 Suzuki which he purchased for $50. He has attached four solar panels on both sides of the bike to make it environment friendly. This “solar bike” has a range of about 24 miles per charge and a top speed of 45 mph.
Electric bike of Kingston University which ran in TTX GP:
This fully electric bike was Kingston University’s entry in 2009’s TTX GP. The bike is a modified version of an older one where the old engine was replaced by numerous lithium-ion battery cells. The bike had a large DC motor under its fairings. The bike was ridden in the TTX GP by famous biker Maria Costello.
Electric bike built in garage will race in TTXGP:
Designer duo of John Wild and Sean Ewing modified A 1996 Honda CBR F3 to run on electricity. Thebike was slated to take part in the annual racing event of TTXGP. Powered by a 8kWh lithium-ion phosphate battery, this electric motorcycle has a top speed of 100mph.
Battery powered motorcycle built by OSU students:
A high performance battery powered motorcycle has been built by a group of students of Ohio State University. These members of the Buckeye Electric Motorcycle Race Team (BEMRT) are working on a project to build a high performance electric bike which they will race in this year’s TTX GP. The bike will be powered by a battery with an output of 160 hp.
Fully electric record breaking motorcycle:
The KillaCycle owned by Eva Hakansson is known to be the world’s fastest electric motorcycle. The bike was completely made in their garage and the bike has the capacity of reaching the speed of 60mph from zero in less than 1 second. It has a top speed of 176 mph and it is powered by A123 batteries. But the makers of KillaCycle are not stopping here and there aim is to beat the overall motorcycle record 368 mph in a couple of year’s time.
Fully electric bike made by Michael Uhlarik:
Amarok P1 is a fully electric bike made by a Canadian designer named Michael Uhlarik. The bike weighs just 325 lbs and is powered by a 7.5 kilowatt hour battery. It also uses a pair of Agni 95 electric motors.
The Mavizen TTX-02:
The Mavizen TTX-02 fully electric bike is powered by a lithium-ion battery pack. The TTX-02 has some unique features embedded into it. It has a built in web server and Wi-Fi and is able to communicate with Mavizen for factory support. The bike is slated to cost around $40,000.
Custom electric motorcycles by Justin Gray:
Justin Gray is known for building custom motorcycles. His latest creation is the R144 which is basically a modification of a 1999 Yamaha R1. Forty eight lithium-ion batteries have been installed in the bike which give the bike an output of 100 hp and a top speed of 150 mph.
The ShocKing fully electric bike by Jeff Paterson:
The ShocKing is a fully electric motorcycle built by Jeff Patterson. The bike is powered by six 72 volts batteries. The frame of the bike is handbuilt and the rider’s seat has a shock absorber below it. The bike also has a Zyvan battery charger on the left side of the bike’s fuel tank.
