Eco Factor: Zero-emission electric motorcycle is propelled by solar energy.
Tony Danger Coiro, a student at Purdue University, has developed a one-of-a-kind electric motorcycle that is powered by renewable solar energy. The motorcycle is a transformed version of an old 1978 Suzuki that was purchased for just $50. The inventor spent about $2500 redesigning and retrofitting the bike, which gives a range of about 24 miles per charge and a top speed of 45mph.
Coiro co-launched the Purdue Electric Vehicles Club with Jim Danielson and Sean Kleinschmidt, two sophomores from suburban Chicago. Danielson and Kleinschmidt spent their summer after high school converting a 1987 Porsche 924S they picked up for $500 to electric power.
Coiro said the Purdue EV Club will patent and commercialize its breakthrough technologies and feed proceeds back into research and development of new prototypes. Coiro is already designing a 100-horsepower motorcycle that will travel up to 100 miles per charge, top 100 mph and draw even more of its energy from the sun. The all-wheel-drive bike would include motors in each hub and no drive trains.
Via: Purdue University [Press Release]
