That is the premise of an article in the December issue of Motorcyclist magazine (starting on page 22) where various representatives of the industry attempt to predict what motorcycles will be like in 50 years. Here are the comments that should interest anyone here:
Michael Czysz says that "50 years from now, the MotoGP grid will be all-electric. Today's most advanced electric motors are already better than current MotoGP engines in terms of torque delivery, physical size, engine-braking control and reduced gyroscopic/handling impact. In 50 years, it will not even be close. Where batteries are concerned, charge time will become equal to fill time for gas bikes. Battery energy density may increase two times or even four times in 50 years, but the real breakthrough will be in charging. Carbonized nano-graphite networks, which emulate the structure of bone marrow, will dramatically increase battery surface area and reduce full-charging intervals to minutes, or possibly even seconds."
Scott Harden, Zero's VP of Marketing, says: "Electric motorcycles will become a major player in the motorcycle market. The technology is already relevant, and the improvements over the next 50 years will be astounding. Energy costs, non-existent powertrain maintenance, low emissions, and the way the rider interfaces with the machine - and fellow enthusiasts - through personal communications devices all favor electric motorcycles. As technology improves, electric bikes will go farther, faster, and, most importantly, be more fun to ride than traditional motorcycles."
In a sidebar describing what the major motorcycle manufacturers are up to when it comes to electric motorcycles, Honda is given credit for their concept RC-E and Kawasaki is said to have filed patent drawings showing two new electric motorcycle designs. One is a full-on, aluminum-framed electric superbike, while the second is along the lines of a battery-powered, tube-framed ER-6. Both use a similar water-cooled electric motor bolted - unusually - to a traditional motorcycle-style, four-speed transmission.
Unfortunately, there are no comments from any Brammo representatives.
