The world of electric vehicles was always kind of, well, docile. Then, to our delight, Tesla changed the game with it’s Roadster, and the eco-conscious got to have some fun. But now, the Roadster’s discontinued, and there’s a void in the “I want to go fast but not spoil the ozone” sect. Don’t despair too much (and check out Detroit Electric’s SP:o1), we bring good news: Mission Motorcycles is reinventing the game. They’re rolling out two models with an aim to change the motorcycle scene forever (they dub it “Motorcycle 2.0”). They’re out to shatter the EV mold.
The Mission RS and R consume no gas, oil, or exhaust. They have no pistons, crankshaft or clutch, and they lack nothing. These bikes are pushing the potential for motorcycle performance, and Mark Steeger, President of Mission Motorcycles, believes they will soon outperform traditional motorcycles in riding experience, range, and price. And by soon, he means 2014.
The specs on the bikes are startling. A 160 horsepower electric motor drives them from 0-60 in less than 3 seconds. The lithium-ion battery can range over 200 miles (city) with an average of 140 miles. They have a top speed of 150mph.
Even more impressive is MissionOS, the brains behind the bike. The computer makes between 2,000 and 4,000 calculations a second to optimize power transfer and improve the most important thing in riding—balance. The touchscreen interface features Google Maps providing navigation, traffic and weather (by way of LTE). And, impressively, the bikes go in reverse (yes, they though of that, too).
In 2011, the racing team at Mission Motorcycles smoked the track at Laguna Seca, winning the electric grand prix by a monstrous 39.98 seconds. In honor of the victory, they are releasing a limited run of forty super-spec’d RS (Race Special) models, giving power to the people. It’s quite a victory lap, but these guys are just getting started.
Mission Motorcycles’ close partnership with Mission Motors (similar name, different company) puts them and their InfiniteDrive powertrain at the emerging edge of EV technology. We’ve got acceleration down to perfection, Steeger says, and by our estimates, he’s nowhere near letting off the throttle.
Article Written By Matthew Ankeny from Huckberry.com
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