Author Topic: Electric powered RZ350/Michigan (Read 3421 times)

PeteSC · « **on:** August 27, 2005, 12:19:59 PM »

Electric motorcycle leaves price hikes in the dust
Saturday, August 27, 2005
Editor's note: This week, we take a daily look at how people in this area are coping with high gas prices.

Unlike most motorists these days, Terry Richards feels pretty good when he drives by a gas station, no matter how high the price per gallon.

"I just kind of thumb my nose at them, and it feels good,'' said Richards, 47, admitting it's easier when you're not feeling the pinch of recent sharp price increases.

The reason? Richards, a test specialist at Chrysler Corp. Proving Grounds in Sylvan Township, rides a 21-year-old racing motorcycle he converted into a fully electric-powered vehicle for about $2,000.

"I study a lot of material about alternative energy sources, and I had a pretty good idea (the price hike) was going to come, and fast,'' said Richards, a driver mechanic by trade and environmentalist at heart.

The 1984 Yamaha RZ350 racing bike was never known for gas mileage, he said, but now runs on 48 volts of electricity stored in four batteries. Richards calculates spending 4 cents per mile to operate it and averages about $15 worth of electricity per week if he drives it every day.

The motorcycle cruises at 40-45 mph and can reach a top speed of 60 mph, he said.

The batteries collectively take about fours to fully charge and provide enough juice to average about 16 miles per use. Not too far, but far enough to make his 13-mile daily commute to work, where he has permission to plug in to an electrical outlet. He also regularly rides in to downtown Dexter, where he says people marvel at the quiet engine.

"I've had joggers jump out right in front of me because they just don't hear it,'' he said, likening the soft hum to a household blender.

Richards admits he and his wife, Rosemary, still do the majority of their driving with their two sedans. But these days, even skipping one or two commutes or deciding to stay home can add up to significant savings over a month's time.

"I wanted to get off gasoline as early as possible, and I'm glad I did,'' he said. "But it's just a start.''

Richards' latest project is constructing a hybrid bio-diesel car, which he hopes to have done within a few years.

jared1970 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 28, 2005, 11:59:27 PM »

Big deal. At 4 cents per mile, I would be spending $7/week with my riding habits. With my SV650 I spend $9/week. Not much of a difference, if you ask me. Plus, my bike can travel faster than 60 mph. Plus, when I get low on fuel, I just put more in. I don't have to stop for four hours to recharge a battery. I've always thought electric vehicles were stupid and impractical. Gas or diesel/electrics, on the other hand, are a good idea. It's old technology, they've been using in trains since the 50's, and it's just now seeing production in cars.

flip · « **Reply #2 on:** August 29, 2005, 01:06:06 AM »

Cutting up an old RZ350 is just WRONG! Could he not find an old Harley that had a leaking engine? You wouldn't have to worry about messing up the handling with all of those batteries then.

b4cruz · « **Reply #3 on:** August 30, 2005, 01:27:14 PM »

the people building electric transportation are just too early is all
electric motors will waste pistons any day. its just the batteries
are still too exensive and heavy; but they are coming

the tango for instance is a fun prototype
• Acceleration: 0-60 mph in 4 seconds
• Range: 60-80 miles
• Top speed: 150 MPH
• MPG cost: equivalent to 195 mpg
• Charge time: full charge in less than 3 hours

http://www.g4tv.com/gearandgadgets/features/50912/First_Look_Tango_Electric_Car.html

jared1970 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 30, 2005, 02:02:21 PM »

Yeah, but you still have to burn fossil fuels to produce electricity. You're not any further ahead. If people weren't sissies, we could make electricity using nuclear reactors, and then electric vehicles would be practical. But, everybody's afraid of nuclear energy, so we'll never have cheap electricity.

snofrog · « **Reply #5 on:** September 05, 2005, 01:07:29 AM »

Quote from: "jared1970"

Yeah, but you still have to burn fossil fuels to produce electricity. You're not any further ahead. If people weren't sissies, we could make electricity using nuclear reactors, and then electric vehicles would be practical. But, everybody's afraid of nuclear energy, so we'll never have cheap electricity.

ive got a couple of nuke plants within 50 miles of here and let me tell ya... the RATES aint so cheep

as far as the bike i purchased the yellow/black one brand new back in the day and i cant believe someone would chop up a sweet little bike like that for some frankenstien experiment like this . M

Denverbandit99 · « **Reply #6 on:** September 11, 2005, 07:55:50 PM »

why do people continually insist on bio-diesel, a source that produces negative net energy? Why not put that effort into hydrogen, or any of dozens of possible energy sources that aren't logically indefensible?

, you're an idiot.

B12Teuton · « **Reply #7 on:** September 12, 2005, 09:18:29 AM »

The Volkswagen Lupo TDI (diesel) has the record for most fuel efficient production car with an average of 78mpg or around 3L/100KM. It set the record by traveling 4683KM and consuming only 130 liters of diesel, which is over 80mpg.

You can keep your electric/hybrid/hydrogen. Diesel has been around since day one. The technology, performance, low cost of production, reliability, world infastructure etc. is all already in place. And all bio diesel does is reduce the efficiency since it yields so much less energy.
You can run on cooking oil too if you buy the filtration equipment.

The only real alternative I know of is compressed natural gas (CNG) since you can have a filling station in your own garage from your house line, and since CNG for a car is priced a lot lower than the residential gas that you use in your house, it's a great alternative.