Awesomeness!

[Razor]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8147104.stm

[Mr Speirs]

That is pretty damn sweet!!!

[jamesterror]

that is prety awesome

[dizzyblonde]

Anyone else think hes been smokin some shrooms??

hes certainly errr a jollly giant!

[simesb]

I don't understand - has he invented some kind of perpetual motion machine?

[Holdup]

I want one, is that a 4 pot rear caliper he has on it?

[Bibio]

wonder if this would come under 'moped' licence?

[DarrenSV650S]

I does look pretty cool!

[darylB]

Brilliant idea, yours for just 40,000 dollars. Ouch.

Daryl.

[The Guru]

Brilliant idea, yours for just 40,000 dollars. Ouch.

Daryl.

Not gona be on sale down the local Halfrauds anytime soon then.. :rolleyes:

[Alpinestarhero]

i wantone!!!

[Smudge]

just needs someone to mass produce it in china now and the price will come down

[Jayneflakes]

Not gona be on sale down the local Halfrauds anytime soon then.. :rolleyes:

They had an electric bike on sale for about £800, the Carerra Sparc. Twas carp! :smt044

[Mej]

awesome, i would get one, if it wasnt so expensive

[eidenm]

My Dad mentioned something about this the other day, implying that it could use pedal power alone, which just didn't add up to me. I said it's impossible that you could power something like that with just muscle power, it must be primarily an electric bike with batteries and all.

After a bit of digging (deeper than the flimsy journalism that's so prevalent), it is indeed primarily an electric bike, but different to others in that the speed is controlled by how hard you pedal (no twist and go). Some of the energy that you put into the pedaling is indeed recuperated, but i expect this is quite a small proportion of the power needed. Also the braking system helps recharge the batteries, but does use mechanical braking for harder stops.

This led me to the next question "how far can it go?". Rather disappointingly according to their own brochure (http://www.erockit.net/download/booklet-erockit/eROCKIT_EN.pdf) it's only about 40-50 miles, which for the ultimate 'green power' doesn't seem that impressive to me. The 3-4 hour charge time isn't so bad I suppose, but having to charge these things (electric cars too) is the real kicker to their practicality. The flexibility of liquid fuel and the almost instant 'recharges' that they give (i.e. standing for 5 mins at the pump ;) ) can't be replaced by pure electric. Roll on hydrogen I say.

[arcdef]

Roll on hydrogen I say.

This is exactly why i dont see the point in wasting all this time with electric powered cars/bikes. There is already the technology to make mass produced hydrogen powered cars (Honda have one designed and ready to release i think?) so why not just get acts together and build the infastructure for it!