EV vehicles

[Bumblebee]

I've noticed that about EV drivers, posting online, I don't know any personally. They seem happy to accept breakdowns as part and parcel of being a sort of beta tester for the vehicles. Like all those ktm and other euro bike owners who think it's normal for their bike to fail from time to time and have to spend a week in the shop. I wonder about this, is it because they are just young and have no experience with the reliability we grew up with? Or is it some sort of psychological defense against those that think the EV is not a viable replacement for the conventional car. A sort of Ego protection mode they go into? Motorcycle sales make up a small but increasing fraction of consumer transport in many nations, especially Asia. But how many are EV?

July 2024 Global Electric Motorcycles Industry Reaches 10 Million Annual Sales​

They usually show a picture like this

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But the vast majority are actually these.

View attachment 1694575

And they make good sense too, in the cities where the major sales are.
The global electric two-wheeler market, which includes both scooters and motorcycles

China remains the dominant player in the global electric two-wheeler market, accounting for more than 80% of the total sales.
India has emerged as the second-largest market, over 900,000 units sold.
Vietnam ranks third, with 250,000 units sold

But here in the West? *Crickets* They never took off.
ww.motorcyclesdata.com/2024/07/12/electric-motorcycles-market/

Speaking as a motorcycle enthusiast I can see why they never took off. Too inconvenient basically. I want to get on and ride, and if I'm low on Gas I'll throw some in before I go or stop at one of the many servos around on my travels. I couldn't count the times I headed down the highway for a short ride then just got caught up in the fun and ended up 150km away. "We'll stop at the Roadhouse past the Cunningham's Gap and fill up there" True Freedom!

I rode a Zero enduro bike before and it was stellar but the range wasn't...off road in loose terrain and ridden like a dirt bike it got horrible range, he said if there is any wind at all on the hiway he would only get 80 km range..

It had a cassette style battery pack and he bought a second one so while one is charging he could plug the other in..

He could have bought an ICE 450 and put a lot of gas through it for what he paid for this Zero though....

I got why he bought it....he was touting to be a staunch supporter of green tech so had to put his money where his mouth was....

Before this change, he drove an old beat up Toyota van and smoked cigarettes like his life depended on it...I called him out when he bashed me for driving a big pick up truck and made him take a look in a mirror....the then quit smoking, bought a Prius and this Zero bike....that to me was determination and I respected that.

It was rated as the equivalent of an ICE 450

 

[Oz22]

I rode a Zero enduro bike before and it was stellar but the range wasn't...off road in loose terrain and ridden like a dirt bike it got horrible range, he said if there is any wind at all on the hiway he would only get 80 km range..

It was rated as the equivalent of an ICE 450

Unfortunately Green thinking doesn't allow for forward thinking. As like what do you do with it in 10 years if the battery is knackered and the manufacturer is out of business. Or if there is a fault in the motor? Those motors are super HiTech Brushless AC units. Very efficient, but they wear out, and who can work on them? Of course none of that is the reason why they were roundly rejected by the buying public is it. They have novelty value, and the novelty wears off as the charge meter gets low.

 

[Bumblebee]

Unfortunately Green thinking doesn't allow for forward thinking. As like what do you do with it in 10 years if the battery is knackered and the manufacturer is out of business. Or if there is a fault in the motor? Those motors are super HiTech Brushless AC units. Very efficient, but they wear out, and who can work on them? Of course none of that is the reason why they were roundly rejected by the buying public is it. They have novelty value, and the novelty wears off as the charge meter gets low.

Apparently the company Lightning makes an EV bike that is supposed o be a dominator....this bike should be blowing everything off the road but I've yet to see one in any video where there are fast bikes featured......

If it does what they say it does, it should be all over the drag tracks and winning all the grudge races...

LS-218 - Lightning Motors

244 Horsepower 220 FT/LBs Torque 188 MI Average Highway Mileage 0 – 60 MPH 2 seconds Order Now 244 Horsepower 220 FT/LBs Torque 188 MI Average Highway Mileage 0 – 60 MPH in Less than 2 seconds Order Now Designed with Record-Breaking, Racing Technology! Front Suspension Öhlins FGRT inverted fork...

lightningmotorcycle.com

 

[Oz22]

perhaps Max Wrist will get one and show us what a LiPO fire looks like

 

[Bumblebee]

perhaps Max Wrist will get one and show us what a LiPO fire looks like

He's got a real beast already in the Duck he bought...he put a $4000 exhaust on it recently......

 

[Oz22]

He's got a real beast already in the Duck he bought...he put a $4000 exhaust on it recently......

I must admit I don't watch his stuff. I saw one once where he obviously and deliberately wrecked a bike and then "Obviously" set it on fire. Guy is a total tool and his 'show' reminded me of those wrestling matches where it's all fake. I read he roped some dumb girl into doing stunts with him, now she's in a pine box now. legends in their own minds.

 

[Bumblebee]

I must admit I don't watch his stuff. I saw one once where he obviously and deliberately wrecked a bike and then "Obviously" set it on fire. Guy is a total tool and his 'show' reminded me of those wrestling matches where it's all fake. I read he roped some dumb girl into doing stunts with him, now she's in a pine box now. legends in their own minds.

He's just like all the other You Tube influencers who do things on the edge of safety in order to get views and subscribers....the crazier the content, the more money they make.....

I recall that incident and he didn't purposely set his bike on fire, he hit a sizeable rock that rolled off a hill in front of him when he was on a Yamaha R1...the bike slid a long way rolling over and caught fire....he and others were trying to throw sand on it to put the fire out but the gas tank was ruptured....

I remember the "girl" you are speaking of.......she wasn't killed while riding with him...
I'm not defending his antics out on public roads but I understand why he is doing them......it's become his job and in order to get a paycheck....he needs to do them......

 

[Oz22]

That crash vid was staged start to finish, there was probably only one place on that entire road you cold drop a bike and have it safely not slide off the cliff, and that was the spot he chose. Entrepreneur? No, just a parasite feeding off people's darker natures.

 

[Bumblebee]

From what I've been reading, the US administration has shut down all green incentives and development.....not sure how this will equate to EV development but any infrastructure to support them won't be supported....

Incentives to develop and generate any green energy has been shut off, I know this will change things for a lot of individual people.

I'd wager that in 4 years this will all get turned back on and put the US 4 yrs behind where it is now...

 

[TallTom]

From what I've been reading, the US administration has shut down all green incentives and development.....not sure how this will equate to EV development but any infrastructure to support them won't be supported....

Incentives to develop and generate any green energy has been shut off, I know this will change things for a lot of individual people.

I'd wager that in 4 years this will all get turned back on and put the US 4 yrs behind where it is now...

Depends on who's in office. Behind is a relative concept. It could be argued that pouring $$ into something that car buyers do not want, is foolish spending.

Just ask Ford.

 

[Bumblebee]

Depends on who's in office. Behind is a relative concept. It could be argued that pouring $$ into something that car buyers do not want, is foolish spending.

Just ask Ford.

Although it is known that I am not a fan of EV......I don't think they are just going to go away, the rest of the world is still researching and developing them and when these 4 yrs are done and all these things have been reversed, the US will be way behind....

I really wonder if anything will change with Tesla.

 

[Red05]

It could be argued that pouring $$ into something that car buyers do not want, is foolish spending.

He says this despite the Tesla Y being the 4th best selling model of ALL MODELS in 2024. Obviously, a LOT of people wanted it.
Freedom of speech

 

[ottafish]

People down this way who have a tesla are finding that being yelled at, spat on at traffic lights and generally being harassed are quickly discovering the brand is tainted and will be for a while

 

[TallTom]

People down this way who have a tesla are finding that being yelled at, spat on at traffic lights and generally being harassed are quickly discovering the brand is tainted and will be for a while

Suddenly being Green is overshadowed by politics? Gosh......such a shock.

 

[Oz22]

Although it is known that I am not a fan of EV......I don't think they are just going to go away,

Well there was this innovative machine that was supposed to transform inner-city mobility a couple of decades ago.

As a general rule, when the Politicians and intellectuals start preaching about a new transition it's time to get your money out, Fast!

 

[Red05]

Well there was this innovative machine that was supposed to transform inner-city mobility a couple of decades ago.



View attachment 1694938

View attachment 1694939

I don't know what inner city you live in, but those scooters and rental E bikes are all over downtown St Louis and Boston, probably a lot of other big cities.

 

[Bumblebee]

Well there was this innovative machine that was supposed to transform inner-city mobility a couple of decades ago.

As a general rule, when the Politicians and intellectuals start preaching about a new transition it's time to get your money out, Fast!

View attachment 1694938

View attachment 1694939

That being said, I still believe that auto companies don't sink billions of dollars into a technology which works and then throws it away...

In 4 yrs, when the US is back under normal leadership, I think there will be a re-emergence of EV development at least in the US.....petroleum is finite and there is only so much available so something has to be in development to replace or at least take some of the pressure off it.

Other countries will continue to develop EV leaving the US behind.....unless Tesla under the American presidents gets a huge boost....

 

[Bumblebee]

Speaking of all things electric......(battery powered).

I was at the grocery store earlier and one of the guys that works there and I chat sometimes...he said his son bought a battery powered snowblower from Home Depot and when he stopped by his son was shoveling......when he asked about the snowblower the son said he returned it as it was quicker shoveling than charging the battery all the time.....he said with the heavy snow we've been getting he could only do a third of his driveway before it died..

I guess he was unable to buy a second battery and even if he could it was half the price of the machine....

So his dad (the guy at the grocery store) bought him a good used gas blower.....his son is happy now.....

 

[Red05]

Speaking of all things electric......(battery powered).

I was at the grocery store earlier and one of the guys that works there and I chat sometimes...he said his son bought a battery powered snowblower from Home Depot and when he stopped by his son was shoveling......when he asked about the snowblower the son said he returned it as it was quicker shoveling than charging the battery all the time.....he said with the heavy snow we've been getting he could only do a third of his driveway before it died..

I guess he was unable to buy a second battery and even if he could it was half the price of the machine....

So his dad (the guy at the grocery store) bought him a good used gas blower.....his son is happy now.....

The only electric yard power tool that I've been disappointed in is a leaf blower. The electric ones just aren't strong enough yet. I bought the 56v Ego and I knew within a minute that I was taking it back. My Troy Built puts it to shame as far as moving leaves efficiently.

 

[Bumblebee]

The only electric yard power tool that I've been disappointed in is a leaf blower. The electric ones just aren't strong enough yet. I bought the 56v Ego and I knew within a minute that I was taking it back. My Troy Built puts it to shame as far as moving leaves efficiently.

I have an el cheapo plug in electric leaf blower that is awesome.....

I only use it around the garage and to blow the snow off my vehicles and water when I wash them in the summer and for that it works great....

Even a few of my neighbors went out and bought the same inexpensive model to blow off their vehicles after seeing me use mine.

Another neighbor has a battery powered grass trimmer and he bought another battery because after 2 summers the original wasn't able to last for half his trimming needs...