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[ctrlburn]

I do not want to see a documentary "How shattering big oil killed the electric vehicle" come out anytime soon.

Inflated Oil Prices are a boon to EV development and the recent sudden downturn likely detracts from the economic motivations, both for buyers and investors.

It would have been nice if EV development had undermined the oil market by decreased demand driving prices down - and I seriously hope someday that will come to fruition (please Norway "Show us the way!") this was due to other factors.

While many of us are vested, or at least bordering on vested - this storm to be weathered may not swell our numbers with the economically motivated.

Still massive environmental pluses and the still fresh new technology lure.

Chinstraps tight - Keep at it - and Go Electric!

[CrashCash]

Nah, I don't care about the economically motivated. Most of 'em can't afford a $15K bike, and they're the first to jump ship anyway when prices change again.

Personally I don't care one whit if my Zero saves polar bears or whatever. I bought it because it's fun to drive and because I don't have to do a huge list of maintenance items to it. I do not tell people it's electric.

My FJR only costs $15/week to drive for fuel as it is, and the SV I traded for the Zero, cost even less.

Electric vehicles need longer range planning like Musk's battery gigafactory. That's the biggest EV breakthrough in the past 10 years, as far as I'm concerned. None of the other EV manufacturers could band together and do that? Really? What's the biggest EV cost? Batteries... yet everyone sat on their asses.

[NoiseBoy]

Europe recently spent 1 billion Euros sending a probe to a comet. I'm actually a massive spaceflight fan but I imagine what a billion euros could have done for battery tech. It shocks me that governments invest so little in these technologies. Didn't the DoE invest $200m? That is a drop in the ocean when you consider the large hadron collider cost something like $8 billion and has no real practical benefits.

[Richard230]

Europe recently spent 1 billion Euros sending a probe to a comet. I'm actually a massive spaceflight fan but I imagine what a billion euros could have done for battery tech. It shocks me that governments invest so little in these technologies. Didn't the DoE invest $200m? That is a drop in the ocean when you consider the large hadron collider cost something like $8 billion and has no real practical benefits.

I'll bet the Hadron Collider can charge up batteries really fast.   

[ctrlburn]

We do care about those economically motivated.
Zero was able to develop and sell because of investments and grants by those economically motivated.
Otherwise purchasers would pick up ten of thousands of dollars per unit.



SANTA CRUZ, CA (August 3, 2010) – Zero Motorcycles, the global leader in the electric motorcycle industry, was recently awarded a $900,000 grant from the California Energy Commission to begin development of a new advanced compact electric powertrain project. Additional matching funds from the City of Santa Cruz, and numerous other contributors, brings the total allotment to more than $1,840,000.

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (September 28, 2010) – Zero Motorcycles, the global leader in the electric motorcycle industry, has been awarded its second grant in the state of California to further the development of advanced electric powertrain systems. The most recent award comes from the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District (MBUAPCD) where Zero was awarded a $177,906 grant in partnership with the city of Santa Cruz. This new grant adds funding to the $900,000 grant from the California Energy Commission awarded last month. The funds will be used to develop an advanced new electric powertrain for Zero Motorcycles. Additional matching funds from the City of Santa Cruz and others provides Zero with total funding for the project of $2,018,000.


http://www.crunchbase.com/organization/zero-motorcycles/funding-rounds


$6M / Venture     Oct 10, 2014
$6.5M / Venture   Jul 17, 2013
$6M / Venture    Oct 1, 2012
$9M / Venture    Apr, 2012
$2.2M / Venture   Jan, 2012
$17M / Venture  Mar 17, 2011
$2.4M / Venture   Jan 28, 2011
$1.5M / Venture  Aug 30, 2010
$2.4M / Series A   Feb 12, 2010
$5.6M / Series A   Jan 5, 2010
$5.1M / Venture  Apr 10, 2008

- See more at: http://www.crunchbase.com/organization/zero-motorcycles/funding-rounds#sthash.iStJ6Bsr.dpuf

[ultrarnr]

Environmental issues/concerns may help sell electric cars but I don't think they do much for selling electric motorcyles. Selling electric motorcycles depends a lot more on the appeal of how that electric motor delivers power. That is why I bought a Zero SR. Right now riders will pay a premium to enjoy that electric motor power delivery. But there are a lot of features on motorcycles that if you want them you are going to pay a premium for. The real question is if it is worth the premium you pay right now.