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[Richard230]

An article on page 10 of the May issue of Motorcycle Consumer News reports that the (Indian) Hero MotoCorp has introduced an electric motorcycle concept.  They seem to have taken everything in the electric propulsion and futuristic-vehicle news and thrown it at the bike to see if it sticks.  (From a look at the computer-generated picture I would say it doesn't have enough room on the bike for all of this stuff to stick to.     ). Anyway, here is what the article has to say:

Hero has been developing motorcycles fueled by both gasoline and diesel, but electricity has certainly not been overlooked, as the prototype iON reveals. Very futuristic, the concept is meant to be powered by Lithium-Air batteries with a Hydrogen-Fuel Cell range extender and will utilize super capacitors for acceleration and braking.  The hubless, see-through wheels are driven by electric traction motors that double as brakes, and active suspension controls the ride. Control is by finger-tip pressure sent from the handlebar grips for power, braking and steering, and electronic traffic sensors provide collision avoidance, while computers manage active suspension damping.

[BrianTRice@gmail.com]

Here's a web page with some pictures. Obviously this is a kind of concept mockup.

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/750/18017/Motorcycle-Article/Hero-Electric-Leap-Scooter---iON-Concept.aspx

[NoiseBoy]

The fact a company like Hero has its R&D department working on electric tech is reassuring, even if just for a wow factor concept.  Its only a matter of time until companies like this are overtaking the Big 4.  Just as the Japanese companies but British motorcycle manufacturers out of business in the 60's.

[protomech]

The Hero Leap is a preproduction vehicle.. a serial hybrid powertrain is pretty cool.

What if you could package a serial hybrid powertrain - think a 125cc range extender - paired with a 7.5 kWh battery - into the same volume / weight / cost budget as a 12.5 kWh battery? Worth doing?



The Hero iON is a pure concept.

[Mike Werner]

Its only a matter of time until companies like this are overtaking the Big 4. 

They already did. Hero Motocorp is world's 2nd largest manufacturer. And let's not forget they bought 49% of Erik Buell. What comes out of their labs is going to be interesting for us in the near future. They have the Honda genes in the company, and with EBR, it's going to be a blast...