Electric bikes becoming more viable

[Gliderjohn]

The new issue of American Motorcyclist has an interesting article on touring on a Zero brand electric motorcycle. The author rode the all electric bike on a 6,000 mile tour averaging 310 miles a day. The bike included top case and small side cases.
 To recharge some aftermarket charging equipment was used along with recharging at commercial "charging stations" and RV park hookups. His total cost for the hook ups for the 6,000 miles was $52.63.
 Range varied from around 80 miles at highway speeds to 150 miles running in Appalachia.
GliderJohn

[jcctx]

Really want to like electric vehicles but am hard pressed to call 80 mile range and multi hour "fill-ups" a recipe for touring. The new Chevy Bolt is supposed to go 200 miles between charges; if it turns out to be so, might have to have one. With a long lunch break, might make 300+ miles/day?? MSRP of mid $30s (about $30 after subsidies)??
Don't care for the subsidies part as a good use for tax payer money, but since much of the money was once mine I will cash the check if I decide to buy one when available!!

[canuguzzi]

You can tour on an electric motorcycle but like a sport bike, is that the best tool for the job?

Electric motorcycles have their place, right now touring isn't one of them. Who would complain about the comfort of an economy box car for a cross country tour? No one really.

Around town and commutes, pretty sure a Zero bike is just as good as trying to navigate an Electra Glide through heavy traffic.  Slotted screw and have a torx bit? Get a different screw driver.

[stormshearon]

So 20 grand for the bike (current price) and an unknown amount for the two special, extra charging rigs that took up the side case area, plus 17 hours to go 475 miles? No thanks. I'll stay with old school tech for now.

[Gliderjohn]

Quote from stormshearon:

So 20 grand for the bike (current price) and an unknown amount for the two special, extra charging rigs that took up the side case area, plus 17 hours to go 475 miles? No thanks. I'll stay with old school tech for now.

It may not quite be practical but it was demonstrated that it could be done. The first transatlantic flight took place in 1919 taking 23 days, just eight years later Charles Lindbergh did it solo in 33 hours non-stop. Just saying that I can see about the same level of advances in electric personal transportation in the upcoming years.
GliderJohn

[canuguzzi]

If you were riding in a city in the middle of traffic with your air cooled engine cooking away that electric bike not generating any heat might look attractive.

How many motorcycle riders ride more than 100 miles a day every day? Not most.

For the typical commute there almost nothing gas fueled motorcycles can do that the electric can't do. Those 70 mpg bikes? They could manage a 475 mile ride but would they really be the best choice for the job?

Look at it this way, electric bikes as we now see them are at the tipping point of a very rapid and significant period of development while gas fueled bike are at the peak of theirs.

Europe before the USA in getting most cars driven in cities to be electric. As that happens there will be enormous pressure to legislate gas fueled motorcycles into oblivion. The big motorcycle makers will only be too happy to go along, it creates a whole new market for them which is what they really care about.

It will never happen. Just like catalytic converters on motorcycles.

[redrider]

I read the story and electrics have a place in the daily commute if a short trip. For the long haul though, I prefer the Norton hybrid. It uses a small rotary running at constant speed. Very economical.