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Mavizen's 130 MPH TTX02 Electric Motorcycle Runs on Linux
Treehugger ^ | 6 Novemberr 2009 | Michael Graham Richard

Posted on 11/06/2009 1:40:44 PM PST by ShadowAce

mavizen electric motorcycle photo

Why did you stop? Well, I was recompiling my kernel and got a segfault...
Mavizen has decided to offer a new electric bike based on the previous winner of the TTXGP so that other teams can have a solid foundation to build on for next year. The TTX02 is based on the KTM RC8 with a Agni powerplant. The twist is that they call it a "laptop on wheels" because of all the electronics it packs on top of what is strictly required to control the electric motor (dash-mounted computer that runs Linux, has wifi connectivity and a web-server, etc).

mavizen electric motorcycle photo

All this hardware and software might seem overkill for a racing bike, especially since it no doubt adds a bit of weight, but it probably compensates for that by giving the teams who will buy one more information about their performance and more ways to customize the ride. If the bike is able to tell you in great details how you're doing, it's probably easier to make adjustments (both to the bike itself and to the way it is driven) to shave off precious seconds from your laps.

Technical Details
The twin electric motors have a peak horsepower of about 100hp and they get their electricity from a lithium-ion battery. 3 different batteries will be offered, with 11kWh being the biggest one (it should give the bike a range of at least 38 miles, enough to complete the Isle of Man race).

Here are some more specs:

Here's a video (below) that shows the TTX02 in action and elaborates a bit on the thinking behind its creation. It's a bit over the top, with some "majestic" music that tries to make us believe that this is a world-changing bike... But if you can get passed that, it's still a pretty cool piece of technology that is no doubt helping engineers figure out how to make better electric vehicles, and to my mind, that's the main reason why electric vehicle racing is important.

Video here

Below is a video of the unveiling of the new Mavizen bike at SEMA:

Video here

The Mavizen TTX02 should be available in Q1 of 2010, with "a limited production of 50 units". The target price for a complete bike with a Circuit Pack is £25,000 (about $41,500).



TOPICS: Computers/Internet; Miscellaneous; Travel
KEYWORDS: isleofman; motorycles
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To: Don W

I would dearly love to have a scooter.
They look like *so* much fun.


21 posted on 11/06/2009 5:48:27 PM PST by Salamander (I'm sure I need some rest but sleepin' don't come very easy in a straight white vest.....)
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To: the invisib1e hand

LOL! I actually like Harleys. It’s just that my Honda’s cheaper.


22 posted on 11/06/2009 5:49:32 PM PST by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
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To: ShadowAce

Only top speed and bhp ?

No 0-60 or 1/4 mile. Those would be the interesting stats.

I wonder how this would compare to a ‘busa or an R1.


23 posted on 11/06/2009 6:08:46 PM PST by MetaThought
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To: MetaThought
I wonder how this would compare to a ‘busa or an R1.

Your 1st hint would be that it's rear tire appears to be a front tire (120/17) and it ain't smoking.....or barely moving for the 1st 50 feet.

The 2nd would be that it is never shown doing more than about 60ish.

3rd would be that the electric toad never achived a rate of speed sufficient to lean the bike over in turns, much less drag a knee (unless you are employing your knee puck to drag one of the batteries (battery weight conspicuously unlisted) to the spot where "Flash" ran outta juice.

The specs listed are either for the black mockup (which we never see under it's own power), or the KTM, judging by the 190/55 rear tire and the gas engine, or just a bunch of hooey.

I'm guessing the black one is strictly a mock up, as is the extension cord run to the gas engine KTM.

What a joke.

24 posted on 11/06/2009 8:26:36 PM PST by 4woodenboats (tap tap tap - "The Bombing Will Begin In 5 Minutes")
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To: 4woodenboats

That’s sad. I expected more from it.

I looked at the results of the TTXGP (Electric Motorcycle Grand Prix), and the top speeds are similar to the lower end 250cc results ...

Look at the Tesla. It’s actually a pretty decent sports car.

Just sad.


25 posted on 11/06/2009 9:04:03 PM PST by MetaThought
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To: 4woodenboats

I also liked how they call motorcycles “Dirty, Smelly, Noisy things”.


26 posted on 11/06/2009 9:10:46 PM PST by MetaThought
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To: MetaThought
Tesla? As in the Nicolas Tesla Death Ray, Tesla Ball Lightning, etc?

LOL, I worked in a high voltage lab with 3 expat Soviet scientists doing experiments with electrostatic precipitation - I didn't know jack about electronics, and none of them could wrench their way out of a paper bag, so it worked out pretty good for a few years. I taught one scientist a little english - "Hasta La Vista M###er Fu@@er" in Siberian accent when referring to the lead scientist's temper tantrums was one of my masterpieces.

It was a kick for a few years, but I realized that Soviet scientists aren't "wired" to ever quite finish anything.

"You finish your project, no more goverment grants, career over, go pick potatoes" was the mindset.

Also, after enough time goes by, you are looked on as a POW more than an employee, and my boss never quite appreciated the one employee that wouldn't back down like a whipped puppy.

Tesla - there's still loads of people that think he blew down all those trees.

Whose to say ;~)

27 posted on 11/07/2009 12:29:36 AM PST by 4woodenboats (tap tap tap - "The Bombing Will Begin In 5 Minutes")
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To: martin_fierro

Tux (the penguin) prepares to blast by Beastie (the demon), who seems to have popped into existence in place (look at the tracks). Eerily, neither character, only its bike, casts a shadow.

BTW, wonder how well Wi-Fi works on a platform moving that fast. With its web server it would be cool to see real time video of a ride, but not if the process of doing so disrupts the link.


28 posted on 11/07/2009 7:05:39 AM PST by HiTech RedNeck (I am in America but not of America.)
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To: airborne
38 mile range???

USELESSS!!!!!

That is only a single lap around the Isle of Man TT course... And the race requires 3 laps...

Mark

29 posted on 11/07/2009 7:20:51 AM PST by MarkL (Do I really look like a guy with a plan?)
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To: MarkL

Expensive toys for spoiled rich boys....


30 posted on 11/07/2009 7:22:21 AM PST by airborne (I'm from an older generation. When killing the enemy was a good thing!)
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To: CodeToad
$41,000??? OK, a fast bike is about $14,000, leaving about $27,000 for gas, or about 10,000 gallons, or basically gas for the life of the bike and its owner. How is this a savings of anything??

Please remember, this is a RACE BIKE, probably not even eligible to be licensed on the street. Did you see the production numbers? Just enough to make it "legal" as a "production racer."

Trust me on this one... While it's sort of cool to own a racing bike and ride it on the streets, it's really NOT a fun thing to do. They're seriously uncomfortable, need CONSTANT maintenance, and are really tuned so tightly to wring every bit of performance out of the bike, that it's OK for them to hand grenade the motor on the cooldown lap.

Ducati had to do some serious reengineering on the Desmosedici (their MotoGP bike for the street), detuning it, and beefing up the chassis, as well as replacing a lot of the parts to make it safe to ride on the streets (like getting rid of the magnesium racing wheels and carbon fiber brake rotors).

Mark

31 posted on 11/07/2009 7:28:34 AM PST by MarkL (Do I really look like a guy with a plan?)
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To: 4woodenboats

I’m talking about this tesla. :)

http://www.teslamotors.com/


32 posted on 11/07/2009 7:38:50 AM PST by MetaThought
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To: airborne
Expensive toys for spoiled rich boys....

Not for "spoiled rich boys," but for racing teams...

Mark

33 posted on 11/07/2009 7:45:54 AM PST by MarkL (Do I really look like a guy with a plan?)
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To: Salamander

They are as much fun as you can imagine, BUT make sure you get one with enough “oomph” to get you out of trouble. Those 50cc jobs are deathtraps.

Mine is 244cc of raw, unbridled one-lunger power. I can ride it on the highway, but it buzzes uncomfortably over 60 mph. It’s ideal for errands in town, though, and I park for free at work.


34 posted on 11/07/2009 7:46:55 AM PST by Don W (I will praise Him.)
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To: airborne

Not useless on the track. Note the horsepower- the same platform & battery with 20hp would probably perform well with a range over 100 miles. The only downside would be charging time; to be practical for long rides there needs to be a way to charge in 10 minutes, something not likely to develop any time soon.


35 posted on 11/07/2009 7:48:10 AM PST by Squawk 8888 (TSA and DHS are jobs programs for people who are not smart enough to flip burgers)
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To: Salamander
They're fun and cheap to own. I go 100km on $3 worth of gas, insurance is $300 a year and have just enough power to get out of town at the drop of a hat. The cost of ownership is cheaper than public transit and a lot more fun. I bought it new in 2005 and put 85,000km on the clock without getting stranded.


36 posted on 11/07/2009 7:53:49 AM PST by Squawk 8888 (TSA and DHS are jobs programs for people who are not smart enough to flip burgers)
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To: Squawk 8888

I just want one to wander all the meandering back roads of my mountains.

[like I used to do on horseback but I can’t ride any more because of back problems]

Sure, I could take the Harley and do that but it’s not as convenient to stop, get off and traipse around through woods if I see something interesting.

There’s an elderly local couple who have matching scooters and they just look like they’re having an absolute ball, putting around and enjoying the scenery for no good reason other than that.

*sigh*


37 posted on 11/07/2009 9:41:00 AM PST by Salamander (I'm sure I need some rest but sleepin' don't come very easy in a straight white vest.....)
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To: Don W

They cost too much for me, right now.

Hubby bought a vintage Saab 96 and is attempting to put a jet engine in it [not really but he’s hell bent on “street rodding” it to an insane degree] so our money’s going into *that* pit right now.

I have a Polaris Sportsman 500 but the road nazis won’t let me run the hundred yards of state road I need to get to the back roads.


38 posted on 11/07/2009 9:46:22 AM PST by Salamander (I'm sure I need some rest but sleepin' don't come very easy in a straight white vest.....)
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To: martin_fierro

They give the weight without batteries, what a crock!

Internal combustion engines are the only way to go!!


39 posted on 11/07/2009 9:49:23 AM PST by blackie (Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
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To: MetaThought
That's more like it, but I can't help but wonder how much CO2 would be released in the atmosphere to produce the 58,800 watts it would require to charge the battery (not that I give a fried rat's patootie, really).

An easier way for most motorheads to get their helmet around that figure is to use Tesla's own specs - 240V @ 70amps for 3.5 hours.

Anyone who has stick welded 1/2 day non stop on 14 guage or better sheet metal should have a pretty good idea how much juice this puppy drinks every 240-313 miles.

They claim that a comparable sports car uses $2 per mile of fuel while the Tesla uses 2 cents per mile. I submit that each figure is equally inaccurate, and am not going to qualify either.

A fellow I know who's a far more talented and accomplished boat builder than I built a beautiful electric powered wooden boat, about 20 feet long. It was an awesome blend of classic yacht and electric propulsion. It only needed to use enough power to get it up to hull speed, roughly 5 knots. Anything more in a displacement hull, and you're just trying to climb your bow wave.

I have a few row boats waiting on me to finish them, and I'd love to offer a clean install of electric auxillary power, but other than a Minn Cota transom mount outboard, there's not really anything ready to drop in.

The R&D would be much more interesting if the industry wasn't stained by the hype and grant seekers.

40 posted on 11/07/2009 1:12:59 PM PST by 4woodenboats (tap tap tap - "The Bombing Will Begin In 5 Minutes")
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