PART 1: I have a dilemma.
I LOVE cars.
I LOVE motorcycles.
I LOVE racing.
I LOVE speed (at the track, of course).
I LOVE the visceral feel and sound of a high performance internal combustion engine. It's intoxicating to me, in person. I LOVE racing cars and motorcycles, and their road going counterparts, for their look, speed, power and performance. I love the freedom that cars and motorcycles give an individual in daily life.
However, I struggle with the insatiable 'fossil fuel burn' that modern Western society participates in. It IS a long term problem that needs to be solved. Finding a way to reduce dependence on petroleum is the right thing to do for the planet in the long term. I have to balance this with my white hot fever for the sound of a Lamborghini's 6.0 liter 12 cylinder engine screaming at full song down a straight. What's that you say, about hypocrisy?
Such is 'my dilemma'...
I'm excited to say that innovative companies are pushing the envelope of performance and efficiency with cars, every day. With much of the early credit due to pioneering companies like Honda and Toyota, for embracing and developing hybrid electric technology. As I'm sure you're all aware, throughout the 1990's, they focused on developing cars that appealed to the basic desires of mass consumer sentiment. Those efforts came to fruition in the 2000's and they produced the rather altruistic Honda Insight and Toyota Prius. Honestly they are...to be blunt...as exciting to a car guy as standing in line at any poorly manned government agency. This is OK, if that's what suits you. If you like automotive boredom they are perfect. While their actual effectiveness could be debated all day, they have made the case to the masses for alternatives that can work in the real world.
For those of us that live and breathe the car hobby however, they leave something to be desired.
Well, that's where some other companies are now stepping up the the plate, to swing the proverbial 'bat'. Small companies like Tesla have already developed entirely new plug-in electric technology sports cars. Then there's MotoCzysz. The leading edge mini-MotoGP team turned electric motorcycle manufacturer, that was founded by the architect turned motorcycle designer, Michael Czysz.
On the back of their 'not-yet-realized' Moto GP project, they have developed a completely wicked, battery powered Moto GP inspired bike called the E1pc. It competed for the first time at the Isle of Man TTXGP last summer. With a staggering 250 lbs of torque from this plug-n-play battery powered tri-electric motor equipped cycle, Motoczysz is pushing boundaries of alternative technologies for vehicle power. It's to date, the only platform that allows the batteries themselves to be charged remotely from the vehicle. Just like an everyday appliance, you just put them in a "charger" and then they are ready for use.
More thoughts to come in PART 2 of this post.... but for starters.... Check out this cool trailer (documenting the Motoczysz project) from the movie "CHARGE", written by Mark Neale and narrated by noted motorcycle guru and acclaimed actor, Ewan McGregor.
Images and video courtesy of MotoCzysz
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