Page 26 - Motorcycle Trader (February 2020)

POWER PLAY
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THE IMAGINARY TESLA fond of the contraptions. This For most makers of electric vehicles, the least
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dislike comes from a near-death of their problems is developing something
Around mid-2018, London-based
experience on one when he was 17, that’s got plenty of performance. Electric
designer Jans Slapins (slapins.
though he did ride for several years. motors can be scaled to pretty much any
com) released a concept of a output you want and, if you want a convincing
Several commentators have
Tesla motorcycle. Unfortunately, it demonstration, try to blag a drive of a Tesla
urged Tesla to get into the market,
never made it into production and Model S in full ratbag mode.
as they see its involvement and
probably never will. knack for self-promotion as a huge Not only is there plenty of power readily
Tesla founder Elon Musk ruled potential lift for the sector. available, but electric motors can deliver 100
out any motorcycle project in the However, Musk remains firm in per cent of their torque from start-up, so the
perception of performance can be truly stunning
future, partly because he’s not his refusal.
with anything that has a reasonable amount
of power, to the point where a 100kW electric
vehicle can feel a lot quicker than a 100kW
petrol equivalent.
By far the biggest issue is energy storage – and
always has been. Current battery technology
takes up an enormous amount of space, is
expensive to make and has a question mark over
longevity. All those issues are challenging for a
car and are far worse for a bike.
Which is why technology publications
worldwide (we can recommend NewAtlas.com)
almost never see a week go by without another
breakthrough (or rash promise) on how to
increase the capacity of batteries and/or charge
them more efficiently.

By far the biggest issue is BELOW: Harley-Davidson’s
energy storage … all those Livewire is the chosen
machine in the latest
Ewan McGregor and
issues are challenging for a car Charley Boorman money
spinner, Long Way
and are far worse for a bike Up. How they got an
adventurised version of
a bike with a claimed
range of 225km from
Patagonia to LA is yet
to be explained.