Page 27 - Motorcycle Trader (February 2020)

The NAWA Racer we mentioned earlier Those of you with bikes old enough to run
is a good case in point. It boasts a hybrid points ignition will already be familiar with
ultra-capacitor/lithium battery powerpack. capacitors – the condensor on the points set,
One of the issues with batteries is they can used to stop the charge arcing across them,
be slow to accept charge, which has the is in fact a type of capacitor.
obvious drawbacks in recharge times but From a functional point of view, it’s going
also severely limits the effectiveness of self- to be rates of charge, discharge and battery
charging tech such as regenerative braking. capacity that we’re going to need to pay a lot
Capacitors however are generally very more attention to.
good at accepting charge quickly, though You’ll also discover a whole new dialect
they have issues holding the charge for any when it comes to motors. For example,
length of time – so you can see the thinking Harley’s Livewire runs a permanent magnet BELLOW Super Soco CUx
with the hybrid. One side is quick to respond synchronous type. Permanent magnet scooter runs a Bosch hub
but doesn’t hold it for long, while the other is more or less self-explanatory (electro- motor in the rear wheel,
thus leaving more room
(the conventional lithium battery) acts more magnets are also used). for the battery in what is
like what we’re used to. Synchronous refers to a type of AC motor a very squeezy package.
that is effectively ‘tuned’ to the oscillations of
ELECTRIC SPEAK the current. In effect, they’re generally used
One of the things we may all have to get where a very precise speed control is required
our heads around over time is the language and they’re regarded as very efficient.
that comes with the technology of electric
vehicles. For example, we’ve just been THE PLAYERS
talking about capacitors. You can regard any of the established
They are in fact very old technology, motorcycle makers as being serious potential
initially developed well over a century ago players in this game. Even those who have
as a form of battery and then adapted into so far remained quiet will be maintaining a
a variety of uses that generally involved watching brief and have something going on
controlling electric current. in their ‘skunkworks’.

MON
A
DAMON WHO? an electric superbike that will have a
O?
H
W
D
Typical of the whole wild-west nature 320km/h top speed, weigh less than
of the electric motorcycle scene 220kg and recharge to 80 per cent in
is the latest announcement at the 20 minutes.
consumer electronics show in Las It also claims cloud connectivity
Vegas, in January. and an onboard camera. All that for
It’s by Canadian start-up $US25,000 ($A36,000).
Damon (DamonxLabs.com), which Will it actually make it to the road?
confidently predicts it will produce Good question…

MOTORCYCLE TRADER 27