While I'm a big supporter of the push for the electrification of the motorcycle, I'm not really a big fan of the sports bike or the street bike or off-road bikes - my tastes lean towards custom cruisers like the electric chopper from Orange County Choppers. Come September, the electric cruiser camp looks to be getting a new member in the utterly gorgeous shape of the Dutch Orphiro Electric Motorcycle. Unfortunately details are scarce at the moment, but read on for what we do know.
The Orphiro Electric Motorcycle is described as a wide body cruiser, and has been built from the ground up by Alexander Steegh and his team from the Fontys University of Applied Science - from the custom drivetrain to the tubular frame and panels. The five Li-ion batteries concealed behind smooth exterior covers are said to offer a range of 60 miles (100 km) and the 72V electric motor offers a top speed of 75 mph (120 kph).
A chunky belt drive connects the motor to the rear wheel, there's a "tank"-mounted console that shows speed and distance with a power switch underneath, and tire-hugging fenders sit atop classic spoked wheels. As you can see from the gallery, disc brakes also feature. Extended front forks, twin headlights and rounded mirrors complete the chopper aesthetic. The recharge time for the batteries is reported to be around 6.5 hours.
The speed and range is probably not going to persuade any hog owner to part with his gas-driven beast like, say, the Lito Sora might, but it does look the business nonetheless.
That's about as much as is being made available at the moment, although Motorcycle USA does say that a price of EUR 49,000 (over US$70,000) has been quoted - which suggests that mass production is unlikely.
You can follow the cruiser's progress towards availability at the Orphiro website.
Source: Wired
