Year of specifications |
2010 |
Engine |
liquid
cooled AC motor |
Transmission |
single
speed, chain |
Top speed |
100
+mph |
0-60 MPH |
- |
Horsepower |
55
hp |
Weight |
176
kg / 390 lbs |
Seat
height |
- |
Electric powered motorbikes have been on the rise for a few
years now, and zero emission race series like the TTXGP have
helped speed up both battery and motor development significantly.
Brammo are one of the big players in the world of electric motorbikes,
their first product being the Brammo Enertia, but now they've
significantly upped the ante with this, the Brammo Empulse.
The Empulse is far more similar in appearance to conventional
powered naked sport bikes than the Enertia is. In fact at first
glance it's not obvious this is an electric bike at all. But
when you start looking towards where the engine usually resides,
your eyes are met with a big slab of batteries, glance further
back, and where the transmission normally sits is a great big
electric motor.
It's only just recently that electric bikes are starting to
be taken seriously. Before that they were seen more as pointless
and expensive scooters for wealthy hippies. But now that battery
and motor technology has improved significantly, they can offer
similar performance to a conventional bike, and also provide
a usable range which will satisfy most commuter and weekend
sport riders.
Cost was also a big factor for electric bikes as they are generally
significantly more expensive than internal combustion engine
powered machines. But thanks to significant government tax breaks
for electric vehicles that's changed too. Electric bikes now
make sense.
The Brammo Empulse is powered by a 55 horsepower engine - granted
that's not a massive number, but it also develops 58 lb-ft of
torque from
zero rpm - and that's quite good! Top speed of the bike is in
excess of 100 mph, and it'll outpace almost anything on four
wheels getting there.
Brammo are offering the Empulse in three different versions,
the only difference between the three is the battery pack. Spend
more money and you can go further:
Empulse 6.0 = 60 mile average range
Empulse 8.0 = 80 mile average range
Empulse 10.0 = 100 mile average range
Brammo also say that these numbers can be increased if you ride
it sensibly. 130 miles is possible with the top model when you
take it easy.
Aside from its electric drivetrain the rest of the Brammo Empulse
is pretty normal. There's a twin spar aluminium frame, conventional
front forks, a rear monoshock suspension setup and a standard
swingarm.
The appearance of the Brammo Empulse will change a little bit
along the way as these images are of a pre-production test model.
But the general proportions and overall style of the bike will
be pretty similar.
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