Electric Motorcycle: A wise option for Tesla

[mbenson898]

Tesla's chief Elon Musk has surprised us earlier with Model 3 and Semi truck in the auto space, but will this stop? Tesla lovers expect that it will awe the market with an electric motorcycle in the near future despite Musk’s near-death incident fears. The electric motorcycle industry has got a huge growth potential and Tesla could take a pie out.

Already Harley-Davidson, which had dominated the industry in the US with a market share of nearly 47%, has taken the advantage of Musk’s fears and intends to bring out an electric motorcycle. Electric motorcycles: A ride for Tesla to profitability | AlphaStreet

 

[widodh]

Elon said he's against motorcycles as they are dangerous. He had a near-death accident (?) I heard, so I don't see this happening very soon.

 

[malcolm]

plus, for his own mid-life crisis, he wants to go to Mars.

 

[deonb]

Elon said he's against motorcycles as they are dangerous. He had a near-death accident (?) I heard, so I don't see this happening very soon.

Yeah but these will be electric. They’ll just barely kill you.

 

[widodh]

Here is the article: Elon Musk says Tesla will never build a motorcycle | Daily Mail Online

Elon Musk says Tesla will never build a motorcycle - because he was almost killed by a truck while riding one at 17

 

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

Tesla's chief Elon Musk has surprised us earlier with Model 3 and Semi truck in the auto space, but will this stop? Tesla lovers expect that it will awe the market with an electric motorcycle in the near future despite Musk’s near-death incident fears. The electric motorcycle industry has got a huge growth potential and Tesla could take a pie out.

Already Harley-Davidson, which had dominated the industry in the US with a market share of nearly 47%, has taken the advantage of Musk’s fears and intends to bring out an electric motorcycle. Electric motorcycles: A ride for Tesla to profitability | AlphaStreet

To be honest, I think the safety is an excuse/indirect reason.

Motorcycles don't fit with Tesla's long-term aims for autonomy and cheap batteries. They aren't a good fit because autonomy changes transportation to taxis and small buses, and because the size of motorcycles and the fall/collision rate places additional constraints on the battery that make it hard to use Tesla existing approach to batteries and make the battery cost very low.

Also, as a practical matter, China sucks as a motorcycle market since the large cities allow only low-speed mopeds and scooters.

 

[MacGreiner]

A great fit for reducing carbon and fuel dependency in developing countries where a whole bunch of CO2 is now being generated. Try SE Asia, India for example - mostly motorbikes. Tuk-tuks, etc. Especially if they jump the whole ICE driven car model altogether much like many African nations did with wireless.

 

[ai4px]

I think the market is ripe for an electric pickup truck. A small thing akin to a ford ranger or other light duty truck. Adverts should emphasize torque (ie pulling boat out of a ramp) and other macho stuff. Also, small delivery businesses would probably love an electric pickup truck.

 

[jbcarioca]

There isn't any reason for Tesla to do electric motorcycles, scooters or bicycles. All three have plentiful producers already and more coming. None of them present difficult engineering or production challenges. Many countries from Brazil, China, India and so on already produce them and have established popularity to some degree. Further, BEV, tuk-tuks (three wheel taxi) are already in successful production too. Why would Tesla fool around with those? ...even if Elon does not like the safety issues.

 

[J X 3]

While safety concerns are fair, they should try to figure out how to replace the car. Cars are just horribly inefficient, you move 2000kg of metal to transport 100kg of mostly water. It's insane and we need to reclaim our cities anyway - it's very visible already as more and more cities are banning cars in some areas. Tunnels are ok but costly and not much fun.

My best ideas so far are to evolve the motorcycle and an exoskeleton/jetpack hyndrid.
Jetpacks are stupid, too much energy required so they are really just a toy but an exoskeleton that uses a bunch of small jets only for long jumps and tougher landings might just work. So the always in moderation principle here.
To evolve the motorcycle, a robot with 4 legs and wheels on each leg.So you have a bike/horse kind of thing. Would provide a very wide range of riding styles, it could jump , handle stairs and all that so very capable and lots of fun.
It could be very fast, affordable and efficient. Autonomy no reason not to.
Safety is a concern but if it has sensors, if it can jump, maybe in 15-20 years when a crash is unavoidable it could create a crumple zone with its legs, it could end up being very safe.
vs a car, comfort would be the main issue and you can't solve that so fun ,cost and practicality would have to offset the downside.In theory you could have a larger one with a cabin but that's a car ... with legs so practically just very extravagant suspension.
Anyone that doesn't think a bike/horse hybrid would be fun?

 

[S'toon]

First of all, Musk as someone else said mentioned has said Tesla will never make an electric motorcycle.

Secondly, Harley is late to the game, all they have is vapourware so far.

Third, Zero, Alta, Energica, and others are doing a bang up job making them.

I'm a little surprised that you're taking an article that touts Harley seriously. If I had a motorcycle license I wouldn't be waiting for the ugly overpriced electric motorcycle Harley is saying they might some day make. I'd be going for a Zero now. Obviously the author of the article didn't do his homework.

 

[mongo]

While safety concerns are fair, they should try to figure out how to replace the car. Cars are just horribly inefficient, you move 2000kg of metal to transport 100kg of mostly water. It's insane and we need to reclaim our cities anyway - it's very visible already as more and more cities are banning cars in some areas. Tunnels are ok but costly and not much fun.

My best ideas so far are to evolve the motorcycle and and exoskeleton/jetpack hyndrid.
Jetpacks are stupid, too much energy required so they are really just a toy but an exoskeleton that uses a bunch of small jets only for long jumps and tougher landings might just work. So the always in moderation principle here.
To evolve the motorcycle, a robot with 4 legs and wheels on each leg.So you have a bike/horse kind of thing. Would provide a very wide range of riding styles, it could jump , handle stairs and all that so very capable and lots of fun.
It could be very fast, affordable and efficient. Autonomy no reason not to.
Safety is a concern but if it has sensors, if it can jump, maybe in 15-20 years when a crash is unavoidable it could create a crumple zone with its legs, it could end up being very safe.
vs a car, comfort would be the main issue and you can't solve that so fun ,cost and practicality would have to offset the downside.In theory you could have a larger one with a cabin but that's a car ... with legs so practically just very extravagant suspension.
Anyone that doesn't think a bike/horse hybrid would be fun?

So loop and hyperloop?
Controlled environment so no need for crumple zones
Up to 16 people per pod
Maximized energy efficiency (no extra acceleration or deceleration)
No waiting at lights

 

[MacGreiner]

There isn't any reason for Tesla to do electric motorcycles, scooters or bicycles. All three have plentiful producers already and more coming. None of them present difficult engineering or production challenges. Many countries from Brazil, China, India and so on already produce them and have established popularity to some degree. Further, BEV, tuk-tuks (three wheel taxi) are already in successful production too. Why would Tesla fool around with those? ...even if Elon does not like the safety issues.

You think it would be because of the mission: "to accelerate the advent of sustainable transport by bringing compelling mass market electric cars to market as soon as possible". But it definitely says cars and not vehicles which is a shame.
Impact in developing world far exceeds a couple of hundred thousand units in the west.

 

[mongo]

You think it would be because of the mission: "to accelerate the advent of sustainable transport by bringing compelling mass market electric cars to market as soon as possible". But it definitely says cars and not vehicles which is a shame.
Impact in developing world far exceeds a couple of hundred thousand units in the west.

Goal : "to accelerate the advent of sustainable transport"
Method: "by bringing compelling mass market electric cars to market as soon as possible"

Tesla can have other methods to reach the goal (loop/ semi).
In some ways Tesla doing electric bikes could hurt the advance because theirs would likely be lower cost and/or high performance and suppress the entrance of others into the market.

In CO2 per mile, replacing cars and trucks has a larger impact that lighter vehicles. The price point is also better at funding future developments.

 

[Barklikeadog]

There isn't any reason for Tesla to do electric motorcycles, scooters or bicycles. All three have plentiful producers already and more coming. None of them present difficult engineering or production challenges. Many countries from Brazil, China, India and so on already produce them and have established popularity to some degree. Further, BEV, tuk-tuks (three wheel taxi) are already in successful production too. Why would Tesla fool around with those? ...even if Elon does not like the safety issues.

This. Electric cycles are already a thing with many makers. Not worth the effort

 

[JulienW]

Can you imagine if Tesla made a Bike how the press would suddenly start covering every single gory Tesla motorcycle crash. There would be endless commentary on how irresponsible and reckless Tesla is for making unsafe motorcycles.

 

[The Duke]

This. Electric cycles are already a thing with many makers. Not worth the effort

Agreed, what would be worth the effort is someone like Lightning to join the Supercharger network. Makes sense for a high end electric motorcycle.

 

[gtmotor]

I would totally buy a Tesla branded motorcycle. I'm even eyeing the Harley LiveWire... they are making it now supposedly. It wouldn't be for economy, my other bikes already get better mpg with lower emissions than 90% of cars on the road. It would be because 4 wheels move the body, and 2 wheels move the soul

 

[Ctuna]

A company in Santa Cruz called Zero motorcycles ah been making them for years.

 

[DonTom]

A company in Santa Cruz called Zero motorcycles ah been making them for years.

Zero is now in Scott's Valley, CA, but is still close to Santa Cruz.

I own a 2017 Zero SR with Power Tank as well as a 2017 Zero DS 6.5. I owned the 6.5 first and it got me hooked on EVs. So I just purchased a blue Model Three (AWD) a few weeks ago.

I take the 6.5 on the hitch of my ICE RV. When boondocked, I can use my gasoline generator to charge the Zero. Seems a but inefficient to use gas to charge an electric motorcycle, but it works. I like the way the Zero can ride itself up the ramp with me walking beside it, no clutch and a slow speed throttle response that no ICE bike can match. The perfect bike, IMO, to take on an RV.

I am hoping Tesla or somebody has an E-RV made by the time I am ready to buy a new RV in a few years. I figure it will need around three times the batteries for an equal range of our cars. There will be a few other issues also, but I think it can be done. But I hear Tesla Superchargers will soon be 350,000 watts which will help.

-Don- Reno, NV