The BMW Motorrad E-Scooter With Electric Drive Is One Cool Commuter Concept Vehicle.

In an effort to design more innovative alternatives for the increasing population of commuters, BMW has designed an all electric, but powerful scooter, that seats two. The future-oriented concept vehicle has a battery that can be charged in less than three hours in a common household outlet.



The concept vehicle had two main requirements for its development: dynamic figures comparable to those of a maxi scooter with a combustion engine and a high range in realistic conditions of use. And here's the result: The BMW Motorrad Concept Vehicle BMW E-Scooter.



The press release, July 1,2011:
BMW Motorrad Innovation Day 2011.

Innovative development study with electric drive.
Space is becoming increasingly scarce in the major conurbation centres and traffic density is growing continuously. Political and social conditions are changing. All these factors coalesce in increasing demands in terms of private transportation. The concept vehicle BMW E-Scooter with electric drive provides an innovative look at changing urban mobility needs.



While the currently available, purely electrically-powered scooters have been almost exclusively used inside towns and cities to date due to their performance and range, which makes them suitable for short distances only, the concept vehicle BMW E-Scooter offers a much broader spectrum of use.

High range and excellent performance figures.
Since it was conceived as a future-oriented vehicle for commuting between urban areas and the city centre, therefore attracting funding from the German Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development, there were two main requirements for its development: dynamic figures comparable to those of a maxi scooter with a combustion engine and a high range in realistic conditions of use.



The concept vehicle BMW E-Scooter provides the necessary sustained output and maximum speed for safe and reliable overtaking on urban motorways and also when carrying two people. It is also easily capable of managing hill starts on steep slopes with a pillion passenger.



The development study also has the necessary maximum output to be able to achieve acceleration figures within the important 0 - 60 km/h range, which are at the level of current maxi scooters powered by a 600 cc combustion engine.

The high storage capacity of the battery allows a daily driving range of over 100 kilometres. In this way, the BMW E-Scooter concept vehicle provides a long-term, zero-emissions urban and suburban travel option which is suitable for everyday use.



Fast charging at conventional power sockets.
The E-Scooter concept vehicle's battery is charged at regular household power sockets as found in Europe, the USA, Canada and Japan, so no special charging station is required. When the battery is completely flat, the charging period is less than three hours. However, practical experience has shown that the battery rarely runs out completely, so charging times are generally shorter.

Frame.
Unlike existing maxi scooters with combustion engines, the concept vehicle does not have a main frame. Instead, the aluminium battery casing - which also contains the electronic system required for battery cell monitoring -takes over the function of the frame. The steering head support is connected to it, as is the rear frame and the left-hand mounted single swing arm with directly hinged, horizontally installed shock absorber.



Electric machine, power electronics and charging device.
Due to its high output, the BMW Motorrad development study has no hub motor with direct drive or planetary gearbox. Instead, the high-performance electric machine is mounted behind the battery casing. The secondary drive consists of a toothed belt from the electric machine to the belt pulley mounted coaxially on the swinging fork pivot with drive pinion. From here, power transmission occurs via roller chain to the rear wheel. When the E-Scooter is decelerated in trailing throttle or when braking, the energy released is recuperated, thereby increasing the vehicle's range by between 10 and 20 per cent depending on driving profile.



The electrical components required for the electric drive are installed on the top of the battery casing. The external battery electronics system permanently collects and monitors data such as the temperature and voltage of the battery cells, both during travel and while charging. The power electronics acts as a control system and controls the electric machine. The charging device includes a charge cable which allows the battery to be recharged at a conventional household power socket. In addition to the other components like an ISO insulation monitor, high-voltage indicator and a high-voltage distributor, a DC-DC converter is included. It is required to change high voltage to low voltage power to supply the 12 volt vehicle supply and especially for the control units.

Cooling system.
During travel, the electric machine and power electronics are liquid-cooled, as is the charging device during charging. An electric coolant pump ensures coolant circulation through the radiator. While a coolant is commonly used for the battery in electrically powered cars, the E-Scooter concept vehicle uses an air cooling system in order to save space.

Safety.
BMW Motorrad is one of the very few motorcycle manufacturers to be able to draw on its own experience and expertise in the automobile field in the development of electrically powered vehicles. Synergies are derived from the development of the BMW E-Scooter concept vehicle not just in the ready availability of technical components but also in the area of high voltage engineering and the associated safety requirements. Here for the first time, standards established by the leading automobile manufacturers relating to high voltage safety (> 60 volt) and functional reliability are being applied to a two-wheel vehicle with electric drive.


click on the above image to enlarge

[Source: BMW] and images courtesy of Autoblog.

The Specialized McLaren Venge, Fastest Complete Performance Bike In The World.

The new S-Works + McLaren Venge is the result of a partnership between Specialized and McLaren that brings the advanced materials and carbon layup design that McLaren has employed in their F1-winning race cars into the world of racing bikes.




The first carbon road race bike from Specialized with an aerodynamic design, the S-Works Venge was the brainchild of Chris D'Aluisio and the Specialized engineering team. This design was then refined further through the McLaren partnership.



In working with McLaren engineers, the S-Works+McLaren Venge maintained identical aerodynamics and stiffness, yet achieved an even lighter weight through its extremely advanced carbon layup design. After over four years of development, testing and over twenty trips to various wind tunnels, the S-Works Venge is the first Specialized bike to achieve the winning formula of weight, stiffness and aerodynamics.


details:







Available Venge Models:

S-Works Venge DA, $9200
With its no-compromise formula of ultralight weight, exceptional stiffness, and stealthy aerodynamics, the Venge created an entirely new road category: Complete Performance. Throw in Pro Tour-proven Shimano Dura-Ace components, and this bike will elevate you—and Team HTC-Highroad—to a whole new level:



S-Works Venge SRAM RED, $8800
With its no-compromise formula of ultralight weight, exceptional stiffness, and stealthy aerodynamics, the Venge created an entirely new road category: Complete Performance. Throw in Pro Tour-proven SRAM RED components, and this bike will elevate you—and teams Astana and Saxo Bank—to a whole new level:

images courtesy of Specialized, McLaren and VeloDramatic

Learn more here

La Dolce Vespa. Limited Edition Vespas Inspired by Classic Italian Speedboats.

Digital Veneer in Auckland, New Zealand, provides ultra high quality environmentally responsible alternatives to the use of real wood, marble, granite and stone in the aviation, marine, automotive and high-end architectural markets.

They began their Designer Series of Limited Edition "Tribute" Vespas last February with the GTV Tribute Vespa, using the larger model as a canvas on which to try out a Mahogany veneered version of the originally Italian scooter.

The Limited Edition GTV "Tribute" Vespa:




GTV Specs:


Now, they have released Limited Edition LX50 and LX150 "Tribute" Vespas.






LX50 and LX150 Specs:


The styling and prestige of these limited edition Vespas evoke famous Italian speedboats from the 1960’s with their Mahogany mirror finish and hand stitched leather seats.





Each brand new Vespa is transformed by craftsmen into an authentic and unique work of art and carries a numbered limited edition silver plaque. Their personal customization service is also available to meet any specific requirements you might have.

What is Digital Veneer?

The Digital Veneer™ process decorates 3-dimensional and flat surface products made from plastics, metals, foam, wood, composites and any other structural material with a variety of finishes which exactly replicate the look and feel of natural and man made materials.

Digital Veneer™ is a fraction of the weight of real wood veneers and stone equating to lighter structures and significant fuel savings in aircraft, boats and automobiles.

Digital Veneer™ has the following three significant benefits:

• Environmentally Responsible: With exotic hardwoods, teak and other timber products becoming hard to obtain the ability to replicate the look without using valuable scarce resources.

• Lightweight: Using foams and advanced composites we are able to make hand rails, tables, flooring and cabinets that weigh 60 - 70% less than comparable units made from wood.

• Durability and Flame resistant: Considerable cost savings in maintenance can be achieved using 'Digital Veneer'TM. Utilizing our high solids top coating system developed in conjunction with Awlgrip outside products need only be re-coated every 2 - 3 years opposed to every 2 - 3 months for wood / varnish. As the sub straights are made from a stable material they will not warp, split or swell. The composite construction makes the product stronger than real wood products.

Contact Lance Sheppard of Digital Veneer for more information

Segways Are For Sissies. Check Out The DTV Shredder.

My Segway can beat up your Segway. Especially the Military edition which includes grenade launchers.




BPG Werks, the company started by the talented Ben Gulak, about whose zero-emissions Uno I blogged long ago, has designed a radical all terrain vehicle which combines skateboard decks, a powerful engine and tank-like treads... the DTV Shredder.



The Segway-pummeling vehicle is a combination of a skateboard deck with traditional skateboard trucks, a powerful engine and two tank-threads capable of tearing up any terrain at high speeds; snow, sand, trails, and mountains. Acceleration and braking are controlled by a small handheld remote control and a 4-stroke racing engine powers two tank-style tracks up to a wicked 30 mph.




The consumer-friendly Sport version (which is available for $2500) has a brawnier brother in the works. BPG Werks is currently developing a militarized version of the DTV Shredder with the United States Air Force Academy.



Single soldiers operating the DTV Shredder can cover more ground at an unprecedented efficiency. The DTV Shredder, which can handle any terrain at high speeds, was built as a first response, modular platform to better equip the soldier – especially in crisis situations. It’s low center of gravity and rugged design make it ideal for a wide variety of applications including: reconnaissance, rescue and recovery, mobile surveillance, offensive platform, medical evacuation and rapid response.

Check out the Military version in action:


Buy the Consumer DTV Shredder here

And for those stylish sissies who prefer a segway, there's always the Chanel Segway: