Lit motors C1 self balancing fully enclosed electric motorcycle

[singveld]

Lit Motors C1 Self Balancing Fully Enclosed Electric Motorcycle

[video=youtube;Z0m-cUxMcJw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Z0m-cUxMcJw[/video]

Here’s another effort on the electric motorcycle front, the fully enclosed and self balancing C1 from Lit Motors. The self balancing feature comes from gyroscopes mounted on gimbals in the frame, so, once they spin up, the C1 stays upright on its own. It has in wheel electric motors and hub center steering.

The video shows it has considerable resistance to tipping over, a pretty neat feature, and we can speculate all we want about what it would take to really lay it down, but since standard motorcycles are far less stable, saying the C1 might fall over under some circumstances is not really an argument against it.

The video and web site have differing statements of projected range, so let’s say 100+ miles and leave it at that. Daniel Kim, company CEO, says 2013 is when they would like to have it on the market at a price of around $16,000.

It will be nice if this and the many other electric motorcycles under development actually become viable. They all look good and sound promising, but so did the Chevy Volt. Sooner or later, someone will find the right combination. Will this be it? We’ll see.

 

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[video=youtube_share;U_YNAZ68S64]http://youtu.be/U_YNAZ68S64[/video]

 

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[video=youtube;O1aAmWim838]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=O1aAmWim838[/video]

 

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Lit Motors unveils functioning prototype of its C-1 self-balancing electric motorcycle

There are definitely a lot of daydreamers and big thinkers out there, showing off their 3D renderings of inventions that “ought to work” – if they were to actually exist. It’s understandable, therefore, that many readers reacted with skepticism when we first reported on Lit Motors’ C-1. The designers of the fully-enclosed electric motorcycle claimed that it would be able to stand up on its own, thanks to electronically-controlled onboard gyroscopes. Well, while there may not be a C-1 in a showroom near you just yet, the folks at Lit have indeed succeeded in building a functioning prototype of their vehicle. We made the trip to their San Francisco workspace, to have a look for ourselves.

The rather steampunk-looking proof-of-concept prototype is electronically limited to a speed of about 10 mph (16 km/h), and its two scaled-down gyros generate only half of the approximately 1,300 foot-pounds (1,763 Nm) of torque planned for the production version. It turns out that that’s still enough, however, to keep it upright while being piloted around the local streets – or when being yanked sideways by a Land Rover, as you’ll see in our video.

While the vehicle that we saw is still very much a work in progress, Lit Motors president Daniel Kim says that they have learned a lot from making it, particularly when it comes to keeping the weight down on the final version. “I have a couple of ideas for our next revision,” he told us. “I’ve got some tricks up my sleeve for what the real potential of this vehicle will be.”

Kim hopes to be selling C-1’s by 2014. By that time, they should reportedly have a top speed of 125 mph (201 km/h), a battery range of up to 200 miles (322 km) per charge, and space for a second passenger – all for US$16,000.

In the meantime, however, take a look at our visit with Daniel, and check out the prototype in action.

 

[singveld]

[video=youtube;Z1YoCfm7nxU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Z1YoCfm7nxU[/video]
amazing technology, but totally uncool and useless.

 

[BotakHead]

The LIT looks shiok. Never worry about falling over. Never worry about rain. Easy parking. No helmet needed too.

Wonder if LTA will approve it for SG road. COE required?

 

[BotakHead]

RYNO don't look so safe. Prefer the LIT to the RYNO anytime.

 

[johnny333]

Nice bike but it would never catch on in Spore because the PAP will make sure to increase COE to curb demand.

You either need a helmet or a seat belt.

 

[singveld]

Nice bike but it would never catch on in Spore because the PAP will make sure to increase COE to curb demand.

You either need a helmet or a seat belt.

who knows, maybe pap might encourage it, since it can make money for COE.