Filed under: EV/Plug-in, On Two Wheels, Pacific Region
The Catavolt team has been developing its unique electric motorcycle drivetrain whilst duking it out on racetracks Down Under in the eFX/TTXGP championship for the past couple years. Now, they are bringing the battle to the Australian streets, announcing that the first Catavolt S6 street bike has found a home.
Like the track-going version, the S6 is based on the Daelim VJF250. The space where the gasoline-burning bits used to sit is now home to a 6.2-kWh battery and the motivating force - a single high torque motor from Enertrac - is located in the hub of the rear wheel, eliminating any need for chains and sprockets. Instead of a clutch, the bike uses the left lever to initiate regenerative braking.
This configuration offers a top speed of 120 km/h (75 miles per hour) and a range of 150 km (93 miles). As with all range estimates for electric vehicles (especially motorcycles), real world range will vary with speed and terrain. If that's not enough performance, Catavolt also offers the DU6 sport version, which uses the same dual-motor setup as the race machine and has upgraded suspension to help deal with the increased unsprung rear-wheel weight. That variant has, of course, improved acceleration and tops out at 160 km/h (100 mph).
As well as raw speed, the need for more range can also be addressed. The company offers an optional 6 kWh battery pack that comes in a pair of removable panniers and doubles the distance one can wander. Prices start at $18,000 Australian dollars ($18,860 US at today's rates) for the base model. Scroll down for video to see the S6 in action and meet the first owner. As a bonus, we've also thrown in footage of the race bike laying down a nice practice lap at Daytona International Speedway.
Continue reading Catavolt brings electric motorcycle battle to Australian streets [w/video]
Catavolt brings electric motorcycle battle to Australian streets [w/video] originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 05 Dec 2012 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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