Electric Motorcycles

I was recently researching about electric motorcycles as i feel that they are a very efficient way of transportation.With the fuel prices constantly rising many of us now started to turn heads towards electric vehicles.

So coming to the point,during my research i came across this company called Zero Motorcycles which is an American manufacturer of electric motorcycles.I was particularly interested in this company because i am huge fan of dirt bikes and this company manufactures electric dual sport as well as electric dirt bikes.Then i came across this bike named 'Zero DS' and i was amazed.
The motorcycle has a claimed range of 180km in the city and the look of the motorcycle is amazing.
Moreover it can be fully charged in 8 hrs.Buying an accessory named the 'Quick 4X charger' the bike can be charged in 2hrs!!!
The typical cost to charge the bike is $0.63 and the equivalent fuel economy of the bike is 0.49/100kms which is a mind boggling figure.No motorcycle in India gives that kind of mileage.Some of you might say that it is unfair to compare an electric motorcycle with one that runs on petrol but the comparison is just to show how efficient electric vehicles can be.

What ABS actually does?

Almost all the people who ride motorcycles would have heard the term 'ABS'.If you ask them they will tell that it stands for Anti-lock breaking system but only a few of them know what the system actually does.

Anti-lock braking system (ABS) is an automobile safety system that allows the wheels on a motor vehicle to maintain tractive contact with the road surface according to driver inputs while braking preventing the wheels from locking up (ceasing rotation) and avoiding uncontrolled skidding. It is an automated system that uses the principles of threshold braking and cadence braking which were practiced by skillful drivers with previous generation braking systems. It does this at a much faster rate and with better control than a driver could manage.
ABS generally offers improved vehicle control and decreases stopping distances on dry and slippery surfaces for many drivers; however, on loose surfaces like gravel or snow-covered pavement, ABS can significantly increase braking distance, although still improving vehicle control

There are four main components of ABS: speed sensors, valves, a pump, and a controller. ­
 Speed sensors

The anti-lock braking system needs some way of knowing when a wheel is about to lock up. The speed sensors, which are located at each wheel, or in some cases in the differential, provide this information.

Valves

There is a valve in the brake line of each brake controlled by the ABS. On some systems, the valve has three positions:

• In position one, the valve is open; pressure from the master cylinder is passed right through to the brake.
• In position two, the valve blocks the line, isolating that brake from the master cylinder. This prevents the pressure from rising further should the driver push the brake pedal harder.
• In position three, the valve releases some of the pressure from the brake.

Pump

Since the valve is able to release pressure from the brakes, there has to be some way to put that pressure back. That is what the pump does; when a valve reduces the pressure in a line, the pump is there to get the pressure back up.

Controller

The controller is an ECU type unit in the car which receives information from each individual wheel speed sensor, in turn if a wheel loses traction the signal is sent to the controller, the controller will then limit the brakeforce (EBD) and activate the ABS modulator which actuates the braking valves on and off.

BMW unveils new 'anti-crash' technology

BMW has today taken the wraps off a new motorcycle and car communication system that aims to prevent cars pulling across the path of oncoming bikes.
The system is called 'Turn Left Assistant' and uses a camera and laser scanner mounted on the front of a car to ‘see’ an oncoming bike and prevent a car travelling under 6mph from crossing in front of the bike. BMW has made no mention of the system being of use in countries like the UK where we drive on the left but it makes sense to assume the technology can be adapted.
BMW explains: "The left turn assistant is activated automatically in the BMW 5 Series test vehicle as soon as the car's sensors detect that it is entering the left-turn lane and the car registers the driver's wish to turn off. Recognition of the left-turn lane takes place on two levels."
"The vehicle positioning function of the navigation system allows the location of the car to be fixed to within a metre at intersections. A camera registers the turn-off lane markings and lane borders on the road. With the left turn assistant activated, three laser scanners in the front end of the car map the area up to 100 metres in front of the car."
"The laser scanners pick up not only cars and trucks, but also motorcycles. If the sensors detect vehicles approaching from the opposite direction but the car continues to move into the intersection, the left turn assistant activates an automatic braking input in a low speed range up to 10 km/h to prevent a collision. At the same time, a warning sound and relevant warning symbols in the instrument cluster and Head-Up Display advise the driver of the reason for the intervention."
The system also has a communication system where vehicles fitted with the system can 'talk' to each other to prevent collisions.
BMW says: "The possibilities of vehicle-to-vehicle communication enhance the functionality of the left turn assistant. In addition to the laser scanners and camera, the BMW 5 Series Saloon can also be fitted with a WLAN car-to-x communication unit. This device not only increases the range of the vehicle recognition function to 250 metres, it also allows the system to detect the presence of concealed road users who also have the technology on board."
The BMW test bike is currently a BMW R1200GS. When the driver activates one of the turn signal indicators, the car detects that the driver wants to turn off to the left and the assistance system is activated.
Udo Rietschel, development engineer in the BMW Group Research and Technology project said: "The car and the motorcycle communicate with one another via the car-to-x interfaces as the motorcycle approaches."
“On the basis of the data exchanged between the car and motorcycle an algorithm then calculates their trajectories and identifies whether a collision is likely. In critical situations the motorcycle increases its conspicuity to warn the car driver. The level of collision risk is assessed and various measures taken accordingly; the motorcycle’s headlight is adjusted gradually, its strength increased and the flashlights and LEDs positioned on the sides of the bike and on its mirrors are activated to create a broader silhouette."
"If there is an acute risk of collision, the motorcycle's horn also sounds. If the car continues into the intersection regardless, the left turn assistant brakes the car automatically to a standstill. Here again, a warning sound and relevant warnings in the instrument cluster and Head-Up Display indicate to the driver during and after the full braking manoeuvre why the car has been braked.”