SELF-BALANCING MOTORCYCLE Posted 11/7/2014 Building an automotive startup is never easy, especially when the product offered by that company defies easy description. Lit Motors has been steadily developing its self-balancing electric-motorcycle concept over the past four years, calling it the future of transportation. With a motorcycle footprint and car-like steering, its intended to combined benefits of both car and bike. The company doesnt appear any closer to putting its electric bike into production, but it released a new video (via Autoblog Green) showing its capabilities. In it a female test driver--who has no motorcycle training, Lit points out--gets in, negotiates a slalom, and parks with the vehicle performing as intended. The C-1--which may get a different name for production--is controlled by a steering wheel, but it does lean into corners like a traditional motorcycle, with gyroscopes reportedly capable of 6,000 pound-feet of torque keeping it upright. While Lit promises enclosed bodywork, the test mule used in the video was bare, and had training wheels, just in case things didnt go as planned. Lit also dragged that test mule sideways with a van. It stayed upright the whole time, while a conventional motorcycle immediately tipped over. In production trim, that stability is expected to come with 200 miles of driving range per charge, from just 8 kilowatt-hours of battery-pack capacity. Thats largely due to the C-1s light weight--around 800 pounds--and its aerodynamic shape, attributes that should also let it do 0 to 60 mph in approximately six seconds. Lit expects the production version to cost around $24,000, and is already taking deposits. The first 500 are already spoken for, but $2,500 will get you one of the next 500, while $1,000 buys a spot further down the line. Those early adopters may have to be patient--Lits previously-announced 2014 production date seems unlikely--but the unique capabilities of the C-1 could make it worth the wait. POSTED: 11/7/2014
Posted on: Sat, 08 Nov 2014 02:07:40 +0000