If the video looks good, check the specs
Specifications from the Eco Motorcycles web site1
Range 400 miles (640 km)
Battery Capacity 21 kWh
Life 250,000 miles (400,000 km)
Motor Power 90 kW (120 horsepower)
Acceleration 3.2 seconds to 60 mph (100 kmh)
Max Speed 180 mph (290 km/h)
Total Weight 350 pounds (160 kg)
And if you like the specs, you'll love the price:
Estimated Retail Price £7,999 (9,799 USD)1 [$13,160 Australian]
Special Price (for supporters) £5,999 (7,499 USD) [$9,866 Australian]
Just to put this in perspective, compare with a Zero Motorcycles SR ZF13.0
Zero SR ZF13.0 with 13.0 kWh battery2
Zero Battery 13.0 kWh
“City” speed range is quoted as 161 miles (259 km)
Highway, 55 mph (89 km/h) 98 miles (158 km)
Highway, 70 mph (113 km/h) 81 miles (130 km)
Top speed (max) 102 mph (164 km/h)
Top speed (sustained) 95 mph (153 km/h)
Note how the range of the Zero declines with speed. Scaling the 161 mile (259 km), “City”, speed range of the Zero to allow for the larger battery in the Vigo (21 kWh verses 13.0 kWh), suggests that the Vigo will have 260 miles (418 km),3 rather than the 400 miles (640 km) claimed by Eco Motorcycles.
City riding implies stop-start driving. Regenerative braking isn't 100%. Extraordinary distances can be covered on a straight, flat road at a constant, low speed, but such numbers aren't a useful guide to the distance a vehicle will cover, on a single charge, on a trip, or around town.
In addition to developing the Vigo, Eco Motorcycles is a retailer of Zero electric motorcycles. Their web site offers the Zero SR ZF13.0 for £13,500.
Is any of the above possible?
Price – Eco Motorcycles claims it has in development, a motorcycle with 160% of the battery for 59% of the price (44% at the “supporter” price) of the current competition.
Performance – Zero makes no claims re acceleration. Top speed of 102 mph is probably electronically limited to preserve range. Power quoted for the Vigo is 90 kW. Comparison with internal combustion motorcycles suggests a top speed closer to 150 mph,4 rather than the 180 claimed.
Range – even assuming the claim of 400 miles of range is at, “city”, speed, the claimed range of the Vigo seems to defy the laws of physics for any practical purpose.
What can we expect in the Vigo electric motor cycle?
Right now, nothing – the Vigo is, “currently in development”. If a commercial product did not eventuate, it would not be the first development project from a startup manufacturer to fail. But there is no doubt that battery prices will continue to fall for some time. A motorcycle with 21 kWh battery in the quoted price range may be possible within a few years.
Top speed & range on the other hand – given the specs, both are likely to be better than the Zero SR ZF13.0, but are not likely to equal the claimed 180 mph & 400 miles of range.
__________
1 Eco Motorcycles: “Vigo”, http://eco-motorcycles.co.uk/vigo
Update: Vigo’s web page has changed since this article was first posted. Best source of information previously included there, is now the Indiegogo page at
Indiegogo: “VIGO: Electric Motorcycle of the Future”
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/vigo-electric-motorcycle-of-the-future/x/9010251#/
2 Zero Motorcycles: “Zero SR ZF13.0”, http://www.zeromotorcycles.com/au/zero-s-specs?model=sr
3 161 * 21 / 13 = 260
4 Wikipedia: “List of fastest production motorcycles”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fastest_production_motorcycles#Fastest_production_motorcycles
/ video check specs specifications Eco Motorcycles web site range 400 miles 640 km battery capacity 21 kWh battery life motor power 90 kW 120 horsepower acceleration 3.2 seconds 60 mph 100 kmh max speed 180 mph 290 km/h weight 350 pounds 160 kg specs price estimated retail price £7,999 $US9,799 USD $A13,160 Australian special price supporters £5,999 $US7,499 USD $A9,866 Australian Zero Motorcycles SR ZF13.0 Zero SR ZF13.0 13.0 kWh battery Zero Battery 13.0 kWh city speed range 161 miles 259 km highway speed 55 mph 89 km/h 98 miles 158 km highway speed 70 mph 113 km/h 81 miles 130 km top speed 102 mph 164 km/h range Zero scaling 161 mile 259 km city speed range Zero larger battery Vigo 21 kWh 13.0 kWh 260 miles 418 km 400 miles 640 km claimed Eco Motorcycles developing Vigo Eco Motorcycles retailer Zero electric motorcycles Zero SR ZF13.0 price Eco Motorcycles in development motorcycle 160% bigger battery 59% price supporter price current competition performance Zero acceleration power quoted Vigo 90 kW 73% greater 52 kW claimed Zero higher top speed top speed 73% more power aerodynamic drag increases as the square of the speed range claim of 400 miles range city speed claimed range Vigo seems to defy the laws of physics Vigo electric motorcycle motor cycle Vigo currently in development commercial product first development project startup manufacturer fail battery prices will continue to fall motorcycle 21 kWh battery quoted price range adjusted inflation likely to be possible within a few years top speed range specs specifications better than Zero SR ZF13.0 Eco Motorcycles Vigo Zero Motorcycles Zero SR ZF13 /
