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The Future of Motorcycling Arrives at National Cycle!
It's no secret that the automotive industry is in a scramble. Overlooking the market's desire and the world's need for fuel-efficient (and how about fun?) transportation, the giants in Michigan have been superseded by a foreign underdog. Leading this current of change is the Swiss engineering company, Peraves. Their alternative vehicles, the MonoTracer and the electric version E-Tracer, usher in a new era of the commuter car. Currently, the E-Tracer has made its home at National Cycle where it awaits the second round of judging for the Automotive X Prize and the $10 Million First Place finish money.
Early on, the president of National Cycle, Barry Willey, recognized Peraves' potential to revolutionize how Americans thought about driving: "Electric vehicles have been talked about for a long time. If they’re going to be a viable choice for the consumer, they cannot weigh two tons and be made of steel. We must take advantage of lightweight technology, and the E-Tracer does just that." In November of 2009 he traveled to Switzerland to test drive the MonoTracer himself. Soon after, his company welcomed the world's first high performance cabin motorcycle to the States and wishes it well at the X Prize Competition this summer.
The MonoTracer was unveiled at the 2007 Geneva Auto Show and in 2008 was declared by Time magazine as one of the best inventions of the year. It's not hard to see why. The completely handmade units aim to revolutionize the typical commuter vehicle. With a top speed of 155 MPH, a get-up-and-go BMW K1200LT engine, plus a 52-degree lean angle, the jet-inspired MonoTracer is impossible to dismiss. But here's the best part: the MonoTracer easily achieves over 50 mpg with a cruising speed of 75 mph for an outstanding 600 mile range.
If that sounds good, then get ready to have the dial turned up, because the E-Tracer delivers even more. Covering a distance of 150 miles on a single hour's charge, the fully enclosed cabin motorcycle packs a serious punch. With performance and function in mind, the E-Tracer boasts statistics like 300 MPG, 0-60 in less than 4 seconds and, to top it off, zero emissions. It's powered by 120kg of lithium ion cells that function at a 90% efficiency rate. Compared to modern cars that run at approximately 10% energy efficiency, the E-Tracers sits comfortably at the intersection between Green and Sexy.
Although the Peraves and National Cycle each have different manufacturing histories -- Peraves got its start manufacturing aerobatic competition airplanes -- their futures are aligning. With their common love for innovative, practical solutions, National Cycle and Peraves hope to revitalize the connection between the car and the motorcycle. What truly sets the MonoTracer and its electric twin E-Tracer apart is their ingenious stabilizing system. With the press of a button, the driver can deploy outriggers that serve to aid in difficult driving conditions like snow or dirt, and simultaneously bring confidence to the non-motorcycling crowd. The extra set of wheels appears in less than a half-second and retracts just as fast.
The future of transportation is bright in Maywood, IL, the headquarters of National Cycle. To be a part of the transportation revolution, visit www.21stCenturyMotoring.com and www.xprize.org. |
June 10, 2008
