Honda Working on Electric Motorcycle
01-02-2009, 07:07 PM
#1
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Honda Working on Electric Motorcycle
Honda announced today that it will be developing an electric-powered motorcycle, with sales of the bike expected to begin some time next year. The news will be pleasing for those of you who remember Honda's electric moped concept that was unveiled back in 2004 but failed to see production.
Honda's CEO, Takeo Fukui, stated in December that Honda was "developing a battery-powered electric motorcycle which emits no CO2 during operation". The decision to implement the technology in a motorcycle was explained by Fukui, who claimed that "the characteristics of a battery can be better utilized in the area of motorcycles, which are often used for short distance travel."
Fukui expects the electric motorcycle to be extremely popular in "newly emerging countries in regions such as Asia and South America", because "motorcycles are being used for everyday transportation" and that these markets are exhibiting "long-term and steady market growth". He did not mention whether or not the electric motorcycle would make it to American shores, however American-based electric motorbike company Vectrix has proven that the vehicles can be popular in the United States market.
Honda's plans to develop the electric motorcycle demonstrate the company's greater focus on volume products, especially following last year's dismal period for the automotive market for which Honda is expected to announce a profit of just 1.6 billion euros ($2.2 billion), almost three-quarters less than 2007's earnings. For this reason CEO Takeo Fukui is determined to refocus the company on where it excels - small, fuel efficient vehicles.
The fall in profit has also prompted the Japanese company to introduce drastic cost cutting measures, and late last year the company began looking for buyers for its Formula 1 team following poor race results and heavy expenditures. An early report that the team had sold to Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim Helu turned out to be false, and now Force India owner Vijay Mallya appears to be a front runner for the purchase.
01-03-2009, 02:12 AM
#3
Punk Rocker
Its such a shame that Honda was never able to recapture their F1 glory years from the eighties. Button and Barichello are no Senna and Prost, but Honda just doesn't seem to have the performance soul they used to. There used to be such pride at Honda in being on the cutting edge of performance but now all hey want to do is make four-wheeled appliances. The current group of bozos running the company would never have green-lighted the original NSX for example. It sucks because everything that made me love Honda growing up has been abandoned for the sake of crappy "green" cars with little regard for performance. Oh well.
01-03-2009, 11:13 AM
#4
Cocaine is a helluva drug
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Its such a shame that Honda was never able to recapture their F1 glory years from the eighties. Button and Barichello are no Senna and Prost, but Honda just doesn't seem to have the performance soul they used to. There used to be such pride at Honda in being on the cutting edge of performance but now all hey want to do is make four-wheeled appliances. The current group of bozos running the company would never have green-lighted the original NSX for example. It sucks because everything that made me love Honda growing up has been abandoned for the sake of crappy "green" cars with little regard for performance. Oh well.
01-03-2009, 12:12 PM
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Its such a shame that Honda was never able to recapture their F1 glory years from the eighties. Button and Barichello are no Senna and Prost, but Honda just doesn't seem to have the performance soul they used to. There used to be such pride at Honda in being on the cutting edge of performance but now all hey want to do is make four-wheeled appliances. The current group of bozos running the company would never have green-lighted the original NSX for example. It sucks because everything that made me love Honda growing up has been abandoned for the sake of crappy "green" cars with little regard for performance. Oh well.
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01-03-2009, 05:27 PM
#8
The sizzle in the Steak
Electric motorcycle?!?!
Honda
...because people have been screaming for an electric motorcycle alternative
and
about asia and south america markets....let's see what's easier to come by...gasoline or an electric outlet. 
Honda ...because people have been screaming for an electric motorcycle alternative
and
about asia and south america markets....let's see what's easier to come by...gasoline or an electric outlet.
01-04-2009, 01:21 AM
#9
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01-04-2009, 12:20 PM
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You'll Never Walk Alone
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I used to live in Asia and gasoline there was $$....but I don't know how people can charge their battery since most people live in apartment and I don't think they can park there bike inside their unit....unless the battery is detachable....
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