Mission Motors will probably remind you a lot of Tesla Motors. Except for one thing...it's missing a couple of wheels.
Mission is barreling down the path toward creating and selling the world's fastest production electric motorcycle. Electric drives lend themselves well to performance motorbikes for a few reasons. A smaller vehicle means that fewer batteries are needed to push it all down the road, and instant torque means that bikers are going to have a heck of a fun time driving them.
Of course, I've never really thought of performance motorcycling as an industry that we EcoGeeks really need to go after. I mean, yes, it's inefficient...but on the list of things contributing to global warming...it's pretty far down there.
Mission Motors' first bike, the Mission One, was unveiled this morning at the TED conference in Long Beach. The bike's unique design, 150 mile range and top speed of over 150 MPH has turned a lot of heads. I will admit that it's nice to look at (gallery below). I will also admit that the idea of traveling at 150 miles per hour while sitting on it sounds about as pleasant as licking an electrical outlet.
But if it sounds good to you, you can go reserve one now. Hopefully we'll be getting a chance to talk to Mission's CEO about their new bike later today, so stay tuned for that.
Full press release below.
America’s Newest Motorcycle Company, Mission Motors, Launches at TED2009
Mission One, World’s Fastest Production Electric Sportbike
Design by Yves Béhar & fuseproject
LONG BEACH, CA - February 4, 2009 – On February 4, Mission Motors will unveil a revolutionary new vehicle at TED 2009. The Mission One promises to be the world's fastest production all-electric motorcycle. Mission Motors CEO, Forrest North, along with lead designer Yves Béhar, founder of fuseproject, will present the vehicle in development onstage to the entire TED audience. Mission Motors will exhibit the vehicle throughout the conference at the Kohler LivingHome at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center, and will be on hand to discuss the company’s vision for a radically new brand of motorcycles. The company will also provide attendees the opportunity to see inside the product development process through the installation of a motorcycle design studio inside the Kohler LivingHome.
“The Great Unveiling,” the TED2009 theme, makes a fitting platform for the launch of Mission Motors’ first vehicle, the Mission One. It is the first production electric sportbike that features uncompromised performance and an iconic new design created by world-renowned designers Yves Béhar and fuseproject. With a top speed of 150 MPH and an estimated range of 150 miles, the Mission One rivals gasoline sportbikes while dwarfing the performance of any other electric motorcycle on the market. The electric drivetrain creates a riding experience unlike anything currently available on a production vehicle. The electric motor’s linear torque curve provides peak torque at zero rpm, a feature gasoline engines cannot match. The motor delivers faster acceleration than most gasoline sportbikes without ever having to shift gears.
The announcement formally debuts Mission Motors, a San Francisco-based company geared to redefine the world of performance motorcycles. The company was founded in 2007 by entrepreneurs Forrest North (CEO), Edward West (President), and Mason Cabot (VP of Engineering).
Building on their backgrounds in engineering, a desire to develop clean vehicles, and a passion for motorcycles, the Mission Motors founders developed a proprietary high energy lithium ion battery pack that could provide both the range and acceleration needed for a high performance sportbike. The company (named Hum Cycles at the time) placed second in the transportation category of the 2007 California Cleantech Open, the largest cleantech business plan competition on the West Coast.
“As a motorcycle enthusiast and engineer I knew I could combine my passion for motorcycles with my passion for innovation and create a motorcycle that truly sets a new standard in the perception of electric vehicles,” said Forrest North, Founder and CEO, Mission Motors. “With the Mission One, we’re writing the next chapter in motorcycle design, delivering a new riding experience without sacrificing performance or design in a zero emissions vehicle.”
With core engineering underway and an attractive business model, North and his co-founders turned to Yves Béhar’s fuseproject to create Mission’s unique brand and creative direction, as well as an iconic industrial design for the first product. The engineering team at Mission Motors and the design team at fuseproject worked in close collaboration to design the Mission One from the ground up, creating a machine that makes a bold statement about performance, technology, sustainability and design.
”This project was a dream come true: a statement about how design can make performance and sustainability come together without compromise,” said Yves Béhar. “I believe Mission is an icon for a new era of efficient and exciting vehicles. Designed to express speed and efficiency in it’s overall sharp lines, the Mission bike is also highly detailed with special attention to a riders needs, bringing a high level of product design and ergonomics to a new generation of performance transportation.”
About Mission Motors:
Mission Motors is building the fastest production electric motorcycle in the world. Headquartered in San Francisco, California, the company combines innovative technology, iconic design, and superb performance with the freedom of a zero emissions riding experience. Mission's elite team of engineers is creating the first motorcycle company built on the innovative spirit of the Silicon Valley. The concept is simple: Redefine the world of performance motorcycles. For more information on Mission Motors, visit www.ridemission.com.
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written by Jim, February 04, 2009
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written by Yamaha Dirt Bikes, February 05, 2009
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written by J, February 05, 2009
While high end bikes may not be a large contributor to global warming, I am reminded of a recent Mercedes add that mentions their racing heritage engineering influencing their regular auto development...so the influence may be broader than the high end sport bike market.
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written by MS, February 09, 2009
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written by Marty Mannering, February 11, 2009
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written by samantha, February 11, 2009
bring me a curvy girly bike for my short legs please! i want acceleration, who cares about doing ridiculuos speeds? stick to the speed limits people, thats what theyre there for. bring me the technology to convert my current bike into an electric monster and i will be even happier!!!
how do i make my bike more eco / environmentally friendly?
cheers
sam
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written by Ormond Otvos, February 11, 2009
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written by claude trichet story, February 26, 2009
Eesti-von Raivo Pommer--raimo1@hot.ee
L'euro poursuit son repli ce mardi face au dollar. Vers 18h45, un euro s'échangeait ainsi contre 1,32 dollar, après voir touché 1,3168 dollar, au plus bas depuis le 11 décembre. Lundi soir, un euro valait 1,3362 dollar. Les cambistes spéculent sur une probable baisse des taux européens à l'issue de la réunion du Conseil des gouverneurs de la Banque centrale européenne (BCE), ce jeudi à Francfort.
Face au ralentissement économique, l'institution présidée par Jean-Claude Trichet devrait opter pour un nouvel assouplissement monétaire. La majorité des économistes parient sur une baisse de 50 points de base du taux directeur européen, qui serait ainsi ramené à 2%.
La tendance baissière de la devise européenne est par ailleurs renforcée par les craintes sur la dette de plusieurs gouvernements de la zone euro après que l'agence de notation Standard & Poor's a placé la note de la dette à long terme de l'Etat espagnol sous surveillance négative. Cette dernière pourrait ainsi perdre son rang "AAA".
De son côté, le billet vert a été soutenu par les propos de, Ben Bernanke. Le président de la Réserve fédérale américaine qui a estimé mardi que son institution disposait encore "d'outils puissants" contre la crise.
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written by podstam, March 01, 2009
von raivo Pommer-raimo1@hot.ee
Damit wurde ein Streik abgewendet. Arbeitgeber und Gewerkschaften einigten sich am Sonntag in Potsdam nach schwierigen Verhandlungen auf ein kompliziertes Tarifpaket. Nach dem bis Ende 2010 geltenden Tarifvertrag steigt das Einkommen der Tarifbeschäftigten zum 1. März 2009 zunächst um 40 Euro und dann um 3 Prozent. Am 1. März 2010 gibt es nochmals 1,2 Prozent mehr. Für Januar und Februar dieses Jahres wurde zudem eine Einmalzahlung von insgesamt 40 Euro vereinbart. Die Auszubildenden erhalten am 1. März 60 Euro und ein Jahr später auch 1,2 Prozent.
Der Vorsitzende der Tarifgemeinschaft deutscher Länder (TdL), Niedersachsens Finanzminister Hartmut Möllring (CDU), sprach von einem fairen Kompromiss und zeigte sich erfreut, „dass wir uns ohne Arbeitskampf geeinigt haben“. Die Gewerkschaften hatten die Verhandlungen mit massiven Warnstreiks begleitet und bei einem Scheitern der vierten Runde Urabstimmungen angekündigt. Ver.di und die Tarifunion des Beamtenbundes dbb waren mit der Forderung von 8 Prozent mehr Gehalt für ein Jahr, mindestens aber 200 Euro im Monat in die Tarifrunde gegangen.
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FEB 04
"this bike has still a chain, an in-wheel electric motor would be bette..."
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