Zero Motorcycles is recalling all 2012 Zero S, Zero DS and Zero DSP (Police) motorcycles - cell pouches in the battery packs may wear from contact with the holders, allowing humidity to enter the pouch and cause an electrical short within the battery.
Alternet Systems of Dallas, Tx., has announced the formation of a new subsidiary to be called ReVolt Electric Motorbikes to produce Li-ion battery powered motorcycles for US and international markets. ReVolt has partnered with a manufacturing company to first produce a motorcycle based on the 1930s BMW R71 motorcycle with sidecar utilized by the German Army in WWII. The ReVolt classic electric motorbike with sidecar will be powered by an electric motor utilizing an Alternet Systems designed lithium battery solution.
Californian lithium-ion battery manufacturer Antigravity has had a huge reaction to news about its new “game changing” Re-Start battery technology (built-in jump starting feature thanks to what company president Scott Schafer describes as “intelligent on-board voltage monitoring that puts the battery to sleep before it is drained dead – retaining enough reserve energy allowing the rider to re-start and drive away.”
As Royal Enfield continues to spread its sales network and product lines for European and North American expansion, it is reported that the company is also making “considerable” investments to explore “a number of” electric motorcycle and related concepts.
As part of its Electro Mobility Strategy, BMW is investing €200m in a new “battery cell competence center” that will open in 2019 near its Munich headquarters in Germany. Among other objectives, the center will harness the group’s research so far into battery-cell development and production, the fifth-generation electric drivetrains (integrated electric motor, transmission and power electronics in a single component) that are slated for automotive debut in 2021, and Rare-earth-free electric motors and components.
Battery giant GS Yuasa is investing in a new lithium-ion SLI (Starting, Lighting, Ignition) battery assembly facility at Miskolc, Hungary, using lithium-ion cells made in Japan.