Motor Bikes Running On Electricity

[bruceboy]

Thanks for the information. I'm thinking of buying one myself.

[swain]

Update us if you do, I would love to hear about your experience, the price, warranty information etc..

Thanks for the information. I'm thinking of buying one myself.

[m02]

Was just talking to a friend yesterday about electric bicycles. He has had one for the past two years and has put over 4,000 km on it. It has a 36 volt battery and he was looking at getting a power controller to hook it up to a solar panel he bought a while back. He loves it as he says he gets a lot of exercise while still having the ability to just cruise on the battery if he wants, or to help going up hill.

Apparently there is a growing business in Bangkok in second hand electric bicycles from Japan. I believe he said they are going for something like 5,000 baht. For just getting around without going out on the highway, an electric bicycle might be a good option to an electric scooter, especially if you'd like a little exercise.

btw: does anyone know if power/voltage controllers for solar battery chargers are available locally or from Bangkok?

[Greenside]

btw: does anyone know if power/voltage controllers for solar battery chargers are available locally or from Bangkok?

Try Amorn, by Icon Square computer plaza. They stock panels from time to time so may have controllers too.

Edited February 1, 2009 by Greenside

[tingtongfarang]

well tiger motor cycles have are also about to put an electric motcycle on the market, A guy who markets for them and already races these bikes told me the will have it on show and available for test rides at bitec very soon.

[m02]

btw: does anyone know if power/voltage controllers for solar battery chargers are available locally or from Bangkok?

Try Amorn, by Icon Square computer plaza. They stock panels from time to time so may have controllers too.

Thanks, I didn't know they sold panels.

[Greenside]

well tiger motor cycles have are also about to put an electric motcycle on the market, A guy who markets for them and already races these bikes told me the will have it on show and available for test rides at bitec very soon.

Which show at BITEC? I can't see anything scheduled that looks like an obvious showcase for bikes or electric transport and I'd like to go if there is one.

[Sparkles]

Some time ago I was considering buying an electric motorbike for the wife.

Visited several electric motorbike dealers.

The actual batteries have a life span of between 2 to 5 years depending on how often the batteries are charged.

None of the dealers stocked replacement batteries and suggested trying shops in the town.

I wasn`t impressed because I was concerned that it was going to be very difficult or impossible to purchase new batteries once they have reached the end of their service.

I think the dabblers have disappeared and left just the one guy but he's making a serious go of it and I'd be amazed if he didn't stock batteries too. Maybe time for a review?

Many thanks for the replies to my original post. Had no idea it would create so much interest. We will be off to see the CM dealer as soon as we can. The only other concern I have is that when we travel togther will the combined weight be excessive ? My wife is 40 kg but I am double that and 120 kg may be too much.If so its back to the Honda/Yahama traditional bikes its just that electric esems to make alot of sense if you are travelling short distances.

[Sparkles]

I am very disappointed that the Thai government or even the local authorities don't support electric bikes as the Chinese do. Go to a city like Kunming or Shanghai and (this was two years ago) something like 40% of the bikes on the road were electric reversing the trend of air and noise pollution* that had seemed on an ever upward spiral until recently. It was blissfully quiet and transformed the city centres - the only drawback being, as someone pointed out, that you had to watch where you were going or be run over. Furthermore they are extremely well priced with some starting at under 12000 baht. The powers that be seem to have done a good job promoting their use with relaxed license requirements and tax advantages as I understand it.

I saw them on sale in Laos at about 16000 baht so when I came to CM I got very enthusiastic about getting one only to find that there remains only one dealer and prices for the scooter type machines are almost on a par with the regular Honda and Yamama Waves and Mios. Someone told me that they are taxed the same as gas bikes on import but it's obvious that without support and incentives sales are going to be difficult here to say the least. Another issue is that until sales gain momentum, apartment owners aren't going to provide recharging facilities at ground level making the battery lugging scenario another reason to go for gas. As it is, people tend to overestimate their daily distance travelled - 40 to 50km would almost certainly cover most urban dweller's needs - but faced with a Wave or a Vestor each at 39,000 baht, Thais make the obvious choice: go for the one that makes the most noise.

These bikes really are the way of the future and can have terrific performance too. Currently (as with the cars) at the specialist high end of the market, machines like the Zero are starting to show that they can compete with the internal combustion engine with full acceleration available from standstill. Quantya looks pretty good fun for off road too (You Tube movie here). I'm fantasising about the day we have have a silent Doi Suthep Hill Climb competition.

There is, as far as I know, only one serious dealer in town and they stock a wide range of bikes branded Vestor. I'm told they're Thai but suspect they're assembled here from Chinese kits. The main dealer is a double fronted store about one kilometre down on the left hand side of the road as you head for the railway station from Narawat Bridge and they have a yard at the back where you can try one out. Prices start at 19,000. LA Bicycle stocks a few bike style models and so does the sports shop on the top floor of Kad Suan Kaew - they once stupidly encouraged me to ride one around the department! I noticed that JRD was featuring an electric Fino lookalike at the recent CM motor show so it's probably in their showroom now.

*Before anyone mentions it, yes the pollution may be simply shifted to a different place depending on the method of power generation but I think it's better out of the city whatever the outcome and hopefully increased demand will improve battery life and lessen the waste problems that brings too.

Well visted the Vestor dealer yesterday. Has 5 models priced from 19,800 baht up to 39,800 baht. Engine sizes from 300 W up to1200 W. For carrying one person I think they are terrific but ,in our case, where on most occasions we need one to carry both of us its not a goer. Max weight the salesman told us is 109 kg. I dont know how they arrive at that figure but thats the recommended. As well while I love my wife and she is very slim at 40 kg its would be a bit squeezy on the seat on at least 3 models.If anyone is interested there is a web site ww.vestor2006.com. Havn't looked at the site yet but would think its similar to the rather informative brochure we walked away with.

[Gravelrash]

It is amazing that the established manufacturers of combustion engines seem to be getting left behind by Chinese electric scooter co's (plus that Swiss one on the link) and attractive performance cars the likes of Tesler. Talk about not reading the market. There again look at the US car bailout, all that tax payers money down the toilet for dinosaur companies living in the past. But maybe electric shock therapy will work.

Reading this post seems the only real complaint about electric scooters is that they are too quiet, well at least that is a first for Thailand, never heard anyone complain about that before. Seems as usual the Thais are just as retro as the west taxing electric, presumably because they aren't made here. And why would they be if coming cheap already out of China, they are still a long way from off shore manufacturing. Never mind, Thai (and Western) cities have no pollution problems do they and love paying for imported oil, that is called political vision.

I think the electric scooters are great and will upgrade the g/f's Mio to one later, will be a great little local runner to have around, especially after the recession when the oil goes through the roof again. Lot of unhappy Arabs and Russians right now wanting to restart that gravy train.