Mission
Motors One
The
Mission One will be the company’s first production stab at the world of
electric-powered superbikes. Boasting a claimed top speed of 150 mph and a
range of 150 miles on a full charge, the sportbike attempts to be the Tesla of
the motorcycle industry. Charging time will require less than three hours via a
220-volt outlet, achieving 80 percent capacity in just over an hour, or about
eight to ten hours using a standard 110-volt plug. Lithium-ion batteries—located
everywhere in the bike—will feed the liquid-cooled motor, which sits
approximately where the transmission mounts on a gas-fired bike and produces
more than 100 lb-ft of instant torque. The Mission One will be chain-driven and
will not contain a transmission, but rather a gear-reduction box. Adjustable
regenerative braking is also featured and will assist in extending the range by
about 10 percent, the company says.
As
the project remains in its early stages, much of the Mission One details are
still in the works. The company plans to manufacture its own tubular frames,
and while this prototype is constructed of steel, North says they are exploring
the use of aluminum. Even the materials used to construct the fairings are
still under development, but the goal is to use environmentally friendly
materials, making the bike 100 percent recyclable. The ever-important weight of
the bike is also undetermined, but North states the target is in the 400-pound
range, which would put it on par with some of the world’s top production
superbikes, such as the Suzuki GSX-R1000.
Because
this electric motorcycle doesn’t have a small inline-four pumping out 95
decibels as it screams to 12,000 rpm, many would ask if the riding experience
is hampered. North addresses this by stating that the adventure is best
described by a “state of flow” where the rider is not distracted by shifting
gears, vibration, or noise, but fully concentrated on the road ahead. However,
we’d sure miss the symphony between our legs when cracking the throttle open.
Also of concern is the lack of noise produced by the bike in regards to
motorists hearing it travel down the road. North argues that most accidents are
the result of drivers simply not seeing a motorcyclist. And in states where
lane splitting is legal, accidents are often caused by the action of a driver
confused about the direction from which the loud pipes are coming, something
the Mission One doesn’t have to worry about.
Producing
the bikes near its San Francisco, California, headquarters, Mission plans to
sell the first 50 in Premiere Limited Edition form at a cost of US$ 68,995. The
price is steep but the components used are some of the best in the world. The
Mission One will feature a full Öhlins suspension, Brembo brakes, and lightweight
Marchesini wheels, hardware all found on Ducati’s Desmosedici RR that stickers
at US$ 72,500. Deliveries will begin in 2010 and only an additional 250
non-Premiere bikes are scheduled for the first year of production. Whether or
not there is a market for expensive green-friendly sportbikes is yet to be
determined, but the concept is one we would like to experience.
