Types Of Eco-Friendly Motorcycles

Eco-friendly motorcycles are the newest effort of the motorcycle manufacturing companies towards realizing a carbon free environment. With the impetus coming from governments in nations world over the bike manufacturers have started pouring serious efforts to develop eco-friendly motorcycles. An eco-friendly motorcycle is nothing more than alternative fuel vehicle but it has many advantages over any other vehicle running on conventional fuels. By conventional fuels, we mean to say the fossil fuels like petrol, diesel, etc.

An eco-friendly motorcycle can include any dedicated, flexi-fuel or dual-fuel motorcycle. These motorcycles operate on at least one of all the types of alternative fuels available currently. The technology is still very nascent and will take some time to develop. Many large players from the motorcycle arena have plans to roll out hybrid or flexi-fuel models in the coming years. In the next few lines, we will discuss the available options or types of eco-friendly motorcycles as well as line up a few examples for you.

The most viable at the moment and highly discussed eco-friendly motorcycles are the electric or battery powered motorcycles. Many companies have also started commercial production of these motorcycles. United States based large scooter manufacturer has come up with a battery powered eco-friendly scooter called Maxi. Maxi has a top speed of 100kph and can run up to 110km at the speed of 40kph. This electric scooter delivers impressive performance. Enertia Bike is another example of electric eco-friendly motorcycle that is good for urban city commuters. The motorcycle has the top speed of 50mph and can run up to 45 miles after charging for three hours. The body of Enertia Bike is very lightweight made of carbon fiber chassis. However, the limits of battery technology are still holding these eco-friendly motorcycles from becoming a commercial success.

Hydrogen fuel cell motorcycle is another type of eco-friendly motorcycle under fast development. Suzuki, world-renowned bike producer, and Intelligent Energy has signed a deal to develop hydrogen fuel cell operated motorcycle. The Intelligent Energy has developed ENV motorcycle. ENV stands for emissions neutral vehicle. It uses hydrogen fuel cells. Next in line are hydrogen motorcycles that will use hydrogen directly rather than using hydrogen fuel cells. The idea originated from NASA using hydrogen as fuel in its space program's for hydrogen's superb qualities as a fuel. Water is the only by-product of these bikes and no harmful pollutants are produced. The look is also very stylish as vied by the bike riders with the body being sleek and compact. These eco-friendly motorcycles will need refueling once in every 100 miles only.

Hybrid motorcycles are also integral part of the green range of futuristic bikes. The currently available alternate fuels are liquefied natural gas, compressed natural gas, biodiesel, ethanol, methanol and biogas. Motorcycles that run on both alternative fuels as well as on traditional fossil fuels like gasoline are currently more popular. Only eco-friendly motorcycles can help reduce the carbon footprint and emissions significantly. Companies like Honda, Suzuki and Harley Davidson need to carry the endeavor together to bring an all-new technology to life to save the earth.