Teens Invent Green Electric Motorcycle

Posted July 29th, 2007 by Lisa Zyga

Two teenagers from Ontario have built an electric vehicle modeled after a motorcycle, but with one major difference: there's no hand steering controls. Instead, the rider leans in the direction of desired motion, like a Segway, but with the coolness of a sports bike.

High schoolers Ben Gulak and Jason Morrow, both 18, displayed their vehicle at a recent Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Albuquerque. Besides being cool, the bike is also green. It produces zero emissions, and the inventors hope it will be used in cities due to its compact size.

Another advantage of the bike, dubbed the Tango, is that it's easy to ride. The vehicle has two wheels, located side by side, with a seat located above the wheels. The rider leans forward to move ahead, and to the right or left to turn the desired direction. With its R6 Yamaha sports bike frame and high speed of 40 mph, the feel is very similar to a motorcycle.

The bike uses the same technology used in Segways--and also Nintendo Wii remotes--to sense the rider's motion. Accelerometers, devices that measure acceleration, are used to detect the rider's location and control the wheels. When turning, one wheel lifts up and the entire bike tilts to the side.

The young inventors are currently trying to get interested investors to market and produce their bike, hoping that their product will be a benefit to society for transportation and fun.

Lisa Zyga
Science Blogger
InventorSpot.com

via: Canoe

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Comments

Nice, Great concept, I would

Submitted on July 31st, 2007 by Jim Lewellen (not verified)

Nice, Great concept, I would love to see some more photos of this and some possibly in action?

I would definitely buy one

Submitted on August 1st, 2007 by Anonymous (not verified)

I would definitely buy one with reasonable price tag about 3k.

Major concern

Submitted on August 1st, 2007 by Azzy (not verified)

I would be concerned that a software or accelerometer malfunction would have me eating dirt and getting a vehicular enema at the same time.

Cool idea, could be a neat toy... I'll stick to bikes with 2 wheels for now.

Oh, and the vehicle isnt "green" its just moving polution from one place to another. Bet my small CC motorcycles could create less polution than that does charging off of a coal fired plant.

Good luck with the patent

Submitted on August 1st, 2007 by Anonymous (not verified)

It will be very difficult to patent this invention, since the accelerometer was invented by someone else.
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It will be very difficult

Submitted on August 2nd, 2007 by Kabruhl (not verified)

It will be very difficult to patent this invention, since the accelerometer was invented by someone else

Did you think before making this comment or did you just grab it out of thin air.

Thats like Karl Benz saying OMG I have this great idea for an invention its called the car but I cant make it because someone else allready invented the wheel.

See My point.

Ever tried riding a Jet

Submitted on August 28th, 2007 by Fig (not verified)

Ever tried riding a Jet Ski?

The throttle is a small lever just over the grip handle. You squeeze it with one or two fingers to get going. The problem with this is that many times, especially when first starting to ride those fun things, you almost fall off, so you end up grabbing the handle (and throttle) harder, which makes staying upright all that more difficult. You DO get used to it, but it does happen every once in a while.

Where am I going with this? I just wanted to point out that some control methods (full body weight shifting for example) might feel natural and 'cool' like the Segway, but for continious use, some more direct form of control is needed.

I don't want to end up on the sidewalk (or off it) just because I'm trying to wave a bee off or because I'm staring at something as I'm going by.

And to these young teens, good job and keep it up.

~~Fig~~

PS For the guy calling this

Submitted on August 28th, 2007 by Fig (not verified)

For the guy calling this machine not 'green' I agree with what you said about small cc bikes might make less polution than coal elec. plant. The idea however IS green if there are alternative methods of generating elec. like wind, wave or solar power.

~~Fig~~