The eROCKIT is a light
electric motorcycle
Electric motorcycles and scooters are plug-in electric vehicles with two or three wheels. Power is supplied by a rechargeable battery which drives one or more electric motors. Electric scooters are distinguished from motorcycles by having a st ...
that is operated like a
bicycle. It is the first pedal controlled electric motorcycle, called Human Hybrid. In contrast to a
pedelec
A pedelec (from pedal electric cycle) or EPAC (''electronically power assisted cycle''), is a type of low-powered electric bicycle where the rider's pedalling is ''assisted'' by a small electric motor. However, unlike some other types of e-bike ...
, there is no direct
mechanical energy
In physical sciences, mechanical energy is the sum of potential energy and kinetic energy. The principle of conservation of mechanical energy states that if an isolated system is subject only to conservative forces, then the mechanical energy is ...
transfer from the pedals to the rear wheel. The vehicle is developed and produced by eROCKIT Systems GmbH in
Germany
Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG),, is a country in Central Europe. It is the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany lies between the Baltic and North Sea to the north and the Alps to the sou ...
under the direction of the managing director Andreas Zurwehme. The design of the eROCKIT is done from Konstantinos Heyer.
History
First prototypes were created in the alternative
Berlin
Berlin is Capital of Germany, the capital and largest city of Germany, both by area and List of cities in Germany by population, by population. Its more than 3.85 million inhabitants make it the European Union's List of cities in the European U ...
bicycle scene. eROCKIT Systems GmbH has acquired the brand and all rights to the vehicle and develops and produces the eROCKIT with a team of international two-wheeler experts in production halls in the town of
Hennigsdorf
Hennigsdorf () is a town in the district of Oberhavel, in Brandenburg, Germany. It is situated north-west of Berlin, just across the city border, which is formed mainly by the Havel river.
History
The municipality shared its borders with the for ...
near Berlin. Production is supported by the State of
Brandenburg
Brandenburg (; nds, Brannenborg; dsb, Bramborska ) is a state in the northeast of Germany bordering the states of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Saxony, as well as the country of Poland. With an area of 29,480 square ...
.
"We have set ourselves the goal of building the most interesting and the best electric motorcycle of the future," explains Andreas Zurwehme, the managing director of the eROCKIT Systems GmbH in an interview. Richard Gaul, former head of communications at
BMW, advises the company.
Technical details
To move the eROCKIT, you have to pedal, as there is no throttle installed. The speed of the vehicle is exclusively controlled by the pedals. A drive belt transmits the pedal rotation to a small
generator that both feeds electricity into the system and triggers current for the motor controller.
The rear wheel is powered by an electric motor, connected through an additional drive belt, which is also used as a brake recuperation system to return braking energy to the batteries. In addition to the recuperation system, the eROCKIT is equipped with a front and a rear disc brake.
The range of the battery charge is 120 km depending on user behavior. The vehicle has 3 selectable driving modes (Eco / Normal / Sport) that limits the power output and helps to save energy. The charging of the batteries takes place at a normal 110-230 V socket. Since the vehicle is licensed as a light motorcycle (vehicle class L3e) for
road traffic
Traffic comprises pedestrians, vehicles, ridden or herded animals, trains, and other conveyances that use public ways (roads) for travel and transportation.
Traffic laws govern and regulate traffic, while rules of the road include traffic ...
, a
driving license
A driver's license is a legal authorization, or the official document confirming such an authorization, for a specific individual to operate one or more types of motorized vehicles—such as motorcycles, cars, trucks, or buses—on a public r ...
of European class A1 is required.
See also
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Overengineering Overengineering (or over-engineering), is the act of designing a product or providing a solution to a problem in an elaborate or complicated manner, where a simpler solution can be demonstrated to exist with the same efficiency and effectiveness as ...
- act of designing a product to be more robust than often necessary for its intended use
References
"Unique electric bicycle launched"-
The News International
''The News International'', published in broadsheet size, is one of the largest English language newspapers in Pakistan. It is published daily from Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi/Islamabad. An overseas edition is published from London that cat ...
E-Rockit' hits German fast lane-
BBC News
BBC News is an operational business division of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs in the UK and around the world. The department is the world's largest broad ...
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Erockit
Electric bicycles