KTM has revealed a radical new concept vehicle, a three-wheeled electric city car with a body made of plastic.

Designed as a compact, efficient urban transportation vehicle, the KTM E3W was created by KTM, the Austrian Institute of Technology design studio Kisha (as in Gerald Kisha, the KTM designer behind such models as the 1190 RC8R and 125 Duke.) The E3W has two wheels at the front with a single drive wheel at the rear. The E3W seats two people, entering the car through Lamborghini-esque scissor doors for easy access in tight parking spaces.

The KTM E3W is powered by a 15 kW electric motor paired with a lithium-ion battery. Plastic bodywork keeps the E3W light, with a total claimed weight of 1102 pounds. Range is said to be about 100 km (62 miles) on a full charge.

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Lightning Motorcycles has signed an agreement with lithium-ion battery company Ener1 to supply batteries for its electric superbike and an upcoming lineup of motorcycle and scooter models.

One of the first new production motorcycles is expected to be a street legal version of Lightning’s racebike, the inaugural TTXGP North American championship winner, and official AMA and FIM land speed record holder for electric motorcycles.

As part of the agreement, Lightning Motorcycles will also be a distributor for Ener1′s electric vehicle cells.

[Source: Ener1]

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Lightning Motors Sets Land Speed Record

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According to Honda’s head of motorcycle operations, Tatsuhiro Oyama, the lithium-ion battery powered motorcycle will target corporate customers which may include Japan Post and delivery companies, the bike will debut in Japan next year.

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With its lithium-ion power pack and handmade aircraft grade aluminum frame, it claims to be the fastest, lightest, cleanest and most fun electric motorcycle. You can read over all of the listed specs and features from their website, just too many to list here!

Check out the video of the Zero S on the track after the jump.

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Takeo Fukui’s speech this week was a bit on the gloomy side as the company adjusted its profit forecast by 67% in the wrong direction. Slumping auto sales and a sagging U.S. dollar were the main factors for Honda’s third profit forecast cut this year.

But Honda’s take on the motorcycle industry was much more positive (at least, if you overlook the status of its American road racing team). Two-wheeled Hondas are picking up the slack from their four-wheeled cousins.

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