Mission Motors may be canceling its plans to produce electric motorcycles and instead focus on developing electric powertrains for other manufacturers.
According to a report from GigaOM, Mission Motors is no longer planning to produce the Mission One electric motorcycle. Without a production model to showcase, Mission may also stop development on the Mission R race bike (pictured above).
One of the most exciting, soul stirring moments of any motorsports event is when the high revving, fuel sucking machines respond in unison to the command, “Gentlemen start your engines!” On June 12, the sounds and smells of combustion engines will be replaced by the emission-free whizzing of electric motorcycles as they take turns rocketing through the legendary Isle of Man.
The Mission One motorcycle was unveiled yesterday at the TED2009 conference in Long Beach. The bike has 100 ft-lbs of torque (available at any speed or rpm) and will allegedly have a top speed of 150mph. Fully charging the lithium ion batteries takes eight hours and its range is said to be 150 miles. 50 bikes will be built and delivered early next year; for a cost of $69,000.
