The Winners! DesignWerk ZeroTracer
United Nations European HQ, February 24th 2011. To the winners, the prize. Tobi Wülser (designer of the new MonoTracer shape for Peraves, way back in 2006) and his DesignWerk partner Frank Loacker, pose for the Swiss press photographer after receiving their ZeroRace winner's trophy; 30,000 kilometres around the world in 80 days in the all-electric, 100kW (130bhp) Brusa-powered ZeroTracer they built themselves. A superb achievement.
This machine uses a standard Peraves MonoTracer monocoque but many of the other chassis parts differ from the Peraves MonoTracers and E-Tracers, including the suspension and wheels which were sourced from a Triumph Rocket III. PNB
Photo: © Paul Blezard
2014 update: DesignWerk has since been involved with the building and conversion of all kinds of other electric vehicles, including buses and a classic round-shape VW Kombi van which is also known as a 'Samba' and a 'Bulli'. They have also built a second ZeroTracer.
This is the Design Werk website: http://design-werk.ch/
2015 Update. In June 2015, in Paris, Hubert Auriol, winner of the Dakar Rally both on BMW bikes (1981 & 1983) and in a Citroën ZX car (1992), and subsequently Director of the Dakar Rally for ten years (1995-2004) announced a new Zero emission race around the world in 80 days. It is scheduled to take place in 2017. For some reason he and his colleagues seem to think that this will be a first, whereas anyone involved with the 2010-2011 Zero Race knows different!
More information about the 2017 race here: http://80dr.com/80-day-race/
PNB
Photo: © Paul Blezard
Not even very expensive....
Noting that Mclaren have sold out their P1 supercar, a limited edition number (375 off) and a snip at £886,000, I wonder that some similar operation isn't offering this cheapo two-wheeler to the millionaires that can't afford a billionaires Mclaren.
It's not like there's anything mysterious about E-power now, road-certifiable systems are available off-the-shelf from Bosch, as developer kits. And that nice GRP shell was exotic ten years ago but now it's production vehicle stuff. I guess BMW might get a bit anxious about supplying the motorised bicycle bits, but there's nothing difficult there either - and better alternatives.
Is there a reason it isn't in showrooms with the Mclarens and Ferraris? This is an attractive high-end E-vehicle, Surely a Swiss-based 'super-FF' outfit like this can find a production partner?
Triumph, not BMW bicycle parts in the ZeroTracer
As I said in the original description above, this machine has mainly Triumph bicycle bits, not BMW. The same applies to its 'sister' machine, built since. PNB
Is that why there's no production?
Is that the answer to the question I actually asked? Brusa have gone with Triumph, not BMW and that's why there's no production? Knowing Triumph and BMW I can sorta see how that might work...
Would you like to expand on your answer above?
(sorry for picking up an old
(sorry for picking up an old topic?)
I'd say the it's not in showrooms (yet) for several reasons:
1) Lack of serial manufacturing (I understand Peraves went under a year or so ago).
2) Lack of desire in the market - millionaires don't want to have to gain a motorcycle licence, and are even more conservative than regular bikers (imho).
3) Lack of understanding in the market - the showrooms are car showrooms - they'll rarely have a bike in there unless it something truly exotic (which an Eco/Mono/Tracer is, yes, but it's an unknown exotic - it's not a race-winning Panigale).
March 2016 update & replies to Rockburner & RC
The story of the electric Monotracers is complicated, to say the least. The first Peraves-built one had a Brusa motor, as fitted to the only electric Ecomobile the year before, back in 2008. (See elsewhere in the Peraves images). The second, X-prize-winning Monotracer was fitted with an ACP motor, as were several subsequent electric Monotracers.
In the meantime Frank & Tobi stuck with Brusa for their RTW machine, which they built themselves around a standard Monotracer bodyshell, but using lots of Triumph cycle parts (but without any help whatsoever from Triumph). Then, having proved their machine's credentials, they built another one, so they could have one each!
Unfortunately, the first production electric Peraves Monotracer was 'kidnapped' for no good reason whatsoever by a deranged person who was somehow in charge of 'Homeland Security' at the LA port.
By the time it was finally released from captivity, 18 months later, the batteries were dead, along with any hope of selling to what had seemed a prime market: California.
1/Then, as Rockburner correctly states above, Peraves went bankrupt. So yes, the electric machines were never properly in series production.
2/ I agree that *most* millionaires probably don't want to be bothered with having to get a motorcycle licence, but plenty of them have one already, from Brad Pitt to Jay Leno and Jay Kay to Ewan McGregor.
I suspect that a single appearance on Jay Leno's Garage would generate plenty of serious interest.
3/ There's nothing about the Monotracer which a bit of well-placed marketing couldn't enable people to understand its appeal, and give them the desire to own one.
No, it's not a race-winning Panigale, but then again, you can't take two people and all their luggage on a Panigale in unrivalled comfort without having to stop for 500 miles (in the case of a petrol Monotracer) and 200+ miles for the electric version. However, there is another key barrier to overcome:
4/ Learning to ride a Monotracer with any degree of competence, even for the most mundane in-town manoeuvres, requires a whole new skill-set to be learned. Even when you already have a motorcycle licence, I liken it to learning to fly a helicopter when you've only flown a plane before. If you've only driven a car before, you have to learn to ride a motorcycle first, then move up to another whole level to drive a Monotracer. The 'twist & go' electric versions are a damn sight easier to drive than the petrol-powered ones with their foot clutch and push-button gearchange, but still a major half-tonne handful which many an experienced motorcyclist has failed miserably to 'get' even after several days of practice. Personally, I think that barrier could be turned into a marketing 'plus': "It doesn't matter how much dosh you've got, your money won't help you to learn to ride a Monotracer – it requires skill and determination!"
Finally, the good news is that electric Monotracers should be available again soon, this time fitted with a German electric motor. PNB