We don't cover electric two-wheelers much here at GreenCarReports.com. They're not cars, and while millions are sold each year in China, we don't see many of them in the United States.
But we thought it was worthwhile to note the launch of the world's first hybrid two-wheeler. We're not entirely sure whether it qualifies as a bicycle, a scooter, a moped, or a motorcycle, but we've given it the benefit of the doubt as a motorcycle.
On sale next May, the ET-120 comes from Eko Vehicles of Bangalore, India, which makes a range of electric scooters. It pairs a tiny gasoline motor of 70cc (that's .07 liter, or roughly 1/20th the size of the motor in the upcoming 2011 Chevrolet Cruze) with an electric motor.
Family transportation in India, by Flickr user Mircea Tudorache
Nonetheless, the ET-120 is said to offer the same power and torque as 120cc motorcycles, which make up more than half of the two-wheel market in India.
The ET-120 can operate in electric-only mode for more than 20 miles, running off its battery pack alone. Using the gasoline engine, it returns more than 100 miles per gallon.
When operating in hybrid mode, fuel consumption is quoted at an astounding 280 miles per gallon, three times the gas mileage of an equivalent gasoline two-wheeler.
Top speed is 40 miles per hour, probably as fast as you'd want to go. And the price is roughly $850, which is cheap compared to an electric bicycle. Eko says it hopes to sell the ET-120 in the U.S. next year.
[IndianAutosBlog, LiveMint, photo by Flickr user Mircea Tudorache]
