Take five students in their 20s at the University of Life Sciences in Oslo, Norway who are all studying machinery and product development or process technology.
Add in a desire to build something cool in a nation mostly lacking such an offering. What do you get? The brain trust behind Roskva Electric and its just unveiled carbon fiber electric motorcycle designed to go nice and fast.
The Roskva electric motorcycle, according to the designers, re-envisions this category space to offer up a greener two wheel ride they say makes use of a modern chassis, suspension and brakes to create “a machine in which the advantages of enviromentally friendly electricity are combined with pure riding experience.”
What does this mean exactly for them? Making use of a carbon fiber monocoque chassis for the body of the motorcycle, resulting in both “a dramatic weight reduction compared to conventional frame designs” and also “fewer components, thus reducing production costs and saving the environment.”
The end weight of the Roskva? Just 67 pounds, according to TreeHugger. I’ve also seen this weight being reported elsewhere as even less, but whatever the case, it is very lightweight for an electric motorcycle. Comparable examples would be Brammo, whose bikes are over 300 pounds, and Zero Motorcycles and its street motorcycles that have a curb weight in the 200s.
Of note as well on this innovative electric motorcycle design, besides the carbon fiber body, is the battery and electric motor which drive it. A 94 hp motor, tied to a lithium ion phosphate battery custom made for Roskva, offers a range of around 60 miles or so and a top speed of over 100 MPH.
Engadget points out that the Roskva at this point is still in prototype stage and there’s no word on whether or not it will ever actually enter production. Still, with a charging time said to be just ten minutes and the ability to hit 60 MPH in under four seconds, it is a very grand offering these engineering students are developing and something which could help nudge the nascent electric motorcycle space towards greater mainstream acceptance.
