Bolt Motorbikes
founder and CEO Dr. Nathan Jauvtis began commuting on a moped around the time
he first moved to San Francisco. He found the moped to be the perfect vehicle
for getting around the city – more speed and practical range than a bicycle but
cheaper than a car. Jauvtis formed Bolt with co-founder Zach Levenberg, a moped
enthusiast with world-record moped riding and Lit Motors engineering experience
under his belt. The two designed their own version of the moped, turning to
battery power and putting their own styling to it to create the M-1.While the
M-1's design is most similar to a moped, the company has been careful to keep
specifications within California's legal definition of a electric (motorized)
bicycle, thereby eliminating the need for a motorcycle license. The company
also keeps the design simple and bicycle-like in hopes of appealing to bike
riders looking for a light, electric form of urban commuting – in other words,
folks that might be intimidated by more powerful electric motorcycles like
those that Jauvtis helped develop at Zero Motorcycles. "If you can ride a
bicycle, you can ride a Bolt," the company promises.
Those looking for
that type of easy-riding city commuting will likely set the M-1 on
"economy" mode and never hit the switch again. It limits motor output
to 1,000 watts, optimizing range for up to 50 miles (82 km) of riding on motor
power alone. Speed is limited to 20 mph (32 km/h). No pedalling is required,
but for those that want to stretch their legs, the M-1's pedals are just
dangling there in waiting.
The M-1 also
features a computerized control system with passcode protection, USB phone
charger, and Bluetooth-connected mobile application. Its 1.7-kWh lithium ion
phosphate battery pack has a quick release for easier charging and fast-charges
to 90 percent in 1.5 hours. Bolt recommends using the home charger for 5-hour
"maintenance" charging to increase battery longevity. The bike weighs
140 lb (63.5 kg).Bolt says that it already sold out its first M-1 production
run and is currently taking preorders for batch #2 on its website. The M-1
lists in at US$5,495, [a high 3.51 lakhs by Indian rupees !]
Another article in
Claims Journal reports that thousand of Mopeds, Scooters are being registered
under new Indiana Law. It is stated that
vast majority mopeds and scooters, have been registered with the Indiana Bureau
of Motor Vehicles since a new law went into effect in January that placed more
stringent requirements on riders of two-wheel vehicles.Until now, no one knew
how many of these units were actually on Indiana roads. Lawmakers put in place
the new requirements so police can better enforce safety laws while also
tracking accidents and injuries. More than 17,000 two wheel vehicles were
registered with the BMV through the end of June, The (Fort Wayne) Journal
Gazette reported.
Under the new law, anyone
operating a moped has to be at least 15 years old and it has to be registered
with the BMV. The driver also has to receive an endorsement – but not a full
license – by taking a 25-question test focusing mostly on signs and signals.The
law does not require insurance, though riders younger than 18 must wear a
helmet. Passengers are also prohibited and the maximum legal speed is 35 mph.
Few months back,
there was this interesting article in Business Standard stating – ‘low-cost does not always mean low sales. The humble
moped, an almost forgotten, gearless two-wheeler, is now not only clocking
enviable monthly sales but readily beating much stronger motorcycle brands of
established entities.TVS Motor, the Chennai-based two-wheeler and three-wheeler
maker and the only one out of an earlier four that still makes mopeds, is
reaping rich dividends. According to
this report that appeared in Sept. 14, monthly sales of the 70cc two-wheeler have averaged slightly over
61,500 units this year, much higher than popular entry-level motorcycles such
as Bajaj’s Discover100 (35,000 units), the Honda Dream series (37,000 units)
and equally accepted scooters such as the Hero Maestro (38,000 units) or Honda
Dio (14,000 units).
At under Rs 30,000,
the TVS Heavy Duty Super XL is the cheapest petrol powered two-wheeler in the
country. Hero’s HF Dawn and the TVS
Scooty are two of the closest rivals to the moped.TVS is also busy developing
high-end performance-oriented motorcycles, in cooperation with German bike
giant BMW, slated for launch late next year. Yet, the Venu Srinivasan-led
company has simultaneously expanded its moped sales. Current sales are more
than double compared to seven years earlier.
The success of TVS’ mopeds is such that its moped sales are higher than
those of all its scooters or motorcycles. So ‘nammaooruvandi TVS XL’ is on the
lips again.
Velaiilla Pattathari
(Unemployed Graduate), popularly referred to as VIP, starring Dhanush, Amala Paul did well in 2014.
The music was by Anirudh. The film focussed
on a graduate who is unemployed for four years, and how he gets a job, whilst
successfully overcoming various obstacles before and after finding employment.
The hero loves his rickety moped which is presented throughout the movie.
With regards – S.
Sampathkumar
29th July 2015.
