Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: e1pc, iphone, bike, electric, superbike | Themes: Smartphones, 3GSM
It's fast.
We’ve all been thinking what a great idea it’d be to fit an iPhone (or similar) into the palm rest of a notebook or other keyboard to use as trackpad/secondary display, but someone’s been thinking bigger – using the iPhone as the dashboard for a small vehicle.
Hell for Leather has a report on the MotoCzysz E1pc electric superbike, which uses an iPhone for all its instrumentation.
At this point it’s still unclear if the bike is running some sort of custom software and interface with the iPhone, or if it’s just a clever mix of the built-in GPS and accelerometer to provide location, speed and possibly other metrics like lateral G and acceleration.
The E1pc will be a part of the TTXGP, the world's first zero emissions road race, later this week. Enabling it to be a part of the race and a contender are 10 battery packs and three motors. Supposedly, the bike can reach 120 mph in seven or eight seconds.
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...but will it blend?
This is cool. Only downside seems to be what happens if you kill/loose your iPhone.
Very 'Star Trek'-y.
Imagine this guy TXT'n while driving.... Suicide.
Imagine this guy TXT'n while driving.... Suicide.
You apparently missed the last electric bike to be featured on Tom's. Here's a recap: They apparently don't need to be distracted by a text message in order to commit suicide on one. The owner was trying to do a burnout and ended up planting the bike in the side of a van, and taking a 20 foot excursion through the air before doing a faceplant on the asphalt.
I cannot stress this enough, do NOT increase the number of distractions to electric motorcycle operators!
You gotta admit though, the bike looks pretty slick.
Talk about your iPhone "crashing"... that could be very literal if it's doing any control of the engine like an ACTUAL engine computer would be doing.
Then again, it's an ELECTRIC bike so it probably only goes 30mph (or maybe faster but only for 10 minutes at a time before you have to plug it back into an outlet.)
Everything is cool about the bike less the iPhone.
that bike looks awesome! can i have it? D:
Apparently you didn't read the part "the bike can reach 120 mph in seven or eight seconds". Also, with an electric engine, it probally has enough torgue to pull any given Japanese superbike around the block a couple times.
and what happens when that iPhone locks up? It doesn't look like the power switch (for rebooting) will even be accessible. I shudder at the thought of running something on the iPhone that you depend on. btw, I have an iPhone and its a nice toy... its hard enough depending on the thing as a cell phone although that part could be the network but the phone does tend to start locking up after a week or two until it gets a reboot
What if mighty Jobs pulls the kill switch ?
what if mighty jobs pulls the kill swtich ?
That is a very big brick.
Officer, I know the light was red, but my iPhone said GO and I had to listen to it. It knows everything.
It looks heavy as f***.
I don't like it. Aprilia wins.
YouTube Video from mfg's website:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmSswrLbmgc
YouTube vid from mfg's website:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmSswrLbmgc
and what if someone decides to smash your screen, is it removable?
"the world's first zero emissions road race"
Can you back this up?
What about the international all solar races? Those cars reach 100 MPH still...
Last were through Canada and Australia if I remember correct...
"accelerometer to provide location, speed"
Ummm... No.
Would you honestly trtust in any fashion for the iPhone to give your even semi accurate readings for your velocity/accerlation? It's meant to detect you shaking it, nothing more...
Everything is cool about the bike less the iPhone.
Agreed.
Add a slice of pizza on the seat, that should make it even better.
DUDE I was kidding when I said they have an APP for that!!!
Can I swap the iPhone for a different device? Like a Blackberry or an Android device?
man that sounds like a wicked fun project to work on. the accelerometer can't be used to track speed accurately, just tilt and bursts of motion, so it would have to be connected to some sensors somehow. I don't think it would be that hard to have custom software, maybe even through the iphone OS, but I'm just guessing. I'd like to talk to the engineers who worked on this.