Mar 29, 2017 | By Benedict

Milan-based motorcycle company Italian Volt has developed a customizable electric motorcycle with 3D printed bodywork, frame, and swing arm. The Lacama goes from zero to 62 mph in 4.2 seconds, uses Brembo brakes and Ohlins suspension, and can be charged in just 40 minutes.

In many car and motorbike communities, there is undoubtedly a stigma attached to electric vehicles. Too slow, too weak, and simply not the real deal is a verdict handed out by many petrol heads who, it seems, will need a lot of convincing to abandon gas for green. But with the US ready to embrace the dark ages by scrapping its climate change responsibilities and attempting to resuscitate its flagging coal industry, the need to embrace electric vehicles could be greater now than ever before. The question is: can electric vehicles actually perform on the road?

While electric vehicles generally can’t compete with their petrol-powered cousins in terms of speed or power, they can excel in other areas. Take the new “Lacama” electric motorcycle from Milan startup Italian Volt, for example. This new bike, which is built with 3D printed bodywork and high-end parts, performs reasonably well by your standard metrics: 94 (70 kW) horsepower, 208 Nm of torque to the rear wheel, zero to 62 mph in just 4.2 seconds, and a top speed of 112 mph. But it’s in other areas where the bike really starts to impress.

Undoubtedly inspired by the pioneering work of electric car manufacturer Tesla, Italian Volt has made efficient charging of its new electric motorcycle a top priority. A TFT touchscreen display allows riders to easily monitor battery status (as well as keep tabs on location, performance profiles etc.), while a special “fast charging” process can recharge the bike to 80 percent in just 40 minutes. (On a standard mains outlet, a full charge will take around three hours.)

Things get even more exciting when you take a look at how the Lacama is made. Why? Because you, the customer, get a huge amount of input in the whole process. Since many of the motorcycle’s aluminum parts are made with a 3D printer, riders can ask Italian Volt to tailor the vehicle to their own specifications. The 12 parts that make up the bike’s body can all be customized in terms of shape and color, giving riders huge scope to make the Lacama their own.

Of course, the danger of the Lacama being both electric and 3D printed is that some may see the bike as a novelty product. While it’s hard to offer any definitive evidence for a vehicle’s “authenticity,” the non-printed equipment going into the vehicle is of a reputable nature. The distinctive motorcycle has been fitted with Brembo brakes and Ohlins suspension, giving it a certain degree of brand association that will help to placate skeptics.

Italian Volt, established just last year and based in Milan, is aiming to become the “next big thing in the motorcycle market.” Nicola Colombo, one of its three founders, holds a Guinness World Record after riding 7691.94 miles from Shanghai to Milan on an electric motorcycle.

Italian Volt Lacama specifications:

  • 0% to 80 % full charge in 40 minutes
  • Torque: 208 Nm
  • Acceleration: 0-100 km/h 4.6 sec
  • Range: 200 km approx
  • Max Speed 112 mph / 180 km/h
  • Gross weight 245 kg
  • Battery capacity up to 15 kWh

 

 

Posted in 3D Printing Application

 

 

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Ralf wrote at 3/31/2017 7:49:55 AM:

A standard 400ccm scooter putts well over 300Nm on the rear wheel, so 208Nm is not very impressive. I think thhey forgot the gear ratio.

Colin L. Cini wrote at 3/30/2017 1:34:22 PM:

How is the electricity that is used to charge the battery produced?



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