Designer Agility Global will accompany 16 other British cleantech companies to show off their wares in the US
(Pic: Agility Global)
The world’s first high-performance, electric motorcycle will be launched this December at the Clean and Cool Trade Mission in Colorado, US.
The Saietta R, which means ‘thunderbolt’ in Apennine Italian, is capable of achieving 0-60mph in 3.9 seconds, and will be one of the most energy efficient vehicles on the road.
Designer of the Saietta, Agility Global, London-based cleantech business has been selected amongst a handful of start-up companies to represent the UK in the Mission to showcase British innovation in green technology.
Agility CEO, Lawrence Marazzi said: “The UK is at the forefront in key areas of research and development that solve the global pollution and emission problems that larger cities face. Increasing levels of investment are channelling into the sector – this presents an obvious and significant market opportunity for businesses like ourselves to create tangible solutions to shape a more energy-efficient future.”
The uptake of electric motorcycles is increasing with the fastest growing market in Asia.
In 2010, the world produced 60 million motorbikes that ran on fossil fuel and 32 million electric and hybrid ones, with electric-powered models expected to close the gap by 2015, with both versions producing 70 million units each.
Marazzi said: “We have created Saietta R, a highly innovative, powerful and exquisitely finished urban sports motorcycle. Seductively powerful and aggressive, Saietta R is our flagship, next generation electric urban sport motorcycle. With huge, low-down power and understated cool, getting on Saietta is like riding a relentless wave of torque through the city.”
The Saietta needs charging only once a week to complete 112 miles per week, which is equal to crossing London three times.
The manufacturers of the Saietta said the control of speed and acceleration is exceptionally simple and intuitive needing only throttle control.
The motorcycle is set to launch in 2014, and is currently available for pre-order while a prototype of the Saietta R is currently on display at The National Motorcycle Museum, having previously exhibited at The London Science Museum.