South Korea to develop high-performance electric motorbike

South Korea plans to develop a commercially viable, high-performance electric motorbike by 2013 as part of its effort to reduce energy use and contribute to exports, the government said. The Ministry of Knowledge Economy said a local consortium, led by Daelim Motor Co., is to undertake the project and receive a government fund of 7.84 billion won (US$6.9 million) for research and development over the next three years. The consortium, which will include LG Innotek and Sunkyunkwan University, plans to give the bike handling characteristics similar to a conventional 110cc gasoline engine motorcycle. Kim Sung-chil, head of the ministry’s automobile division, said the new bike is projected to weigh 140 kilograms, have a top speed of 80 kilometers per hour and travel 70 kilometers on a single recharge. (May 3, 2010)