Clean and Green Motorcycles on the Roads

Malaysians are set to ride on Green motorcycles beginning next year. The director-general of the Road Transport Department, Datuk Solah Mat Hassan said the Road Transport Act 1987 was being amended to exempt the requirement for the machines to have engine numbers before they could be registered.

The  rechargeable lithium battery-powered scooter to be known as the Penan, offers the same performance of a 125cc petrol-powered motorcycle.
One manufacturer, Eclimo Sdn Bhd, said its appointed assembler Naza Bikes Sdn Bhd would only begin manufacturing once the guidelines from the Road Transport Department (JPJ) were out.
Eclimo Sdn Bhd CEO Woo Kok Boon said the Penan, could travel up to 100 to 120km at an average speed of 50km/h when fully charged. It takes about three-and-a-half hours to fully charge the battery.The battery can be recycled at the end of its life span of about 100,000km for use in other applications.
Woo said a special feature of the motorcycle was its braking system which helped to recharge the battery.

The selling point of the motor­cycle would be that the maintenance cost is 50% less compared with a petrol-powered motorcycle as electric bikes do not need engine oil, air filter and spark plugs, and of course, petrol. The Penan will be priced slightly above RM10,000.


Meanwhile, Modenas, the national motorcycle manufacturer, will also be offering a battery-powered motorcycle, currently referred to as CTRIC. It comes with five batteries to power its 1kw motor. The battery also takes 3 1/2 hours to recharge. Modenas' s electric motorcycle is ready to be launched within the next few months.

The target market would be those who usually travel within 35km to 40km.

CTRIC, would be powered by sealed lead acid gel battery and could hit a maximum speed of 110kmh. Its selling price was expected to be below RM5,000.

Electric cars would be next on the agenda!