alta motors 'redshift' electric motorbikes

alta motors’ electric motorbikes are solely designed for weaving through city traffic

the first sketches of the alta motors ‘redshift’ electric motorcycles began in san francisco in 2007. since then, and with the help of experts in fabrication, engineering and design, the company managed to create two-wheel electric machines that are faster and more rideable than their gas counterparts.

the alta motors ‘redshift SM’

every component of the chassis and drivetrain is designed from the ground up to achieve maximum strength per pound. this allows alta motors to remove all extraneous material and assign most parts to many jobs, across different systems. that’s why the ‘redshifts’ can reach speeds of 137 km/h and have a range of up to 80 kilometers, which is ideal for urban environments.

the ‘redshift’ can reach speeds of 137 km/h

the ‘alta’ pack crams 5.8 kWh into 30.8 kilograms with a maximum of 350V. the battery team at the company spent three years developing and commercializing a suite of new packs in order to achieve the performance and safety riders demanded of an everyday bike. waterproof and durable, the system can also handle shocks and vibes up to 20G.

the front and rear views

each bike has a water-cooled 14,000 RPM motor which is pound-for-pound one of the most powerful in moto-sports. it’s optimized to the narrow width of the ‘redshift’s’ bulkhead and is located at the precise roll center of the bike. this placement allows for the lowest polar moment of inertia in motorcycling, drastically minimizing any gyroscopic impediment to handling.

the simply digital speedometer

freed from the challenges of a hot exhaust system, alta engineers have re-imagined the ideal subframe structure. the core is made entirely of ‘makroblend’ – a resin engineered for durability and comfort. this allows the whole bike to be compliant for rider comfort and to bounce back rather than bend or brake in a crash. to achieve a more efficient structure, the team designed a system of internal ribs and a stressed skin like an airplane fuselage. all together, the ‘redshift’ airframe tests at multiples of the strength of a standard aluminum or polymer subframe.

the narrow bulkhead allows the motorbike to slip past traffic