View Full Version : Mission Motors (formerly Hum Cycles)
Greentech Media | Hum Cycles Raises Angel Funding (http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/hum-cycles-raises-angel-funding-955.html)
Sources say small angel firm One Earth Capital is putting money into the startup founded by Tesla Motors engineers.Hum Cycles (http://www.humcycles.com/)
Hum Cycles, which was a runner-up (http://www.cacleantech.com/resources.php?page=2007finalist_HumCycles) at the California Clean Tech Open in October, was founded by former Tesla employee Forrest Deuth and others.
Hum Cycles is the first production electric motorcycle to rival any gasoline sportbike. More importantly, the motorcycle and the company will be at the cutting edge of environmental sustainability. Hum Cycles is designed from cradle to cradle with recycled and recyclable materials, is non-toxic and amazingly efficient.
motorcycles: Test riding a prototype all-electric motorcycle (http://community.livejournal.com/motorcycles/2514619.html)
Thats cool.
Another bay area eCycle company is Electric Motorsport (http://www.electricmotorsport.com/)
Forrest:
Forrest Deuth - LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com/pub/3/A86/531)
sez.so (http://blog.storybridge.org/2008/08/predictions-on-this-blog-have-talked.html)
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Pa8h8LGWMmE/SLZLn_Hjp3I/AAAAAAAABKQ/cdPqXf3jxos/s1600/hum.png
...
I met with Forrest Deuth, and Jit Bhattacharya - two young guys looking very pleased with themselves - and a small crowd of onlookers to see the new Hum prototype in the flesh.
Deuth - an alumni of Tesla motors - was careful to elaborate that this prototype would vary in many ways from their final product.
But still some of the most obvious features that the prototype has that we're likely to notice in the real thing are that which are missing: no clutch handle, and no gear shifter by the left footpeg. It makes the left-hand side of the bike look decidedly bare.
...
Just noticed that ABG had picked this up.
Ex-Tesla employee electric motorcycle prototype gets driven - AutoblogGreen (http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/08/20/ex-tesla-employee-electric-motorcycle-prototype-gets-driven/)
domenick
02-04-2009, 11:01 AM
Mission Motors, formerly known by their stealth name of Hum Cycles, has just broken cover (http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/02/04/mission-one-explodes-out-of-stealth-at-150-mph/) and unveiled their electric motorcycle. 150 mph top speed. 150 mile range. Very hot.
graham
02-04-2009, 11:21 AM
From the article:
The first 50 bikes produced will be a special Limited Edition model delivered in 2010 bearing a $68,995 price tag, while a standard, more affordable Mission One will be announced this summer.
Wow! I wonder what the standard price will be.
Kevin Harney
02-04-2009, 11:23 AM
Too bad it is not affordable !!!! :frown:
me likey
Greentech Media | Mission Motors: The Need for Electric Speed (http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/mission-motors-the-need-for-electric-speed-5658.html)
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/02/mission-front_main_opt.jpg (http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/02/mission-front_main.jpg)http://www.greentechmedia.com/greentechmedia/cms/MissionMotorsTheNeedforElectricSpeed_medium_image3_1884.jpg (http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/02/mission-rear-3-4.jpg)
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/02/mission-side-shot_opt.jpg (http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/02/mission-side-shot.jpg)
domenick
02-04-2009, 11:49 AM
Mission Motors very nice website. (http://www.ridemission.com/)
flabby
02-04-2009, 12:19 PM
Me Wanty!!!:biggrin:
Hope the price goes down quickly. $68,995 is a heafty price for a motorcycle.
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/02/mission-side-shot_opt.jpg (http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/02/mission-side-shot.jpg)
stephttp://www.sportbikez.net/bikepics/110/medium/1103301504.jpg
http://artect.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/monotracer01.jpg
http://www.osmos-wheel.com/images/galerie/intersection_076.jpg
You might see some old friends and familiar faces:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDuNTrukIgk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsBtgxfBVt0
The preview image above is at the Stanford Oval. I recognize this red-headed dude; he used to be in EE.
Kevin Harney
02-04-2009, 12:27 PM
Me like the the white one fully enclosed.
Testimonials scare me. The worst movies aways have people coming out of the theater saying how good it was. Those are the movies to avoid!
WarpedOne
02-04-2009, 12:47 PM
This image says it develops about 140HP max:
http://www.ridemission.com/images/the_mission/the_mission_chart1.jpg
Not shabby at all.
http://www.ridemission.com/images/model_page/glimpse/Mission_One_Back.jpg
http://www.ridemission.com/images/model_page/glimpse/Mission_One_Gauges.jpg
Any mention of how much it weighs? How does it's mass compare to that of a standard sport bike?
I like this feature:
Real Time Data Acquisition
The Mission One's data acquisition feature allows riders to capture ride data in real time. Riders can record ride data, such as speed, location, or lean angle; or bike data, such as motor current, battery voltage, or efficiency. Riders can take that data to their computer to analyze their performance, brag to other riders, or prepare for their next ride.
Plus, "The Mission One also allows riders to tune their regenerative braking to fit with their riding style. "
Electrifying Motorcycles - Forbes.com (http://www.forbes.com/2009/02/04/electric-motorcycles-tesla-technology-breakthroughs_0204motors.html)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3390/3253747157_5a41861f78.jpg?v=0 (http://flickr.com/photos/wa-j/3253747157/in/set-72157613335682399/)
OK, so now we know why Jeremy left TM...
And Martin shows up in the video!
I am getting a little choked up about this product.
The design is bold, different, and intriguing.
The testimonials from the prototype drivers are compelling (in spite of what vfx said).
Now, about that price... gulp...
Too bad they are launching into such lethargic economic conditions right now.
dpeilow
02-05-2009, 11:14 AM
First electric motorbike, the Mission One, launched | Environment | guardian.co.uk (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/feb/05/electric-motorbike-mission-one)
By appearing in the video, seems a rumor starts that Martin is part of the new company. ( Or was it just a guest comment he made )
EVcast #170: How NOT To Sell An Electric Car (http://www.evcast.com/members/evcast/blog/RATE+00000001+00000188+5)
Martin Eberhard is coming out with his new EV company, electric superbikes this time, ... update: Eberhard is not listed on the co. webpage
Rescue Detroit Tesla Founders Blog (http://teslafounders.wordpress.com/2008/12/04/rescue-detroit/#comment-5145)
Martin, do we read the situation correctly, that you are co-founder of that new e-superbike startup?
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/02/mission-front_main.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/02/mission-side-shot.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/02/mission-rear-3-4.jpg
dpeilow
02-06-2009, 12:03 AM
On a Mission and Going Green, Very, Very Fast. (http://www.redherring.com/blogs/25810)
I wonder if this will use the Tesla charger?
Electric Motorcycle Promises 150 MPH | Autopia from Wired.com (http://blog.wired.com/cars/2009/02/mission-motors.html)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3420/3256447115_1b83803355.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffclavier/3256447115/sizes/l/in/photostream/)http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3109/3256449239_2bf5edd64e.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffclavier/3256449239/sizes/l/)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3404/3257278050_e51f1a70be_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffclavier/3257278050/sizes/l/)
Martin clarifies his role (http://teslafounders.wordpress.com/2008/12/04/rescue-detroit/#comment-5145):
No, I am only an adviser to the company and a friend of Forrest’s. I am not allowed (by Domestic Management) to ride a motorcycle, so it would make no sense for me to work on developing one http://s.wordpress.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif
Martin reports in from TED (http://teslafounders.wordpress.com/2008/12/04/rescue-detroit/#comment-5149):
I am at TED right now (That’s why I am so quiet this week), and I got to see the bike for the first time yesterday. I have not yet made my mind up about the styling. My informal take on other people’s reactions here is ... it’s somehow not hitting the right emotional chord.
domenick
02-08-2009, 12:19 AM
While it may not be hitting the "right emotional chord" with TEDsters, the people who test drove the prototype are humming a nice tune.
Perhaps it's a mixture of the unorthadox styling mixed with the fact that most TEDsters aren't two-wheel enthusiasts.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsBtgxfBVt0
By the way, Doug posted that same video already in this topic a little while ago (http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/electric-cars/1203-mission-motors-formerly-hum-cycles.html#post20669).
domenick
02-08-2009, 01:35 PM
Oops, I just fixed my broswer (can't run adblock and adblock + at the same time) so I can now see the embedded video. I also wanted to try out my newly re-discovered-thanks-to-vfx video embaedding skills. Now if I can get my sound to work, I could listen to them as well.
shark2k
02-08-2009, 01:44 PM
should have used Google first.
-Shark2k
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3306/3284863971_21d22fef1e_b.jpg (http://flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/3284863971/sizes/l/in/set-72157594207153221/)
Mission Motors: Battery Tech Holds Key to Mass Market Earth2Tech (http://earth2tech.com/2009/02/19/mission-motors-battery-tech-holds-key-to-mass-market/)
A Mission to Build the Fastest Electric Motorcycle - Wheels Blog - NYTimes.com (http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/19/fastest-electric-motorcycle/)
Mission Motors was founded in San Francisco in 2007 by three engineers: Forrest North, who was a battery engineer at Tesla Motors, Edward West and Mason Cabot. The design was the work of Yves Behar (http://www.designboom.com/eng/interview/behar.html) of Fuseproject (http://www.fuseproject.com/), noted for his work on the One Laptop Per Child (http://laptop.org/en/) program. Mr. Behar took advantage of the absence of a gas tank to reshape the motorcycle, using a honeycomb skin.
Sound like a world changer? Here’s the fine print (located above the online reservation form): “We are now accepting reservations for the Premier Limited Edition of the Mission One, limited to 50 numbered units to be delivered in 2010 … The deposit amount is $5,000, and the sales price is $68,995.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RddVPihtJw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxeOWlJ-CI8
flabby
03-02-2009, 05:49 AM
Does anyone know the address for Mission Motors? I can't seem to locate it. I would like to go check them out sometime.
graham
03-02-2009, 06:30 AM
According to their membership agreement PDF:
http://www.ridemission.com/mission_model/Mission%20Motors%202010%20Membership%20Fee%20Agreement.pdf
Their address is:
Mission Motor Company
Sales Department
P.O. Box 422817
San Francisco, CA 94142
Edit to add: But of course, I see that you were really looking for a street address, not a P.O. Box. The best I have been able to come up with is a bunch of articles which mention an office on Mission Street in San Francisco.
http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/353/2498/Motorcycle-Article/Mission-One-Electric-Superbike-Revealed.aspx
Formerly known as Hum Cycles, Mission Motor has rebranded with the debut of its new design, taking its name from its office location on San Francisco’s Mission Street.
Start-ups are racing to get electric motorbikes to market - Los Angeles Times (http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-electric-bikes17-2009mar17,0,4786529.story)
http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2009-03/45608706.jpg
"It's amazing how inefficient the vehicles we're driving today really are," said Forrest North, founder and chief executive of Mission Motor Co., a San Francisco company that unveiled the prototype for its 150-mph, 150-mile-range electric motorcycle at the Technology, Entertainment, Design conference in Long Beach last month. "Electricity is just so many orders of magnitude more efficient that it's the only way to go," said North, a former mechanical designer for Tesla and leader of Stanford University's solar car team in the mid-1990s.
Like many EV entrepreneurs, North, 33, had looked into hydrogen and biodiesel as power sources but found them impractical. Hydrogen is abundant, but turning it into fuel and developing a distribution infrastructure are costly. Biodiesel can take more energy to produce than it generates.
With electricity, the infrastructure already exists: Electrical outlets are abundant. Battery technology is also improving about 8% each year, North said, allowing bikes to easily upgrade once the chemistry comes along. Already, electric two-wheelers get the equivalent of about 300 to 500 miles per gallon. As technologies improve, they'll be able to generate even more energy with less weight and cost.
Billed as "the world's fastest production electric sport bike," Mission's debut product is called the Mission One. It is scheduled to ship in early 2010, at an estimated retail price of $68,000 -- most of which is attributable to a large lithium-ion battery pack designed to compete with a gas-powered, performance-oriented sport bike.
Spy Shots: Mission Motors TTXGP entry snapped at Infineon (http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/04/28/spy-shots-mission-motors-ttxgp-entry-snapped-at-infineon/)
http://blog.ttxgp.com/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=36&blogId=1
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/04/mission_testing_2.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/04/mission_infineon_2.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/04/infineon_carosel2.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/04/mission_testing.jpg
I'd like to see the video from all those little cameras on the bike.
VIDEO: Mission Motors smooth out fairing, optimizes performance - AutoblogGreen (http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/05/24/video-mission-motors-smooth-out-fairing-optimizes-performance/)
Mission Motors: Blog Mission One - Ready to Race » (http://ridemission.com/blog/2009/05/ready-to-race/)
http://ridemission.com/blog/wp-content/gallery/2009-05-14-road-test/roadtest__2.jpg
http://ridemission.com/blog/wp-content/gallery/2009-05-14-road-test/roadtest__5.jpg
http://ridemission.com/blog/wp-content/gallery/2009-05-14-road-test/roadtest__4.jpg
http://ridemission.com/blog/wp-content/gallery/2009-05-14-road-test/roadtest__1.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTwNqZqx7RQ
Exclusive Video: Mission One Electric Motorcycle Hits the Track | Autopia | Wired.com (http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/06/mission-one/)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1BHo3fYzJc
The Mission Motors TTXGP entry bike:
http://blog.ttxgp.com/gallery/1/DSC_2140_2.jpg (http://blog.ttxgp.com/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=57&blogId=1)
http://blog.ttxgp.com/index.php?op=ViewArticle&articleId=57&blogId=1
Gosh it looks so much more conventional now without all that honeycomb/ birdcage bodywork exposed.
It's a race. Aero trumps styling.
domenick
06-09-2009, 01:02 PM
Mission didn't finish in the top three of the first practice run, but unlike some others, they made it all the way around te track. They'll be turning up the juice a bit tomorrow.
I think Team Agni finished first today followed by Brammo and Brammo
http://web2.twitpic.com/img/11733357-27c7030d1bbf85b6d07e9e582862acb3.4a2ebf75-full.jpg
p.s. Bike looks better now that it's properly assembled with decals etc.
Mission Motors' TTXGP race bike unveiled - AutoblogGreen (http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/06/09/mission-motors-ttxgp-race-bike-unveiled/)
One thing's for certain: this race bike isn't quite the looker that Mission's upcoming street bike will be. The oversize (presumably to cover an absolutely massive battery pack) and aerodynamically-optimized fairing is surely meant to increase the bike's speed through the mountain course at the Isle of Man, but it doesn't really help the machine's looks any. Naturally, all of that will be forgiven if the team manages to win the race.http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autobloggreen.com/media/2009/06/mission_ttxgp_panels.jpg
domenick
06-10-2009, 07:02 AM
My pic link isn't good anymore. Some of my info is bad in that post re Brammo as well. ABG will have a full TTXGP update later today.
BBHighway
09-15-2009, 05:21 AM
Established a new speed record of over 150 MPH, pops wheelies at 80. :biggrin:
Mission Motorcycles passes 150 mph milestone, sets record at Bonneville — Autoblog Green (http://green.autoblog.com/2009/09/15/mission-motorcycles-passes-150-mph-milestone-sets-record-at-bon/)
They are planning first deliveries next year. Seems to me like a perfect compliment to the Roadster. I didn't see any mention of the price.
efusco
09-15-2009, 05:26 AM
150 mile range is extremely impressive.
From their web site (http://www.ridemission.com/):
We are now accepting reservations for the Premier Limited Edition of the Mission One, limited to 50 numbered units to be delivered in 2010. Complete the form below and a Mission Motor Company sales representative will contact you shortly. Download the reservation terms and conditions. The deposit amount is $5000, and the sales price is $68,995. For answers to common questions, please read our FAQ.
Some of us will remember Jeremy from when he worked at the Menlo Park Tesla store.
Autoblog Green (http://green.autoblog.com/gallery/mission-motors-at-bonneville-salt-flats/#2)
http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/09/missionmotors-bonneville1.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2009/09/missionmotors-bonneville11.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7xinT2YYxA
Startup Mission Motors’ Electric Superbike Breaks Speed Record — Now What? (http://earth2tech.com/2009/09/15/startup-mission-motors-electric-superbike-breaks-speed-record-now-what/)
Mission Accomplished: Electric Motorcycle Hits 150 MPH | Autopia | Wired.com (http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/09/mission-one-bonneville/)
http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/autopia/2009/09/mission_one_bonneville.jpg
Nothing new here, but NYT is good exposure for them:
Electric Motorcycle Sets Speed Record - Wheels Blog - NYTimes.com (http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/16/electric-motorcycle-sets-speed-record/)
Electric Motorcycle Sets Speed Record - Green Inc. Blog - NYTimes.com (http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/16/electric-motorcycle-sets-speed-record/)
flabby
09-27-2009, 10:47 PM
I apologize for being so late getting these up. These are photos of the July 30th TTXGP Invitation held at Mission Motors (2255*3rd*St,*San*Francisco).
Mission motors
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3434/3890631962_88db92201a.jpg
Design progress. The diamond design was used as a design element to match the type of batteries used, I was told. They are no longer using the same type of batteries, and so will probably get rid of the honeycomb design. At the time I took these photos, they had only one prototype.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2577/3890628958_e982635c55.jpg
The shell used for the race.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2617/3889835411_ce6578a5d1.jpg
The sole prototype.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2465/3889832525_4481b2431f.jpg
The rider of the bike during the TTXGP race, Tom Montano.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2448/3889837969_fe7f8830c5.jpg
flabby
10-10-2009, 11:15 PM
Mission Motors: Blog Introducing The Neiman Marcus Mission One » (http://ridemission.com/blog/2009/10/introducing-the-neiman-marcus-mission-one/)
http://www.neimanmarcus.com/category/christmasbook/NMO4433/NMO4433_mp.jpg
http://www.neimanmarcus.com/category/christmasbook/NMO4433/NMO4433_mp.jpg
Mission Motors -- the World's first Electric Superbike on Vimeo (http://www.vimeo.com/6952429)
Tradition Is Not A Business Model: Mission Motors (http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/oped/tradition-is-not-a-business-model-mission-motors/)
“The electric motorcycle provides for some new experiences. There are some that are focused on the track, like traction control, launch control, and really the feel of the motorcycle. I think that there is some technology that we’ve developed around the battery, the motor, and the controller, that is really the elegance of the whole system that is important to the end user. There are some bells and whistles that you can have above and beyond what the rider is used to, but just to start off with the electric motorcycle is so much easier to use. When you get on it, you are directly connected to the road, and you can control how you accelerate/de-accelerate almost infinitely.”http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/wp-content/gallery/tradition-is-not-a-business-model-mission-motors/tradition-is-not-a-business-model-mission-motors-6.jpg
domenick
12-17-2010, 05:09 AM
Mission Motors has a new bike, the Mission R (http://green.autoblog.com/2010/12/15/mission-motors-reveals-race-ready-mission-r/). As in, R for race! Very sweet, nicely packaged. I like how it just squeaks under the TTXGP weight limit.
Definitely looking forward to video of this one testing at Infineon.
http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/mission-motors-mission-r-630.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/mission-r-left-side-power-u.jpg
flabby
12-17-2010, 01:30 PM
Mission Motors also supplied some electric innards to Honda Performance Development for a race version of the Honda CR-Z.
http://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2010/12/06/honda-tests-hybrid-endurance-in-25-hour-race/?utm_source=General+Newsletter+list&utm_campaign=c147ac8632-12_17_10_newsletter12_15_2010&utm_medium=email
http://green.autoblog.com/2010/11/10/missionevt-hybrid-components-appear-in-high-performance-honda-cr/?utm_source=General+Newsletter+list&utm_campaign=c147ac8632-12_17_10_newsletter12_15_2010&utm_medium=email
Peek Inside Mission’s Electric Superbike - Wired (http://www.wired.com/autopia/2011/01/peek-inside-missions-electric-superbike/)
http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/autopia/2011/01/Mission-R-naked-01.jpg (http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/autopia/2011/01/Mission-R-naked-01.jpg)
The Mission Motors race-prepped superbike is one impressive looking machine, and a rare look under the skin reveals it’s every bit as hot when stripped naked.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5085/5367477497_74479ef51a.jpg
I forgot to mention that I met Forest at a Nissan Leaf drive event in San Jose. We had a lot of time to chat while waiting in line for our test drives. Though wearing a Mission Motors cap, he's no longer with the company and is working on another venture related to V2G.
Funny, I chatted with Gene Berdichevsky (http://www.faqs.org/patents/inv/97860) while waiting in line at the San Jose Leaf test drive event.
My Leaf order is scheduled to arrive at the dealer in about a month. I need to decide if I am actually going to buy it... (That money would make a nice Roadster down-payment...)
http://electrovelocity.com/2011/02/15/jay-leno-meets-the-mission-r-electric-superbike/
Seegem
05-11-2013, 01:15 PM
Have you guys seen this??
Mission Motorcycles (http://www.mission-motorcycles.com)
Seegem
05-12-2013, 09:14 PM
or the new user interface?--that video is crazy!! i'm so excited for this!!!
Have you guys seen this??
Mission Motorcycles (http://www.mission-motorcycles.com)