This Electric Two-Wheeler Might Actually Exist Someday and Now It's Even More Impressive
Image Credit: Lit Motors.
I've stumbled upon a little something - a vehicle that's been more elusive than a unicorn riding a skateboard, but apparently, it's still very much a glimmer in someone's eye. I'm referring to the legendary, the mythical, the almost-there Lit Motors C-1 - or the AEV, as it's now known, which apparently stands for "Awesome Electric Vehicle" in my head.
For those of you who've been following my rambling adventures in the world of electric gizmos, you'll know I have a soft spot for anything with a battery and a dream. But there are more vaporware vehicles out there than sensible hats at a dog show. So, when I first heard about this self-balancing electric motorcycle that looks like it escaped from a steampunk convention, my skepticism radar went off like a fire alarm in a teacup factory. "A fully-enclosed, self-balancing electric motorcycle?" I thought. "And pigs might fly on tiny, battery-powered wings!"
Image Credit: Lit Motors.
But the folks at Lit Motors, nestled in the land of earthquakes and kale smoothies – San Francisco – actually managed to build a working prototype. A real, live, slightly peculiar-looking prototype. It wasn't just a fancy 3D rendering that looked pretty on a screen but would likely crumble into a pile of hopes and dreams if you so much as breathed on it. This thing trundled around the streets, doing its little self-balancing jig.
The initial proof-of-concept prototype was a bit of a wallflower, electronically limited to a leisurely 10 miles per hour. That's about the speed I travel when I'm trying to decide what to order for brunch. And its two scaled-down gyros were only churning out about 650 pound-feet of torque, which is roughly half of what they plan for the production version. But evidently, that was enough to keep it from toppling over like a drunken sailor on a stormy sea. In fact, if you dare to delve into the depths of the internet, you might even find a video from way back in 2014 (when flip phones were still cool) showing it being yanked sideways by a van and still staying upright.
Image Credit: Lit Motors.
Daniel Kim, the president of Lit Motors, a man who clearly has more patience than a saint trying to explain quantum physics to a goldfish, admitted that they learned a lot from this early escapade. Mostly, I imagine, they learned that making things lighter is generally a good idea, especially when you're trying to defy gravity with gyroscopes. He even hinted at "tricks up his sleeve" for the "real potential" of this vehicle.
Originally, way back in 2014 (when the world was still innocent and had no idea what TikTok was), Mr. Kim had grand visions of these AEVs zipping around, he imagined a top speed of 125 mph, and a battery range of up to 200 miles per charge. Plus, it was going to have room for a second passenger.
Image Credit: Lit Motors.
However, as is often the case with truly groundbreaking and ambitious projects, things have been "delayed a bit." Apparently, perfecting a gyroscopic balancing system that can keep a two-wheeled vehicle upright at high speeds without turning it into a very expensive, very fast tumbleweed, takes a smidgen longer than popping popcorn. Who knew?
There was another very good reason for the delay. Mr Kim had a debilitating motorcycle accident, but while he was mending, the team wasn't idle, mind you. They were busy creating an "impenetrable patent portfolio" and assembling a "world-class core engineering team." Yeah, they were really busy.
Image Credit: Lit Motors.
According to Lit Motors, the AEV offers the same perks as a four-wheeled electric vehicle but with a whole lot less "circular economic waste." Which, I believe, is a very polite way of saying it's kinder to the planet and your wallet. Sure, you can lane split, which means saying "buh-bye" to rush hour gridlock. And parking anxiety? Poof! Gone! This little beauty is going to be a dream to maneuver and tuck into the tightest spots. Plus, it seats two – a driver and a very lucky passenger.
Here's a bit that got me really thinking: EVs generally lose their resale value faster than my New Year's resolutions. Why? Because replacing those enormous batteries can cost an arm and a leg, and maybe a kidney too. But the AEV, with its "lightweight vehicle architecture" and "improved aerodynamics," only needs a battery one-sixth the size of a typical EV.
This means faster charging (anywhere from 5 minutes on a Tesla Supercharger to about 6 hours on your regular 110V outlet ), reduced replacement costs, and better range without lugging around a behemoth battery. Less energy consumption, more efficient, and certainly more cost-friendly. And it takes fewer than 2,500 parts in total to put each AEV together, which translates to less maintenance and a much smaller environmental footprint. It's almost too good to be true…
Image Credit: Lit Motors.
The company claims that there's already "strong market demand" with over 1,450 preorders. That's a lot of people ready to plunk down some serious cash, considering the projected MSRP is $32,000. That's a cool $46.4 million in projected revenue at the point of sale, though they did add a little disclaimer that "projections not guaranteed." Smart move, Lit Motors, smart move.
And they're not just thinking locally; they've got patents in Asia, Europe, the US, and India. They claim to be the "first market mover" and are "poised to disrupt the $1.1 trillion automotive industry" with "double-digit margins" because their vehicle has "1/10 the parts count of a car." That means faster production times and more money in their pockets, which is always a good thing for a company. They're dreaming big, talking about private ownership, rideshares, B2C delivery, military, medical transport, and even sports and luxury applications.
The Lit Motors AEV has been in development longer than some marriages, but it still holds a quirky, hopeful promise. Will it actually arrive? Will I be zipping around in one, giggling like a schoolgirl? Will Lit Motors manage getting a million units made by year 10 (which they claim is 50% faster than Tesla, thanks to their former Audi experts!)? I don't really know, and my inner skeptic is having a chuckle, but my optimistic side really wants to see this project succeed.
