Last week apparently saw large and small manufacturers present their greenest two-wheelers and cars at Clean Week 2020 – 2012 event at the Zolder Race Circuit in Belgium.
 
The Clean Week 2020 event  also saw voting on the European e-Motorbike and e-Scooter of the Year.
 
Clean Week 2020 aims at providing an annual review of future oriented technologies in the fields of mobility and environment, blended into an appealing mix of sporty, educational, technological and recreational elements.
 
However what does this all mean for the “average” motorcyclist where is the “infernal” combustion engine heading, will we have to adapt and change in the far or near future to electric motorcycles, scooters and mopeds?
 
No matter how hard electric is pushed, will it become the norm through acceptance or simply legislated in to our daily lives?
 
In Northern Ireland an ecar project is investing over £2 million in electric vehicle infrastructure which includes up to £850,000 in funding received from OLEV (Office for Low Emission Vehicles) in December 2010. The remainder of funds have been raised by the local consortium.
 
The ecar consortium is jointly led by the Department for Regional Development and the Department of the Environment. The consortium members are: NIE, ESB, Donnelly Motor Group, Power NI, SAP, Intel, Derry City Council, Newry and Mourne District Council, Armagh City and District Council, Fermanagh District Council, Larne Borough Council.
 
There will be public charge posts in Belfast, Londonderry, Armagh, Newry, Enniskillen and Larne. There will also be a number of rapid chargers near to major motorways.
 
Danny Kennedy Minister for Regional Development has said: “The ecar Project in Northern Ireland, jointly led by Department for Regional Development and Department of the Environment, is set to change the way we think about transport.
 
“While most drivers will recharge their ecars at home overnight, from today the first of what will become a fully integrated network of public charge points becomes available to everyone using an electric vehicle. The charge points provide a convenient facility for drivers to ‘top-up’ away from home, if necessary.
 
“Whether we use the car for personal or commercial reasons, electric vehicles, with a typical range of around 100 miles on a full charge, now offer a tangible alternative to petrol or diesel fuelled vehicle.”
 
Over 40 public ‘opportunity’ charge-points are now available in Belfast, Londonderry, Newry, Armagh, Enniskillen and Larne. Over the next year this number will increase to around 140. Special rapid chargers will also be introduced close to major roads that can charge a vehicle to 80% of its capacity in just 25 minutes. Charge Points in Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland are fully compatible.
 
But what about two wheeled vehicles?
 
ecar has a dedicated website within NI Direct Goverment Services and a Facebook page and Right To Rides’ Trevor Baird asked the question on the page regarding the launch of ecar.
 
ecar A very successful launch today! Thanks to everyone who attended and for all the enthusiasm and support!
 
Trevor Baird Brilliant, but what about emotorcycles?
 
ecar Trevor e-motorcycles are welcome to charge at public charge points also. All public charge points use a ‘Mennekkes’ plug (which is a 7-pin plug). I would ask your e-motorcycle manufacturer to ensure they supply you with the correct lead so you can charge at all the ecar public charge points.
 
Trevor Baird Excellent! Although I wasn’t asking for myself, I run a motorcycle website in Northern Ireland, so it was for general information for our readers. A motorcycle is a motorcycle or a Powered Two Wheeler, however the power we have concentrated on is the combustion engine. So for any electric powered two wheelers out there this is good news that maybe they were not aware of.
 
ecar Trevor, I would suggest you contact the manufacturer and check that the Mennekkes 7-pin plug can be used on the electric bikes to be sure that they are all compatible.
 
So are there any emotorcycles out there in Northern Ireland?
 
How does the infrastructure in Northern Ireland compare to that in your country?
 
Are emotorcycle a “big” deal in your country?
 
Do emotorcycles embrace motorcycling or are they a threat?
 
Read the full article and leave your comments on Right To Ride EU

Racers and spectators at Irish Road Race meetings will have rapid response medical support in the form of a 175hp KTM RC8 R as part of its “Travelling Doctor’” system in 2012.

Doctor John Hinds, 32, as a member of the Motorcycle Union of Ireland (MCUI) medical team, has chosen a RC8 R  - currently available for £12,995 with finance offers that include 0% interest with a £99 deposit - as his way of getting life saving care and triage to a rider quickly and safely.

The “Traveling Doctor" system has evolved over the years as a way of providing fast and lifesaving medical care to riders at Irish Road racing meetings. The environment which with the medical staff work in is unique and the circuits can vary from 3 to 9 miles in length; so are too long to staff with ground crews like at British Superbikes, but too short to use a helicopter effectively like at the Isle of Man TT. The nature of these courses also make it difficult to have a fast "first response" with a car or regular ambulance.

The motorcycle-mounted doctors – Dr. John Hinds and Dr. Fred MacSorley - chase the warm-up and opening lap of each race or practice session at each event as this is historically when most serious incidents tend to occur. During racing they are parked up strategically with radio contact, helmets on and ready to be scrambled immediately and can assess, triage and begin treatment, and are backed up by response vehicles staffed by experienced doctors and paramedics.

The bikes the traveling doctors use are their own and the road racing circuits are exceptionally hard on a motorcycle. The wear and tear of jumps, bumps and high speed runs each and every weekend mean maintenance is an ongoing battle of attrition - tyres, oil and filters every weekend; screens full of stone chips, suspension being put through it's full crashing strokes every lap on the jumps that make the Irish road circuits unique in what they are. On average, Dr. John will cover around 4000 race miles a year.

The consultant anesthetist and intensivist based at Antrim Area hospital said: “There was a number of reasons I chose to run an RC8 R this year. Firstly, I have had Japanese inline fours for 10 years and wanted something different. Secondly, and more importantly, I needed a bike that was reliable and had good dealer back-up as I know how many serviceable items I get though in a year.

“The job I use the bike for means that a machine that won't start on the button could mean the difference between life and death. Who better then to buy a bike off than Northern Ireland KTM dealer and road racing legend Phillip McCallen! If ever there was a man who knows if a bike will work on a road circuit, it's him; and the RC8 R came highly recommended from the man himself. The fact that Northern Ireland ex-MotoGP star Jeremy McWilliams owns one himself meant the decision was made!”

John will be on call at the 90th Cookstown 100 this weekend, April 27-28, 2012.

www.Mcui-uc.org.uk
www.facebook.com/mcuimedicalteam

IAM’s head of riding standards and advanced biker, Peter Rodger, is advising on filtering.

• Plan ahead when approaching long queues. Make a decision in advance for passing each vehicle, but be ready to change your plans if the traffic situation changes • Be prepared for vehicles to move out or change lanes, particularly approaching junctions • In bus lanes, watch for cars that want to turn left across your path • Be aware of cyclists wearing earphones – they may not know you are there • Watch side roads. Drivers waiting to emerge will be looking for larger vehicles – not necessarily a motorbike • When filtering give other vehicles time to notice you’re there – don’t arrive too quickly • Wait behind stationary vehicles unless you're sure you can get past them before they start to move – avoid sitting next to them where you can be in a blind spot.  

Rodger said: “One of the great things about riding a bike is that you can reduce your journey time by filtering through traffic and congestion. But be considerate to other road users, and bear in mind they may not know or expect you to be there.”  
For biking advice and tips, the IAM has launched a new website, www.bikingadvice.org.uk. As well as all our advice, it includes traffic updates, touring advice by country and biking events around the UK.   www.betterbiking.org.uk

The Heritage Motor Centre (HMC) has teamed up with ‘Parrys International Tours’ to offer visitors a unique ‘Downton Abbey’ tour.

The highly acclaimed period drama may have ended on TV but visitors can still see some of its locations including Highclere Castle plus the chance to view some of the superb motor vehicles dating back to the Downton period of 1912 - 1922 at the HMC.

The special three day/two night tour includes a tour of the Cotswolds on day one with stops at Cirencester and Marlborough. Day two includes a tour of Highclere Castle where visitors can view the interiors used in the filming of the scenes and the extensive Gardens along with a visit to Winchester. Day three includes a visit to the village of 'Downton' where the outdoor views of the Church and Hospital were recorded followed by a stop in Oxford before continuing to the HMC at Gaydon in Warwickshire.  Once at the HMC visitors can view a collection of vehicles from this period including a 1912 & 1922 Rover, a 1913 & 1921 Morris, a 1913 Standard, a 1911 & 1915 Rover Imperial Motorcycle, a 1919 Wolesley, a 1922 Austin Twenty and a 1922 Ford Model T.

These unique tours will take place on the 16 & 23 July and 19 August. Ticket prices cost £199.50 and include coach travel, two nights at the Hilton in Newbury, dinner on both evenings, English breakfasts, visits as on the itinerary, entry to Highclere Castle and the Heritage Motor Centre.

For more information on the vehicles of this period please visit www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk or call 01926 641188.

To book a tour please call Parrys International on 01922 414576 or visit the website at www.parrys-international.co.uk