Kids today! We've all heard the exclamation made just before the recitation of a time-honored list of character flaws; lazy, irresponsible, always partying, no motivation etc. As evidenced by the sleek work of eco-vehicular art pictured above, apparently there's at least one young man you can't pin any of those attributes on. Fresh out of Appalachian State University where he left with a BS in Industrial Design tucked in his pocket, Tom Miceli showed off his ION electric motorcycle at the recently held Southern Energy and Environment Expo 2009. We suspect he needed someone standing by with a bucket and mop to keep the floor drool-free.
The ION was conceived, designed, modeled and constructed in a single semester with a "minimal budget" rendering results that are most impressive indeed. The 84 volt, lithium battery-powered bike uses an AC motor that yields 105 lb feet of torque, 46 hp and allows for regenerative braking. Top speed is estimated at about 80 mph with a range of 60 miles while the waiting time for a full charge using a typical household plug is six hours. Performance characteristics are probably best summed up by Tom on the video after the break. Conferring with someone off camera after driving the bike from its exhibition booth across the waiting pavement outside, you can hear him say, "it doesn't need to pull any harder than that. It's kinda scary." If you know anyone who could make good use of Tom's talents, better contact this employment seeker quickly before he realizes he could start his own company. Kids today, indeed.