British engineering company White Motorcycle Concepts (WMC) has unveiled its revolutionary new electric hybrid scooter – the WMC300FR. The new hybrid three-wheeled scooter is designed especially for use as a fully operational first response vehicle that will help bring emergency services into line with new national objectives to combat the effects of climate change and cost reduction.
The electric scooter uses the same patented technology central to its all-electric WMC250EV high-speed demonstrator, with which it intends to break the world electric land speed record over the next 12 months. In the case of First Responder, however, the key objectives are not so much to achieve ultimate speed as to significantly increase range and viability while reducing CO2 footprint and running costs for emergency service fleets. It can reduce carbon emissions by up to 50% of that of comparable conventional motorcycles and scooters.
The WMC300FR scooter features WMC’s patented Venturi Duct, which reduces drag by pushing air through the vehicle rather than around it. This system is aided by aerodynamic front fenders, which funnel the air towards the venturi, reducing overall frontal resistance and meaning less energy is required to propel the vehicle forward.
The WMC300FR is based on the Yamaha Tricity 300 and uses the same 292cc single-cylinder four-stroke motor, but it features hybrid power assist utilizing two robust and proven 56V 12Ah detachable lithium-ion batteries. The pair of batteries can be fast-charged in multiples of 6 from a standard three-pin plug. The bike also adds some 5 kW (6.7 horsepower) of electric assistance in the form of a small motor acting on the engine’s countershaft that works predominantly in the lower speed ranges of the vehicle.
Because of the minimum width between the two front wheels, the scooter can also be ridden with anyone holding a regular car drivers’ license (in most countries).
The scooter was developed in conjunction with Northamptonshire Police and with the cooperation and guidance of the Northants force’s Chief Constable Nick Adderley – the Motorcycle Lead for UK Police. The design and development of the WMC300FR First Responder were funded by the British government’s Office for Zero-Emission Vehicles (OZEV), the Advanced Propulsion Center (APC), and the Niche Vehicle Network (NVN).
