Goal For The Green

Cars receive most of the attention when speaking about eco-friendly transportation — and rightly so — but there are many other vehicles and devices that aim to reduce emissions with alternative power sources. From two-wheeled transports to landscaping equipment, prepare for the ever-increasing availability of machines fueled by green, sustainable power.

Motorcycles

Motorcycle manufacturers are making significant strides in producing green, alternative-fueled bikes. Zero Motorcycles has been accelerating to the top of the electric motorcycle industry with groundbreaking innovations. Zero’s 2013 S, powered by the new Z-Force motor, offers the longest range of any e-bike, traveling 137 miles in the city with a top of speed of 95 miles per hour, according to EarthTechling.com. By charging at the CHAdeMO charge stations, Zero motorcycles can be charged to 95 percent in 60 minutes or less.

photo by muc10

Lit Motors is peering further down the e-bike pipeline with its innovative C-1 model prototype. The C-1 takes the best parts of a motorcycle and splices them with the safety features of a car. The result is an enclosed two-wheeled vehicle that drives like a car. It can travel 200 miles on a single charge and can hit a top speed of 120 miles per hour, according to The New York Times.

Lawnmowers

Homeowners underestimate the frightening volume of noxious fumes that gas-powered mowers release into the atmosphere. As an alternative, there exist corded and cordless electric lawnmowers, but some mowers take it a step further. Autonomous mowers like the Husqvarna Automower utilize both solar energy and electricity to mow your lawn. The hybrid’s solar panels soak in ultraviolet light on sunny days, but if it needs more juice, the Automower automatically returns to its base station for an electric charge. The installation of a perimeter wire contains the mower from wandering into a neighbor’s yards. Of course, if you want the greenest mower available, your best bet is always the push reel mower that’s powered solely by you.

ATVs

Environmentalists usually decry ATVs as wasteful and a blight to the land, but these utility vehicles do serve important functions. Farmers and park rangers rely on ATVs to pull heavy tools and traverse difficult terrain. Electric ATVs are a godsend to rural riders. Electric ATVs are whisper quiet and free of emissions. Owners don’t have to fret about replacing oil, fuel filters and spark plugs either. Electric Vehicle System’s (EVS) E-Force is one such economical ATV that’s applicable in farming, border patrol, park maintenance and of course for recreation. Impressively, it achieves three times the torque of a gas motor, according to ATV.com. Polaris also released one of the first completely electric side-by-sides, the Ranger EV. Polaris claims that their EV has the longest range of any mid-size, electric side-by-side.