Revolution EV, LLC
(734) 649-8356

XM-3000

$2499 plus $50 shipping

  • 3000 Watt Hub Motor
  • Top speed: 40mph
  • "Real World" Range: 20 miles
  • 5 Greensaver Silicone Lead Acid Batteries
  • 5 Amp battery charger
  • Disc brakes front and rear
  • Available in Silver and Black or Blue and Black
  • DOT compliant and road legal
  • 6 month warranty on batteries, 1 year on motor and controller, 30 days on everything else

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do the batteries last?

The batteries should last anywhere between 300 and 500 cycles if properly maintained with a balancing solution (more info below).

How much does it cost to replace the batteries?

Current price, as of August 2008, is $79 per battery with $20 shipping per battery - for 5 batteries that's $495.

What does "real world" range mean?

You will often see the range for these bikes quoted at a higher value. That longer range is only achievable at slower speeds on flat terrain with a relatively light (150lb) rider. Furthermore, draining the batteries all the way down to the low voltage cutout of the controller will foreshorten the life of the batteries. By stating a 20 mile "real world" range I mean simply get on the bike and ride and you'll have a safe 20 mile range. Should you absolutely need to go further than 20 miles on a rare ocassion then with careful riding you can get 25 or 30 miles. If you need to regularly ride more than 20 miles then this bike doesn't have the range you require.

What does "properly maintained batteries" mean?

To get the most out of your batteries you need to not over discharge them. Batteries connected together in a string (like they are here) will drift apart in terms of their voltage discharge. When it comes to charging them in a string this means that they do not all achieve the same amount of charge. The problem compounds over time and the differences get larger and the amount of over discharging increases - this prematurely kills the batteries. There are two ways to overcome this imbalance:

The first is to charge each battery seperately rather than as a string. An easy way to do thi is to use five seperate chargers, one per battery. If you use a small charger (such as this) then you can leave the chargers permanently mounted. Combine this with a 5 way plug strip and you can still have a convenient, portable, single plug solution. One downside of this approach is that the batteries will take slightly longer to recharge - I will run some side by side testing to find out actual differences.

The other way is to keep the batteries in balance by using a battery balancer. These devices monitor the charge of the battery and "shuttle" charge between them until they are all in synch. One such balancer is the BattEQ from Smart Spark Energy Systems. I am currently sourcing these for sale via this site.

What no Regen?

This bike doesn't have regnerative braking (regen). The main purpose of regen is to extend range by using the motor as a generator during braking. However, when implementing regen on a bike the size of the XM the amount of energy recovered is insignificant and does not extend range by a noticable amount.

What is the quality / reliability of these bikes?

These bikes have, what I would call, adequate quality. They are entry level bikes manufactured in China. These are not Japanese quality bikes like Honda or Yamaha - but Honda et al. don't make an all electric bike. An all electric bike is fundamentally simpler than a gas powered bike - there are less moving parts, and thus less to go wrong. You're most likely to find issues in the first couple of hundred kilometers, but once those issues are addressed the bikes should require very little maintenance compared to their gas counterparts.

These bikes make good commuters and the quality is comparable to the competition. I have over 1,000 kilometers on my XM-3000

What is the ownership experience like?

The first thing to bear in mind is that you are buying these bikes direct, not through a typical bricks and mortar operation. This means that you will be the first person to see the bike since it was packed in the factory. At the very least you will need to uncrate the bike, charge the batteries and do a pre-ride inspection. There's no asssembly required (aside from afixing rearview mirrors). You might also need to replace panels damaged during shipping - these are provided under warranty, however, you need to arrange to have them delivered and also to fit them.

Another aspect to consider is that by buying an EV (any EV) at this point in time you're an "early adopter" of this relatively new technology (OK, it's old technology, but packaged in a new way). Are you ready and prepared to deal with some unexpected issues that may arise? Are you ready to do some hands on changing parts (with provided instructions)? If not, you may want to wait a while.

How do I get this bike licensed and insured?

After your bike arrives you need to contact the importer (X-Treme Scooters) and tell them the VIN of your bike. They will then issue a Manufacturers Certificate of Origin (MCO).

With a VIN you can contact your insurance agent and ask for a cycle policy. Some will want to know the CC, at this point explain it's an electric bike with a power output approximately equivalent to a 50cc motor scooter. I had no trouble insuring my bike with State Farm, others have mentioned Geiko and Progressive as possibilities.

When you have insurance and the MCO take these documents along with your bill of sale to your local DMV or Secretary of State office. You will need to apply for a motorcycle license plate and title. They will keep the MCO and issue you a title. Again, they may want to know the CC - the best approach I've found is to explain it's electric but equivalent to about a 50cc motor scooter. I had no problem getting title and a plate in Michigan.

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