Green County Choppers? OCC creates custom electric chopper
by Jeremy Korzeniewski on Aug 12th 2009 at 5:27PM 
Click above to watch the video after the break
Following Orange County Choppers' frequent use of alt-fuels (see E85 bike and natural gas bike) comes something a wee bit different from what we're used to seeing from the New York-based custom motorcycle crew: a fully electric chopper. Commissioned by Siemens USA, the zero-emissions motorcycle is powered by a 27-horsepower electric motor from Advanced DC and can go an estimated 60 miles after a five-hour charge. Top speed is listed at 100 miles per hour, likely making this one of the fastest bikes ever to roll out of the OCC showroom.
Naturally, you'll get to watch the build take place on an episode of American Chopper that's current scheduled to air on TLC on Thursday, October 22 at 9PM. Says Paul Teutul, Sr.:
At this time, OCC says it has no plans to mass produce an electric chopper, but Senior says it's would consider it if adequate demand were there. In any case, you'll get the chance to own this example after Siemens take it on a worldwide tour in 2010, after which it will be auctioned off with the benefits going to "a charitable cause that will help benefit the environment." Click past the break for a video along with the press release.Building an electric bike from recycled materials was something new for us, but we definitely enjoyed the challenge and think that the end product makes a great addition to our wide range of unique motorcycles. While electric bikes probably won't surpass traditional ones for the foreseeable future, we also think that energy efficient technologies are increasingly important for both manufacturers and consumers.
[Source: Siemens | Photo: Jason DeCrow / AP Images for Siemens]
VIDEO:
PRESS RELEASE:
Siemens Unveils the First Custom 'Green' Electric Chopper
First Electric Bike Made by Famed Orange County Choppers; Will Be Featured on Hit TV Show and Donated to Charity
NEW YORK, Aug. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Siemens (NYSE: SI) announced today that it has teamed up with renowned custom motorcycle manufacturer Orange County Choppers to build the first custom electric motorcycle. The "Siemens Smart Chopper," which will be featured on the hit TV show American Chopper, was unveiled today in an event at the Time Warner Center.
"We wanted to build this unique chopper to raise environmental awareness and reflect what the 69,000 employees of Siemens USA are doing to help America stay on the cutting edge of tomorrow's green economy," said Daryl Dulaney, President & CEO of Siemens Building Technologies. "Siemens is already very much a part of the fabric of America, and our portfolio is one of the greenest in the business. Green is not marketing hype for us; it is in our DNA."
"If energy or energy efficiency is involved--Siemens is involved," said Randy Zwirn, CEO of Siemens Energy, Inc. "Our technologies are helping to more efficiently and cleanly produce, deliver, consume and conserve energy. And these technologies are here today. This bike represents the spirit of innovation and passion we have for seeking sustainable solutions for our planet."
Orange County Choppers, a leading manufacturer of custom motorcycles, built the Siemens Smart Chopper over the course of a month. Siemens also developed a compatible Smart Grid-ready charger which communicates with the utility to enable charging when the electricity is most affordable.
The motorcycle features and design include:
* First electric chopper by Orange County Choppers
* Recycled materials
* Advanced DC Motors Inc. Series Wound 8" motor
* LED lighting by OSRAM SYLVANIA, a Siemens company
* 27 Peak horsepower and maximum speed of 100 MPH
* Range of 60 miles on a single charge
* On-board charger that can be plugged into any 110-volt outlet
"Building an electric bike from recycled materials was something new for us, but we definitely enjoyed the challenge and think that the end product makes a great addition to our wide range of unique motorcycles," said Paul Teutul, Sr., founder of Orange County Choppers, based in Newburgh, N.Y. "While electric bikes probably won't surpass traditional ones for the foreseeable future, we also think that energy efficient technologies are increasingly important for both manufacturers and consumers."
Teutul is the driving force behind the family-owned business that grew from a hobby into a 70-person-plus operation that produces and sells 150 custom bikes a year to a broad public ranging from private individuals and celebrities to professional sports teams and Fortune 500 companies. Teutul's custom bike shop is featured on American Chopper, a reality-style TV show, since 2002.
The American Chopper episode featuring the Siemens Smart Chopper is scheduled to air on TLC on Thursday, October 22 at 9PM ET/PT.
Siemens plans to showcase the Smart Chopper at energy and industrial tradeshows and conferences in the coming months. In 2010, the motorcycle will be auctioned off with the proceeds going to a charitable cause that will help benefit the environment.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
gklassen 5:41PM (8/12/2009)
FTA: "Top speed is listed at 100 miles per hour, likely making this one of the fastest bikes ever to roll out of the OCC showroom."
Seriously? Somehow I doubt that. Maybe I'm wrong. But what about the NAPA drag bike. http://www.discoverychannel.co.uk/best_of/americanchopper/gallery2/napa_drag/index.shtml
Either way, cool idea for a bike.
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Sean 7:40PM (8/12/2009)
"one of" != "the fastest"
gklassen 10:13AM (8/13/2009)
Oh sure, I get that "one of" != "the fastest", but I just have a hard time believing that most of the rest of their bikes can't reach top speeds of 100mph. Felt like that was implied a bit.
Matt 5:40PM (8/12/2009)
Nice but this just drills home the point of how better batteries, fuel cells and even Supercapacitors are needed. Can't wait to see the build
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xcrunk 5:59PM (8/12/2009)
There is a poison at OCC, it's called "the four horsemen".
OCC BLOWS!
EU_reader 5:40PM (8/12/2009)
Whatever the thoughts on his skills or on Paul Jr. (which is a total worthless douchebag), I think Paul Sr. is actually a nice guy.
Heart in the right place, and very compasionate about his family.
Besides, whatever you think about him, he made a business for himself and is his own boss. He did pretty well and the tv show was an incredibly smart business move (nothing more, nothing less). So you gotta give it to them for getting where they are today.
Also, he got to meat Russell Crowe, the president of Brasil, the sjeiks in abu dhabi, chubby checker, and countless other great experiences.
He's still an ape with a hammer and a blowtorch beating bikes together though. :p No question about that... If you see what they do to make the parts 'fit'. No thanks.
Oh, and I don't like choppers and customs either (to exagerated and not a single purpose or use besides converting fuel to noise) but I still like the show
Reply
EU_reader 5:42PM (8/12/2009)
*meat = meet :s And about the bike in the article: panel gaps!... :s
KDUBZ 5:51PM (8/12/2009)
WOW thats a pricy ($1 Million) bike. Goes up to 100mph that will last roughly 60 miles and takes 5 hours to charge? lol at the comment "but Senior says it would consider it if adequate demand were there." any takers?
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Tom 5:58PM (8/12/2009)
Ha! Like Paul Sr. actually said that. Anyone who has ever heard him talk knows there's no way that he knows words like "addition", "surpass" and "foreseeable".
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Farris 8:11PM (8/12/2009)
No, he probably used them... just incorrectly. :D
Lucas 6:00PM (8/12/2009)
They still air this show? Where?
Anyway, nice bike.
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Robert K. 6:18PM (8/12/2009)
I quit watching "Orange County Choppers" right after they did the episode where they built a bike for the "Jon and Kate +8" people. Good Lord, talk about stooping to a new low just to promote TLC, geez. Oh wow, you guys built a moped for that bitch Kate and had the Jon dude help out building a bike for himself, and woah, their show is right on after yours! Pathetic display of being a shill if I've ever seen one.
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RLQ 6:44PM (8/12/2009)
OCC started to suck long before that.
Will 8:19PM (8/12/2009)
Robert K,
I strongly agree with your "that bitch Kate" sentiment.
cWj 12:40AM (8/13/2009)
Wait...you're angry that TLC used one show it airs to promote another one?
Well..if you're going there place it on TLC. That's the source of that decision, I'm sure.
J&K+8 viewership down 64%, last I heard.
This e-bike would be the first time I watched OCC in at least a month.
sjbarr 1:53AM (8/13/2009)
I quit watching after Vinny left. He was great!
BrianM 6:27PM (8/12/2009)
Love the comment about it being the fastest OCC bike ever.
I am guessing that does not include anything from their ducati dealership.
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tankd0g 6:28PM (8/12/2009)
That's actually more range that most of their gasoline powered bikes have with their tiny tanks and the incredibly inefficient S&S motors.
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ChrisM22 6:43PM (8/12/2009)
I'm watching the video between 1:20 and 1:38 repeatedly.
I can't stop laughing.
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Eric Bandholz 9:26PM (8/12/2009)
A lot tougher without those cue cards that they are use to.