Ryvid's CEO, Dong Tran, discusses the advancements and goals of the company in building electric motorcycles at their California HQ. He emphasizes local manufacturing, funding from the state of California, and innovative design techniques that allow for easier production and assembly. Tran also highlights the importance of shifting public perception about two-wheel transportation and the potential benefits of electric bikes in urban commuting.
Highlights
📍 Ryvid is currently based in California, having moved into a new R&D facility in Orange County. They've also secured bigger facilities for ramped-up production and retail in Hawaiian Gardens.
💰 Ryvid secured a $20 million grant from the state of California, emphasizing local manufacturing and job creation.
🛠 Dong shares a unique folding metal technique for constructing their motorcycles, which simplifies the assembly process and reduces labor requirements.
🌍 While many companies are looking to offshore manufacturing, Ryvid and similar companies are reshoring, emphasizing the importance of local production and job creation in the US.
🚲 The "Anthem" motorcycle's design aims to bridge the gap between traditional motorcycles and electric bikes. The goal is to simplify operation, eliminating barriers like manual shifting.
🏙 The ideal use case for the "Anthem" is urban commuting, even though it's built to keep up with highway traffic speeds when necessary. The focus is on affordable EV transportation for shorter, urban commutes.
🏍️ The company designed its product to handle speeds of 45-75 mph safely, ensuring consumer protection.
🚘 Motorcycles can be a solution to modern infrastructure challenges, especially in congested areas like Southern California.
⚡ The trend with electric vehicles is moving towards smaller, more efficient designs, with some motorcycles achieving an efficiency of about 60 watt per mile.
🏙️ The company's motorcycle is designed to fit both urban and higher-speed road environments.
🔧 The challenge with modified e-bikes is they aren't built to handle higher speeds, leading to breakdowns and safety concerns.
📜 Licensing requirements and insurance concerns are barriers to widespread adoption, but education on safe riding practices is vital.
🚗 The integration of autonomous vehicles, like Teslas, brings both promise and uncertainty for two-wheel riders on the road.
🏍️ Dong addresses the concern of electric vehicles not recognizing motorcycles and the associated risks.
✈️ There's a comparison of trusting technology in planes vs cars, with computers communicating being potentially safer.
🛣️ Dong stresses on the importance of product design for specific road types – urban vs. highway.
⚡ The potential for geofencing capabilities in electric motorcycles to adapt to specific lane speed limits is also talked about.
🎤 James and Dong preview their participation at Micromobility America, including demos and discussions.
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