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Something new on the E-bike scene and it's from Canada, from a company named Lito - and it's called the SORA. It has a regenerative braking system, clutchless CV-transmission (like a snowmobile or some ATVs), with a claimed 120mph top speed and 185 mile range.

Probably a fun bike to watch develop.

CHASSIS

Lightweight aluminum 6061-T6
Wheelbase
1498 mm (59.0 in.)

Front suspension
43 mm inverted cartridge fork.
Fully adjustable

Front wheel travel
125 mm

Rear suspension
Elka suspension fully adjustable preload. Aluminum swingarm

Rear wheel travel
127 mm

Tires
Front: 120/70 ZR17
Rear: 180/55 ZR17

Wheels
6-spoke lightweight forged billet aluminum
Front: 3.50 x 17"
Rear: 5.50 x 17"

Front brake
Dual semi-floating 310 mm petal discs, radial-mount opposed 4-piston calipers 2-pad

Rear brake
Single 250 mm petal disc,
opposed 2-piston caliper

Rake
25.0°

Weight
240 kg (529.2 lbs.)

Seat Height
Adjustable electric seat from 750 to 850mm (29.5 to 33.5 in.)

POWERTRAIN

Motor
Liquid-cooled 3-phase AC induction

Transmissions
Belt final drive and CVT transmission

Torque
Crank: 80 Nm (59 ft-lb, 0-6000rpm)
Wheel: 960 Nm (708 ft-lb)

SORA top speed
200 km/h (120 mph)

Energy storage
12 kWh lithium-polymer battery modules with integrated Battery Management System, on-board charge, J1772 compatible

Power Control
LITO advanced software,integrated computer, regenerative braking, 3 control modes (performance, eco, safe range)

Recharge Time
Approximately 8 hours

Instrumentation
Digital unit with displays for:
speedometer, battery charge level and
warning lights
5.7in. LCD with touch screen:
GPS and LITO's application
USB port

Range
Up to 300 km (185 miles)


Here's the Lito ad copy:

The revolutionary SORA features the best design elements of Bobber and Café Racer/Street Fighter bikes, combined in one innovative, zero-compromise electric superbike. The Bobber influence can be seen in the rear fender that is fixed to the wheel, while the Street Fighter influence can be seen in the dynamics of the front of the bike. The result? A unique style of motorcycle that is part custom, part sport bike — combined in one supermachine.
The SORA was designed for ultimate efficiency, power and performance.

Some of its features and benefits include:

* An energy storing, integrated charge management system. Ride for up to 300 km on a single charge thanks to the top-of-the-line, high-density battery — built to last for the life of the bike
* A powerful electric motor and CVT transmission. Experience the power of going 0-200 km/h with zero clutch and phenomenal torque that makes you feel like you're flying on the road
* An advanced communication and power management unit, developed by LITO and designed to convert every watt of power efficiently to minimize energy loss
* A patented Safe Range System™. With this revolutionary application you will never experience range anxiety. Just set your destination the Sora will manage the amount of energy to get you there
* State-of-the-art integrated GPS system and touch screen. Stay connected to your bike in a new way never before possible
* The world's first ever electric motorbike seat. Change your ride handling on the fly
* High-quality front fork and rear suspension and top-of-the-line braking, designed to let you stop faster than on almost any other superbike
* An on-board charging port and sealed lockable storage compartment. Keep you gear dry and secure
* Patented email notification when the SORA charge is complete
* A regenerative braking system. Energy lost during braking is used to recharge the battery, so you can travel further in a single charge. The system also minimizes impact on the brake pad, which means less maintenance
* Lightweight carbon fiber fairing and aluminum chassis. Aircraft grade materials, stronger, lighter, faster.

The SORA features the world's first electric seat on a motorcycle, allowing the driver to completely change the driving dynamics of the bike at the simple push of a button. Drive comfortably in a low seat position when you're cruising on the highway, then shift the seat higher for city driving to recreate that Street Fighter feel.

The SORA's wheel base offers drivers maximum agility on the urban circuit and comfort on highways. With the electrical seat system, drivers of all shapes and sizes can enjoy superior comfort and balance. And because the motor has almost no moving parts, the SORA vibrates way less than conventional motorcycles.
Technical Features

Designed with state-of-the-art technology and the highest quality parts, the SORA is a feat of motorbike engineering.


LITO Innovations

LITO is the first company in the motorcycle industry to develop a bike that combines electric motorization, sport-like performance and adjustable driving dynamics (the bike features an electrical seat that allows you to shift between "custom" and "sport" handling as you ride).

In addition to the SORA, LITO provides sub-systems and design services for powerful, eco-efficient vehicles of various sizes. As these vehicles demand high performance as well as sufficient battery-storage space, and LITO can now offer solutions to meet this need.

We are proud to offer to OEM products and services that will:

* Reduce cost and development time
* Reduce vehicle weight
* Maximize power
* Minimize environmental pollutants
* Reduce fossil fuel consumption.

LITO offers three key technological solutions:

1 - A turnkey Electric Vehicle Propulsion System
2 - An automatic Safe Range System™
3 - An adjustable driving position mechanism.

http://www.litogreenmotion.com/the-sora

and in related news:

Québec has joined the growing list of cities offering rebates to encourage the use (and it seems development) of electric vehicles. Revealed by Jean Charest, the C$8,000 rebate program will be available from January 2012 and will be on a sliding scale with the full C$8,000 for electric vehicles with the furthest range, with less available to shorter range and hybrid vehicles. Additionally the government will pay half of the estimated C$2,000 cost of home-charging stations.

Québec will make an interesting place to push such an incentive as the majority of its electricity is hydro generated, on the flip-side it also suffers some of the harshest winters anywhere (current EV batteries suffer shortened range in extreme cold).

Where I am currently living there are always cheap electric scooters bombing around -- often most noticeable because they are in limp-home mode doing 10 km/h or riding in the bicycle lane along te highway at 30-50 km/h but they're becoming more viable as battery technology and advanced battery management systems improve. The climate here is one of the most suitable in Canada for an electric vehicle boom. I think it would be great to have an uber-quiet electric dirtbike, like Zero has been building for a few years. We do however need one that lasts longer than a 20 or 30-minute hard ride and could be recharged (quickly) at the track without a gas powered generator

The Zero's use a lot of downhill mountain bike chassis components, so they are engineered right on the edge of what is acceptable, and they have some other issues that need to be worked out as well, but the e-bike scene is coming along and faster than the market, infrastructure and beauracracy can handle probably.