Ducati Monster Forum

Here you go then:

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2011/01/electric-motorcycles-police-/1 (http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2011/01/electric-motorcycles-police-/1)


Mind the cop talk.


sac

...the Zero DS, which has a range of up to 50 miles, is fast and cost-effective.

50 miles isn't going to last very long "on patrol".

Sweet! They just blew $10,000 on a bicycle!  and they wonder why they're bankrupt.

I finally saw one of those in real life. At 35 mph cruise the chain made more noise than the power plant

The advancement for the electric motorcycle will be almost exclusively in the TTXGP and other similar privately funded ventures where there is a competitive drive and more importantly time and real budget pressures.   Those Zero's (pun intended) Kalifornia just bought will end up collecting dust in some PD garage after the reality that they're not effective sinks in; very limited patrol range/time and won't stand up to the abuse patrol officers put on their equipment.  Here it is just another new toy, the users have no vested interest in its success other than their supervisor telling them to use it and have a low tolerance for crap that breaks down doesn't fit their needs.

but it makes for a good PR photo op.

Yep. There could be no possible benefit to the state from adopting a technology (made in that same state) early so as to develop a market and get a new company (that, you know, employs people) off of the ground. This is why CA doesn't have any new technology companies. There is clearly no market for new technologies and there is no money in it. Much better to ait until these things are built by Chinese workers in Chinese plants. THAT would be good for our economy!

Thankfully Dunkin' Donuts is also a recharge facility

Adopting a technology which is not yet up to the desired task is a waste of taxpayer money (I doubt a 50 mile range will be very useful for any meaningful police work, but maybe a real officer can chime in on that though). The State's job, especially a bankrupt one, is not to build a business or develop a market using taxpayer money. This also applies to any state, not just CA (and I like CA).

Also, CA doesn't have technology companies because the State supports them...investors and eventually the market generally do that.

That is just so patently false I don't know hat to say to that. There are a zillion ways states try to entice businesses to open/start-up/expand in their state. In CA its anything from Enterpise Zones to business specific tax breaks to free land to R&D specific tax breaks and on and on and on. One way to attract investors is to broker sweet deals with the state and local governments that push start up and operating costs down. One ay to get a foot hold in a competitive market is to be able to get your product to market earlier even if it is not turning a profit yet. It is all interconnected.

And just how the hell do you guys know that these things will be so useless? This seems to be hat your arguments hinge on. Are there studies or trials that you've read that say so? Or are you just speculating and making things up because you believe your opinions to be facts?

I think it's cool that they are giving it a go and hope it helps the electric moto business take off.

sac

the state from adopting a technology (made in that same state) early so as to develop a market and get a new company

(I doubt a 50 mile range will be very useful for any meaningful police work, but maybe a real officer can chime in on that though).

...I have a friend who manages a hedge fund in NYC, and I asked him why so many of the hedge funds and traders, etc, live in New York City when what they do is mostly done on a computer, which they could use anywhere.  He said it was because NYC is where the big companies are ALREADY located and it helps to be surrounded by others in your field...

I don't know the specifics, but I imagine a lot of technology businesses/start-ups are in California because that's where the big venture capitalists are, and because of the culture of being surrounded by other tech businesses.  If it were purely financial, I don't think many businesses would be based in California due to taxes and bureaucracy.

Also...it's a nice place to live. Easier to get smart, energetic, and talented young employees to move to California than other places that make more financial sense for the company.

Geez...you get way too worked up. Your reaction to anyone criticizing your beloved state is so predictable it is comical.  ;)

I'm so glad I can help you be amused by predictable things.

On the 1st point, now you're discussing different things. I understand that states give things such as tax breaks to companies. What you said earlier was:

See the difference? Tax breaks and things like that v. "adopting new technology". I'd bet the electric motorcycle company is probably already getting tax breaks for creating something green. States should not adopt technology until it is proven effective.

I see the difference. I also think I misspoke a bit so I should clarify something. It is not the State that is adopting the technology. I was responding to the first genius that made a dumb crack about CA being broke. what I meant is that it as good for CA that a city in CA as being an earlier adopter of CA technology. I did not make that clear. And I disagree that States (or in this case a city PD) should only adopt proven technology. Sure for firetrucks and medical helicopters and such perhaps, but this is a few motorcycles we are talking about. And the potential worldwide market is huge. I say give 'em a whirl. If the cost is lo and potential large I governments in FL should be earlier adopters of tech made in FL. Same for CO, TX, CA and every other state. Same on the federal level. I would rather have us jump in early on a US start up than wait for China to copy it and make it cheaper.

Next, go back and re-read what I wrote on the usefulness of the moto. Here, I'll get it for you:

Sounds like an opinion to me, with acknowledgment that an actual LEO may dispute it. How do you know it will be effective? You jump on anyone saying it might not be pretty hard.

No, I'm jumping on people who are saying that this is why CA is broke. Or who say silly things like CA doesn't have technology companies because the State supports. But I presume you are all big boys and can handle it.

You're right though, if the moto proves to be useful then it isn't a waste of money. I can't really think of any use for one though (that's an opinion). A 50-mile range would be used up very quickly in a city of any size, and a motorcycle would be difficult to deal with for foot patrol stuff where distances are limited. I've also seen one of these in person in Seattle...they're very small, although they could probably carry as much as the pedal bikes currently do.

well if you can't think of a use for one then no one can. Let's not wait and see. Hold on . . . to wait and see we would actually have to . . . wait for it . . . TRY IT! Like what is being done now! You understand that we can't get to the point of "already proven technology" without, you know, trying stuff out right? And gosh darn it there just aren't that many privately held entire cities with there on police departments to prove this stuff. So to have a local PD try it out is good for the company (and potentially the state with the new jobs and taxes and such) and is of very low risk to the PD.

I'm surprised the moto company didn't just give them one for use in trials, (do we know that they didn't? Surely they got a few test spins before committing) in hopes of future sales. Maybe $10K is a reduced price for one though...I don't know.

Use a different color next time...red is a pregnant dog to read in the gray quote screen.

Geez...you get way too worked up. Your reaction to anyone criticizing your beloved state is so predictable it is comical.  

I'm so glad I can help you be amused by predictable things.

On the 1st point, now you're discussing different things. I understand that states give things such as tax breaks to companies. What you said earlier was:

See the difference? Tax breaks and things like that v. "adopting new technology". I'd bet the electric motorcycle company is probably already getting tax breaks for creating something green. States should not adopt technology until it is proven effective.

I see the difference. I also think I misspoke a bit so I should clarify something. It is not the State that is adopting the technology. I was responding to the first genius that made a dumb crack about CA being broke. what I meant is that it as good for CA that a city in CA as being an earlier adopter of CA technology. I did not make that clear. And I disagree that States (or in this case a city PD) should only adopt proven technology. Sure for firetrucks and medical helicopters and such perhaps, but this is a few motorcycles we are talking about. And the potential worldwide market is huge. I say give 'em a whirl. If the cost is lo and potential large I governments in FL should be earlier adopters of tech made in FL. Same for CO, TX, CA and every other state. Same on the federal level. I would rather have us jump in early on a US start up than wait for China to copy it and make it cheaper.

Next, go back and re-read what I wrote on the usefulness of the moto. Here, I'll get it for you:

Sounds like an opinion to me, with acknowledgment that an actual LEO may dispute it. How do you know it will be effective? You jump on anyone saying it might not be pretty hard.

No, I'm jumping on people who are saying that this is why CA is broke. Or who say silly things like CA doesn't have technology companies because the State supports. But I presume you are all big boys and can handle it.

You're right though, if the moto proves to be useful then it isn't a waste of money. I can't really think of any use for one though (that's an opinion). A 50-mile range would be used up very quickly in a city of any size, and a motorcycle would be difficult to deal with for foot patrol stuff where distances are limited. I've also seen one of these in person in Seattle...they're very small, although they could probably carry as much as the pedal bikes currently do.

well if you can't think of a use for one then no one can. Let's not wait and see. Hold on . . . to wait and see we would actually have to . . . wait for it . . . TRY IT! Like what is being done now! You understand that we can't get to the point of "already proven technology" without, you know, trying stuff out right? And gosh darn it there just aren't that many privately held entire cities with there on police departments to prove this stuff. So to have a local PD try it out is good for the company (and potentially the state with the new jobs and taxes and such) and is of very low risk to the PD.

I'm surprised the moto company didn't just give them one for use in trials, (do we know that they didn't? Surely they got a few test spins before committing) in hopes of future sales. Maybe $10K is a reduced price for one though...I don't know.

~snip

Another thing to be considered is the 50 mile range isn't really 50 miles. It's only 25 miles from the closest charging station. That is unless the state is going to take more money from us and install more charging stations 50 miles from each other to support the use of these motos. Also, does the battery life drop when more than the recommended weight is carried? Police officers tend to carry more with them than the average person. Or when they have to travel uphill as in most parts of northern California?

~snip

I'm not even sure where this city is.

What happens when the LEO tries to make a traffic stop and the perp hops onto the freeway and goes 100mph, leaving the Zero behind (IIRC top speed was 70-75mph) before he can get other vehicles to help him?

right here (http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF8&q=Scotts+Valley+Police+Department&fb=1&gl=us&hq=Police+Department&hnear=Scotts+Valley,+CA&cid=0,0,2295751417758018386&ll=37.049697,-122.019653&spn=0.9108,1.18927&z=10&iwloc=A)

i'm not sure they're worried about patrolling SR17.

can't say but didn't they get outlawed in some towns?   :-\

I believe so. Too dangerous for the sidewalk but also too dangerous for the street.