Orange County Choppers Renewable Energy Bikes
Orange County Choppers is an establishment that many people might have heard of, mainly owing to their popular television series ‘American Chopper’, that has made it nearly all around the world. You might well think that due to their brash ‘biker’ style, and the amazing custom choppers they produce, that they don’t have much in the way of green credentials. Not so however, as they receive commissions from all kinds of companies worldwide. Here are some of the more responsible models that have been produced by the Teutul family and their team:
- Siemens Electric Chopper A special commission from Siemens Electric saw the team produce a very sleek design entirely from recycled materials. It was powered by a 27hp electric motor which saw it reach speeds of just over 100mph, and with a range of 60 miles on only a 5 hour charge. As you can see below the final design is very simple, white and minimalist, and with no engine noise would probably be quite a strange experience. A fantastic looking bike we think, it’s just a shame about the range. However, this will always be the problem with electric bikes, until current battery technology becomes better or is replaced.
- Iowa Farm Bureau Ethanol Chopper This time, as promotion for the Iowa Farm Bureau, a green-fuel ethanol bike was designed and built by the team. E85 is most commonly produced from by-products of the farming industry, and is a mix of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. The mix of gasoline in there makes the whole concoction more stable, and also helps to increase fuel efficiency. The paintwork on the design is designed to mimic the soy beans from which the ethanol is produced, and it features a combine harvester style pointed scoop (so you can harvest more presumably). The wheel spokes are also designed to look like blades from a wind turbine, to tie in with the eco look. We’re not too sure about this one, but as with all OCC creations, it’s certainly unique.
- Chesapeake Energy Natural Gas Chopper The final eco-commission for the OCC team was from Chesapeake Natural gas company, and was a challenge to create the worlds first chopper powered by natural gas. The monstrous creation must be one of the biggest looking choppers ever, with a huge tank to house all the kit to turn the gas into power. The technology itself is nothing new, and LPG conversions are now quite commonplace. There are very few details on the power, range or capacity of this blue beast, but I know I really love the design!
Rob is a freelance writer and bike enthusiast working for used bike specialist Action Motorcycles. If you have a motorcycle to sell, get in touch for a quote!
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