One of the novelties of the Army-2019 military-technical forum held at the end of June was the civilian lightweight version of the Izhevsk Izh-Pulsar electric motorcycle. The new version of the serial electric motorcycle, designed for city use, was developed on the basis of the version for the Russian Ministry of Defense, which was first shown to the public back in 2017. The new motorcycle from Izhevsk features a lightweight battery with a larger capacity and a new, improved frame geometry. In general, the ergonomics of the Izh-Pulsar model have become better, the motorcycle has received an effective braking system and an adjustable suspension.
Izh-Pulsar and its capabilities
For the first time, the public got acquainted with the new Izhevsk motorcycle in August 2017. The premiere also took place at the Army military-technical forum. The motorcycle has the following main characteristics: the maximum speed is limited to 100 km / h, the power reserve is about 150 kilometers. The heart of the motorcycle is a Chinese-made brushless DC motor that delivers a maximum power of 15 kW (20 hp). When charging, the motor of an electric motorcycle consumes only 10 kW / h of electricity. According to the developers' calculations, in comparison with motorcycles equipped with gasoline engines, Izh-Pulsar costs the owner about 12 times cheaper.
The Kalashnikov concern emphasizes that they have been thinking about creating a new Izha in the capital of Udmurtia since the very moment the motorcycle production was closed in 2008. Work on the Pulsar model began in Izhevsk in December 2016. At the same time, the stake was immediately made on a model with an electric motor, since it is precisely this technology that is the future. The main global trend of all recent years is electric motors and electric cars, everyone is trying to switch to electricity. According to the specialists of the concern, sooner or later Europe will come to the conclusion that all internal combustion engines will be banned at the legislative level, this may happen in the near future - within 10-15 years. That is why it was pointless to create a new Izh motorcycle with a gasoline engine from all points of view: both financial and technological.
At the same time, the advantages of electric motorcycles are obvious and this is not only about the fact that they do not harm the ecology of our planet. First of all, it is the cheapness of their operation. According to the developers' estimates, each kilometer of the road traveled by the Pulsar motorcycle turns out to be 10-15 times cheaper than on a motorcycle with an internal combustion engine. Given the rise in fuel prices, this is more and more relevant. At the same time, a full charge of an electric motorcycle will cost less than 50 rubles. In addition, such equipment is seriously cheaper in maintenance, since the standard maintenance of any motorcycle is the replacement of filters and oil, and Izh-Pulsar has neither one nor the other.
At the same time, Izhevsk emphasizes that they were developing a new motorcycle with an eye on the whole country and driving not on the best, "non-Moscow" roads, which prevail throughout Russia. It is difficult to argue with this, considering that the motorcycle was originally developed specifically for the Ministry of Defense and law enforcement agencies. On the rollers of the Concern "Kalashnikov" you can see how "Pulsars" confidently plow the snow-covered dirt roads. During the development process, the motorcycle was improved, so the new versions differ from the one that was presented back in the spring of 2017, they received a modified weight distribution, a stiffer suspension and many other new elements.
The Izh-Pulsar motorcycle is equipped with an original power plant. The heart of the model is a Chinese brushless DC electric motor manufactured by Golden Motor, which develops a maximum power of 15 kW (20 hp). In the future, Kalashnikov expects to switch to a domestically produced electric motor, which is currently being worked on. In the certification of the new Izhevsk motorcycle, three types of traction batteries are indicated at once: lithium-ion, lithium-polymer and lithium-ferrophosphate. One main battery is installed above the engine, one or two batteries can be placed in specially designed cases. The capacity of the main battery can be up to 38-100 A • h, auxiliary batteries - from 20 to 30 A • h. The total capacity of the batteries can be up to 160 Ah, and the range of a motorcycle according to OTTS (Approval of a vehicle type in Rosstandart) can be from 50 to 250 kilometers. In OTTS, special-purpose versions are registered for the needs of the army, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the FSB, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the National Guard, the Ministry of Justice, etc. and the civilian version. A special version of the Izh-Pulsar motorcycle can be additionally equipped with safety arches, flashing beacons, side and rear trunks, and a trunk. It is for this reason, as well as because of the various options for completing the batteries, that the curb weight of an electric motorcycle varies from 165 to 245 kg, and the permitted total weight of the Pulsar is from 300 to 320 kg.
Do the "Chinese ears" stick out of the Izhevsk motorcycle?
Back in 2018, the popular Russian edition of AvtoReview expressed some skepticism about the Izhevsk novelty. The publication doubted that before us is the own development of the Concern "Kalashnikov", a motorcycle of completely Russian origin. Indeed, the production of motorcycles in Izhevsk was completely curtailed back in 2008, and all equipment was sold out. At the same time, Izh-Pulsar looks very much like the Irbis TTR250 off-road gasoline motorcycles presented on the Russian market. Under this designation, Bashan BS250 motorcycles are sold in our country, which are assembled in Chongqing, China.
The Kalashnikov concern monitors the reaction of the media to their new products, so they could not miss such comparisons. After the demonstration of the first version of the new motorcycle, many comparisons and statements about the external similarity of the Pulsar with the Irbis TTR250 motorcycle appeared. The concern believes that such comparisons are primarily due to the fact that Izhevsk used headlights from the same manufacturer as on the Irbis. As for the rest, the motorcycle developers note, it is not very clear why the Russian press noticed the similarity with the Irbis, and not, for example, with Yamaha motorcycles. The concern believes that talking about some kind of external similarity of the models is, to say the least, strange.
At the same time, the main element of the Pulsar motorcycle is really made in China. The concern notes that the engine of the current versions is Chinese, it suited the developers with a set of characteristics. Currently, work is underway to create its own electric motor for Pulsar. The first models have already entered the testing stage, so in the future the new Izh motorcycles will receive Russian engines, which will help to abandon the use of the Chinese engine.
Motorcycles "Izh-Pulsar" are already being used by the police
Back in June last year, the Kalashnikov Concern handed over the first 30 Izh-Pulsar electric motorcycles to the Moscow police. All motorcycles went to work at the Moscow Department of Transport and Road Infrastructure Development. New models of motor vehicles were widely used while patrolling city streets and forested areas of the capital during the FIFA World Cup held in Russia.
New Izhevsk motorcycles are also being mastered by representatives of the Russian military police. So, in April 2019, the first 4 Izh-Pulsar electric motorcycles produced by the Kalashnikov Concern were transferred to the Military Automobile Inspectorate of the city of Moscow. According to the press service of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, by the end of 2019, the VAI of the city of Moscow will acquire 16 more electric motorcycles of Izhevsk production. It is already known that after the generalization and comprehensive analysis of the experience of using the first division of the VAI on electric motorcycles in Moscow, it is planned to form its own motorcycle divisions in 16 more VAI.
The VAI notes that the new motorcycles are perfect for creating mobile rapid response teams, driving out to accident sites within the city, as well as monitoring compliance with traffic rules and ensuring road safety when moving military vehicles in urban environments. The military department especially emphasizes the relevance of motor transport in cities with high traffic intensity and density, which, of course, include Moscow and other Russian millionaire cities. Indeed, an electric motorcycle is the type of transport that feels more confident in city traffic, a motorcycle is able to drive where an ordinary car will not pass, and can successfully break through even many kilometers of traffic jams.
