San Francisco-based Mission Motors has gained some recognition in the Valley for its flagship electric motorcycle, the Mission One Superbike. The sleek vehicle, which features a lithium ion battery park, can reach speeds of 150 mph and go for 150 miles on a single charge. The problem is, it’s not quite ready for prime time.
Despite earlier promises for a Q4 2010 release and then a Q2 2011 release, production has been marred by delays and there is now no clear visibility on a delivery date for consumers. Given the recent setbacks, Mission Motors is wisely diversifying its business beyond the Mission One.
On Tuesday, the startup unveiled a new unit: Mission Electric Vehicle Technology, or MissionEVT. MissionEVT will suppy vehicle manufacturers (from motorcycles to cars to trucks) with electric vehicle technology, including “energy storage systems, drive systems and software intelligence,” the company said in a statement. In addition, MissionEVT will also offer integration services for their clients, such as electric drive expertise and test facilities.
“Our company will be able to expand into new markets, bringing the advances we have made in EV technology to multiple vehicle platforms and manufacturers,” CEO Jit Bhattacharya said in a statement. “This creates a tremendous high-volume opportunity for Mission’s powertrain technology, while solving a critical need for vehicle manufacturers trying to keep pace with the rapid electrification of vehicles.”
The powertrain technology offered by MissionEVT is based on the research and development for Mission One. According to Bhattacharya, this development process yielded several core building blocks— in areas like battery storage and software— which can now be molded applied to other vehicle types.