Portland-based Stites Design specializes in "electrohuman hybrids", i.e., electric-assist bikes and trikes. This truck trike weighs 250 pounds but can carry 600 pounds of freight. It's one of the electric bikes used by the Portland bike delivery service B-Line.
Warrenton-based Lektro Inc. makes electric aircraft tugs that are known for being designed without a tow bar since 1967. The U.S. Department of Defense bought two tugs for the Air Force with plans to convert them to hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. The company has been making electric vehicles since 1945.
Columbia Cycle Works
Columbia Cycle Works makes the Tripod velomobile, a recumbent tricycle that comes with a 500-watt hub motor that can push it up to 20 mph. The Tripod debuted in 2010 but so far has only been made to order; in October the company announced it was nearing the start date for mass production.
United Streetcar
United Streetcar announced that they successfully shipped the first of six street cars to the City of Portland last month. The company is a subsidiary of Oregon Iron Works, Inc., based in Clackamas. The first of the new streetcars should be open to passengers early next month.
Ashland-based Brammo manufactures several models of electric sport motorcycles – including racing bikes. Earlier this year, the company got a boost from a tax credit extension in the federal “fiscal cliff” deal. Its customers will continue to qualify for a 10 percent or $2,500 tax credit through most of this year.
Ryno Motors of Portland makes a self-balancing one-wheeled electric scooter with a removable, rechargeable battery. The Portland Police Department leased two of them last year to test them out on city streets.
Arcimoto
Eugene-based Arcimoto makes tandem three-wheeled electric motorcycles with enclosed frames. The vehicles will travel up to 75 miles an hour for about 40 miles per charge.
Don't forget electric car conversions like this BMW. The Oregon Electric Vehicle Association is full of crafty engineers who can replace the internal combustion engine with an electric drive system in all kinds of cars.
Earlier this week, the electric vehicle industry group Drive Oregon released its first report on the economic value of EVs in Oregon.
In a survey of what ended up being about 54 businesses, the Northwest Economic Research Center found a total of about 1,600 jobs in the state’s EV industry and $266 million in economic value.
Tom Potiowsky, a professor at Portland State University and director of the research center, said manufacturers of a variety of EVs and their suppliers made up a large portion of the economic value. But these EVs might not be what you’re picturing. They range from streetcars and velomobiles to airplane tugs and one-wheeled electric scooters, but they’re don't include the high-profile Nissan LEAF or Chevy Volt.
“Oregon has a corner of the market on three-, two- and one-wheel vehicles,” Potiowsky said. “Not so much the four-wheel.”
Check out the wide range of electric vehicles made in Oregon in the slideshow above.
With Fewer Trash Pickups In Portland, Dirty Diapers Pile Up In Recycling Bins
Army Corps Won't Kill Gulls To Help Salmon-Eating Terns
Curbside Food Scraps Return To Portland As Compost For Community Gardens
Downsizing To A Micro-Loft: From 1,200 to 300 Square Feet
Forest Service: City Trees Are Good For Carbon Storage, Too
