![Siemens' Smart Chopper, built by Orange County Choppers [via Wired]](https://images.hgmsites.net/med/siemens-smart-chopper-built-by-orange-county-choppers-via-wired_100226462_m.jpg "Siemens' Smart Chopper, built by Orange County Choppers [via Wired]")
Siemens' Smart Chopper, built by Orange County Choppers [via Wired]
The next episode of TLC's American Chopper will showcase more than a contentious family feud. The Siemens Smart Chopper will be featured on the show airing tomorrow at 9:00 p.m. eastern time. Orange County Choppers built the Siemens-engineered electric motorcycle, which uses an Advanced DC Motors Inc. Series Wound 8" electric motor and a clutchless one-speed drive system.
The body incorporates recycled materials and light emitting diodes (LEDs) for the headlamp, tail light and turn signals. According to David Hulick, marketing director for automotive LED systems division at OSRAM SYLVANIA (a division of Siemens), the LEDs reduce energy consumption 85% over incandescent bulbs.
With a top speed of 100 miles per hour and a 60 mile range on a full charge, the Smart Chopper would make for a sweet, silent, emissions-free ride to work. See the full press release below.
Source: Siemens
Press release:
Orange County Choppers Glides Into the Future With OSRAM SYLVANIA LED Lighting Innovations
First OCC electric chopper features advanced OSRAM LED forward lighting
HILLSBORO, N.H., Nov. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Fans of the popular TLC show American
Chopper will witness a first when they tune in this Thursday, November 5 at 9
p.m. ET/PT. The Orange County Choppers (OCC) crew -- founder Paul Sr., --
forges new territory with the creation of their first electric-powered
chopper.
Another first for an OCC creation is the use throughout the bike of Light
Emitting Diode (LED) lighting for head, tail and signal lighting. Supplied by
OSRAM SYLVANIA, a division of Siemens and a leader in automotive lighting
innovation, the lighting array includes the first OEM installation of OSRAM
SYLVANIA LEDs in a motorcycle head lighting application. The lighting company
partnered with its sister companies Valeo Sylvania to develop a
state-of-the-art headlamp cluster assembly and OSRAM Opto Semiconductors to
provide high-powered LED chips.
The Smart Chopper's 4.5-inch custom headlamp design utilizes an OSRAM
JFL2-based JOULE(TM) system. The JFL2 is the latest addition to a family of
LED lighting solutions designed to offer the standardization of current
automotive systems in a compact, energy-efficient package.
"The Siemens Smart Chopper embodies the next generation of lighting design for
the cars and motorcycles of tomorrow," said David Hulick, marketing director
for automotive LED systems division at OSRAM SYLVANIA. "OSRAM SYLVANIA LED
technology is the choice for this project because of its durability, energy
efficiency and of course, its versatility. LEDs offer endless design
opportunities for car and motorcycle makers while reducing energy consumption
by 85 percent over conventional lighting applications."
Along with the JFL2 JOULE(TM) system, the Siemens Smart Chopper features:
-- Two Amber LED "MonoLED" one-inch dome front turn signals
-- Two example lamps for use of "dome and tunnel" style design for the
tail
lamps (red stop and amber turn signal)
-- Two boards each with six OSRAM Opto Semiconductors Advanced Power
TOPLED
in red and yellow for front and rear turn signals
-- One LINEARlight Flex Top Colormix system for Red-Green-Blue (RGB) body
lighting.
"This was the first time we used LED lighting exclusively in the design of a
bike, but it won't be the last," said Paul Teutul Sr "OSRAM LEDs opened up new
avenues for us to explore reaching beyond the practical use and more towards
lighting as a purely aesthetic part of the design."
The efficiency of LED lighting makes it the perfect choice for an
electric-powered motorcycle. A recent study by the University of Michigan
Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) compared the power consumption of an
electric vehicle equipped with all incandescent lighting to a vehicle equipped
with all LED lights. The results indicate that the efficiency of LED lighting
has the potential to extend the range of an electric vehicle by up to two
percent of the total distance driven.
"That's a huge benefit for electric bike riders," said Hulick. "It's the
difference between a day of riding and a day with the bike sitting at home on
the charger."
The Siemens Smart Chopper was built for Siemens Corp., a global powerhouse in
electronics and electrical engineering. It integrates an Advanced DC Motors
Inc. Series Wound 8" electric motor and clutchless one-speed drive system with
a long-sleek frame and radical custom bodywork made from new and recycled
materials.
About OSRAM SYLVANIA
OSRAM SYLVANIA, together with OSRAM GmbH, is the world leader in automotive
lighting for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and the aftermarket. The
company's global automotive lighting division has its principal North American
operations in Hillsboro, N.H., with nearly 700 employees. In addition to TS
16949, this facility has also achieved ISO 9001 and 14001 certifications.
Automotive Lighting designs, develops, manufactures and markets
state-of-the-art automotive light sources, including auxiliary, advanced
halogen, LED and high-intensity discharge lighting for interior, exterior and
forward lighting applications. Over 400 lamp types are produced for cars,
trucks, and electronics in facilities throughout the U.S., Europe, and Asia.
Automotive applications for OEMs are marketed under the OSRAM brand while
products for the aftermarket are sold under the SYLVANIA brand.
OSRAM Opto Semiconductors and OSRAM Automotive Lighting work together to offer
a complete line of cutting-edge, award-winning, light emitting diode (LED)
products and system solutions for the automotive industry from individual LED
components to Joule Standardized Automotive LED Systems. OSRAM LED products
enable the automotive industry to take advantage of the functionality,
durability, energy-savings, and styling potential LEDs provide.
OSRAM SYLVANIA is a leader in lighting solutions and specialty products that
feature innovative design and energy saving technology. The company sells
products for homes, businesses and vehicles primarily under the SYLVANIA brand
name, and also under the OSRAM brand. Headquartered in Danvers, Mass., OSRAM
SYLVANIA is the North American operation of OSRAM GmbH, a wholly owned
subsidiary of Siemens AG. For more information, visit www.sylvania.com.
About Orange County Choppers
Headquartered in Newburgh, NY Orange County Choppers is regarded as one of the
world's premier builders of custom and production motorcycles. The OCC shop is
featured on American Chopper, a reality television series that chronicles the
lives of the OCC crew as they battle impossible deadlines to create outrageous
custom chopper creations. The show, which has contributed to the company's
quick rise to fame, debuted in September 2002 on the Discovery Channel and in
2007, Discovery Channel's sister station, TLC, took over the broadcasting and
it now airs on Thursday nights at 9pm ET/PT. For more information, visit
www.orangecountychoppers.com
SOURCE OSRAM SYLVANIA
Colleen Applebaugh, OSRAM SYLVANIA, +1-978-750-2763,
[email protected], or John Peter, John Bailey & Associates,
Public Relations, +1-248-362-2400 x 236, [email protected], or Michele
Paolella, OCC, +1-845-522-5255, [email protected]
