How leading motorcycle manufacturers are fighting for the right to create the first popular electric motorcycle

The roar of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle engine is as recognizable as the pop of a champagne cork. Would you like to have this beautiful and powerful motorcycle, but with a silent engine that does not guzzle gas? This is exactly the question Harley-Davidson asked itself and in 2014 presented its Project LiveWire, a futuristic prototype of an electric motorcycle.

Harley-Davidson is not the only motorcycle manufacturer that is planning to create a two-wheeled version of Tesla's electric car. Last year, the leading brands in the motorcycle market, including BMW, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, Piaggio, Suzuki, Triumph and Yamaha, sold 561,000 motorcycles in the United States, 4,000 more than in 2012, but 53% less than the 1.2 million sold in 2006. This year, motorcycle sales remained about the same as last year, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council, which calculated that 139,922 new motorcycles were sold in the United States in the first quarter of this year, an increase of 17 units. than for the same period in 2013.

Manufacturers are unlikely to hope that electric bikes will save the industry, but they can certainly become a lure for a new generation of riders. “Everyone is eager to get this new young rider,” says Mark Heuer, editor-in-chief of leading motorcycle magazine Cycle World. “In addition, electric motorcycles can now boast high speed. Any biker will be impressed by modern electric motorcycles.”

Electric discharge

The electric motorcycle niche emerged in the market in 2010, when Zero, Brammo, Energica and Mission began experimenting with the first electric motorcycles with a range of over 80 km. At first glance they resembled their traditional petrol brethren, but boasted zero emissions and aggressive, gearless acceleration with just a twist of the throttle.

The idea was that quiet, easy-to-maintain bikes would be ideal for commuting both around the city and on difficult roads.

And they could attract a new audience of motorcyclists, especially women who struggle with heavy clutches. Moreover, this is a very promising market. Even though the number of female motorcycle drivers has increased since 2003, they still only make up 25% of all American motorcyclists.

The first electric bikes (especially from unknown Chinese brands) resembled a stylish Vespa scooter rather than a high-tech Honda bike.

But over the past year, electric motorcycles have become significantly more powerful, smoother and more comfortable to use.

Zero, for example, has dramatically improved the suspension and powertrain technology in the $17,000 SR model, which accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds, has a battery range of 209 km, and can be recharged from a 110-volt outlet. 7 o'clock. Brammo's $11,000 Enertia Plus has fuel efficiency of 0.48 l/km and a top speed of 97 km/h. And the racing model Mission R with 160 horsepower has a top speed of more than 240 km/h and accelerates to 97 km/h in less than 3 seconds. New Italian firm Energica, led by young Livia Cevolini, unveiled its debut electric superbike model this year, the $68,000 Ego 45 with 134 horsepower. s., which accelerates to 97 km/h in 2.9 seconds. The battery of this motorcycle is fully charged in 3 hours.

“An electric bike can do everything we value in motorcycles, I'm not exaggerating,” says Scot Harden, vice president of global marketing at Zero Motorcycles. - I ride a motorcycle for the emotional excitement, the adrenaline from gaining speed, the feeling of control and the feeling of freedom. Zero Streetfighter gives me all of that. No loud noise, vibration, heat, exhaust fumes, oil stains in the garage. Plus I don't have to deal with regular maintenance on this bike. I don't need to repair it. I just ride it.”

Green monsters

But it was Harley-Davidson's LiveWire prototype that took the electric bike battle to the next level this summer. This 74 horsepower motorcycle with a range of 85 km between battery recharges, which takes less than 4 hours, is just a test model and is not yet available for sale. The company says it uses LiveWire to understand consumer tastes. Even so, this is already a significant step forward from the iconic brand. Harley accounted for 31% of all motorcycles sold in the US in 2013.

There are, however, good reasons to believe that e-bikes will remain an alternative niche and will not save either the market or the industry.

The main reason is that people buy motorcycles precisely because they are noisy, dirty, heavy and fast.

That's why Harley created a distinctive engine sound for its LiveWire bike to appeal to fans of traditional Harley-Davidson motorcycles. In addition, petrol motorcycles are already quite economical in terms of fuel consumption: Ducati's Monster 696 travels 16.8 km per liter of fuel. And the price premium for the lithium-ion batteries found in electric bikes makes it too expensive for most motorcycle enthusiasts, since the battery alone can add tens of thousands of dollars to the price of a regular motorcycle.

“There is a technology battle going on right now in all areas, including in the world of luxury and sports equipment,” says Cycle World's Heuer. - All manufacturers are focusing their efforts on producing inexpensive motorcycles, creating entry-level bikes for their brands. The same thing will have to happen with electric motorcycles, it’s just a matter of who gets it right first.”

Green monsters: is there a future for electric bikes?