One of the biggest hurdles in the coming revolution of the electric vehicle is finding enough charging stations so motorists can ride and drive beyond the city limits.
Taiwanese motorcycle and scooter manufacturer has a unique idea for private charging stations that can be owned by individuals.
Now they have launched a range of charging stations called NOODOE (pronounced “new dough”) which can be privately owned by individuals.
No, it’s not an April Fool’s Day prank.
The cloud-based systems could actually be a viable alternative to the inaction on the part of big business and governments to supply suitable infrastructure for the nascent electric vehicle industry.
Obviously business will be involved once EVs reach a significant proportion of traffic.
And surely governments and businesses will have final say over the placement of such infrastructure.
Electric vehicle infrastructure
In Australia, businesses and governments are working together to build charging EV infrastructure.
Electric motorcycles may be poised to become the next big thing, but the much-anticipated Lightning Strike strikes out three times as a big disappointment.
There was much anticipation that Californian electric startup Lightning Motorcycles would make an attractive and affordable version of its $US38,888 LS-218 which at 350km/h (218mph) is the world’s fastest electric motorcycle.
Instead, the Strike strikes out as a disappointment in style, price and specifications.
Style strikes out
After all, it’s just another sports bike in a world where sports bikes are on a fast downhill slide in popularity.
We expected it might be a more utilitarian bike with an upright riding stance and styling that would appeal to a mass market.
The Strike just looks like any petrol-powered sports bike. It’s ok, but nothing spectacular or appealing to a wider group of buyers that might consider an electric alternative.
Prices start at $US12,998 ($A18,300) and rise to $19,998 ($A28,200). Those prices do not include on-road costs.
The basic model sounds like a reasonable price and it’s comparable to some of the Zero models which ranged from $A18,000 to $A25,000 on the road when they were last available in Australia in 2017.
However, the devil is in the detail of the specifications.
Spec strikes out
The base model costs around the same as the base model Zero, but only has range up to about 160km while the Zero has about 275km.
If you want better range, you have to buy the Strike Carbon Edition which has up to 320km of range.
That surpasses the flagship Zero SR/F with 130km highway range and 260km city range and a top speed of 200km/h.
The Strike has higher top speeds of 217-240km/h.
But top speeds are beside the point. You can’t do those speeds on our highways and we can guarantee that if you did them on the race track, range would be dramatically reduced to just a few laps of your favourite circuit.
Then it would be time to recharge the bike.
Once again, the Strike strikes out.
The standard bike’s 10kWh battery takes up to three hours to charge with the 3.6kW onboard charger.
You can drop that time by about an hour if you buy the $US1500 ($A2100) 6.6kW onboard charger.
The Strike Carbon Edition has a 20kWh battery and standard 6.6 kW charger and you can buy a Level 3 DC fast charger to bring charging time down to about 35 minutes.
There is no word on how much the charger would cost, but it’s probably about double the 6.6kW charger.
However, fast charging is not good for the life of your battery and should only be done occasionally.
Fast charging will also only charge a battery to 80% of its capacity. To completely charge a battery, you need to do a full charging cycle.
Conclusion: 3 strikes – you’re out!
Lightning Motorcycles plans to release the Strike for sale in the US in July with no announcement yet for the rest of the world.
It will not become a big player in the market and it will not be the spark that ignites the electric revolution.
What do bikers believe in the most? I’d venture a guess that the most common answer is freedom. When you’re going down the highway at 130km/h, you get the impression that the world is your playground. Nothing can stop you when you’re moving that fast, with the wind blowing in your face and all is right with the world. That feeling you get is freedom, and that’s what a motorcycle represents.
Even if you’ve never thought about it as such, your love of motorcycles can also be your pipeline to financial freedom. The motorcycle industry is currently experiencing some interesting changes. With those changes come a stream of new trends that a savvy entrepreneur with a love for two wheels and a motor could take advantage of.
If you want to make money with your love of riding, tap into these four trends that the motorcycle industry is experiencing.
1. Shifting to a Younger Demographic
The motorcycle industry was built by the Baby Boomer Generation. Their desire to get on the open road and enjoy all that life had to offer meant that the motorcycle lifestyle was a perfect match for them. However, as the Boomers grow older and start to retire, they just aren’t investing in the industry like they used to. That’s a problem in and of itself but it gets worse: there aren’t as many young riders to take their place.
That’s quickly changing. Execs of motorcycle manufacturers all over the globe are slowly starting to realise that they’ve failed to reach a younger, progressive, more diverse audience. And they’re working to change that. Gone are the big, flashy, $30K Harleys of yesteryear; in are the vintage cool models that harken back to the 50s and 60s, when motorbikes had their own unique edge. That, and they cost under $10K.
How You Can Bridge the Generational Gap
One of the biggest reservations Millennials have about getting into motorcycles is the cost. Already rattled by record levels of student debt and ever-growing inflation, Millennials are more frugal, whether they want to be or not. Buying a big, expensive Harley just seems like another unnecessary debt.
What they’re asking for is an easier, more inexpensive way to get into the lifestyle. Ride-sharing, which has been popularised by the Uber and Lyft models for cars, could easily be extended to motorcycles. You could rent out your own bike, or even develop your own mobile app centred around motorcycle ride-sharing.
2. The Rise of the Electronic Bike
There was a time when vehicles powered completely by electricity was the stuff of science fiction. With a greater emphasis on environmental conservation against the rising cost of fuel, automotive manufacturers across the globe are trying to turn science fiction into science fact. The motorbike industry is no exception.
A Super Charge for Your Bank Account
As the demand for electric bikes grows, manufacturers are going to invest more money into R&D and marketing towards these electric bikes. Many sources from within the industry and those who watch it closely say that electric bikes will be what saves the industry. By investing now, when giants like Harley Davidsons’ stocks are at their lowest point, you can enjoy a big return on your investment when those stocks grow.
3. Growth in Motorcycle Accessories
While actual sales of bikes have been slowing for the past few years, sales of motorcycle accessories have continued at a healthy pace. It may not seem apparent why at first, but consider the following:
As technology advances, helmets, pads, gloves, and the like become more lightweight and more supportive
Old accessories wear out and need replacing
Bikers who’ve lived their entire life riding on two wheels can’t ever have too much gear
When you consider all of the above it makes perfect sense. People may struggle to drop $15K on a new Ducati but it’s not too hard to get a $50 jacket with the logo of a beloved brand.
Give the People What They Want
No big mystery about how to tap into this steady source of revenue. If you want to make some good money through accessories, you need to start up an online business that sells them. The advantage of using a web-based platform is that you can opt for a drop-shipping model. This means that you don’t have to maintain or ship your own inventory. When you do get an order, you contact your supplier, and they ship the product directly to the customer. You make money, your supplier makes money, your customers get great products – everybody wins.
4. Women Want to Ride Too
If there’s one demographic that the motorcycle industry is kicking itself over, it’s women. Back in 2015, the number of women riders reached a new all-time high. The Motorcycle Industry Council reported at the time that women accounted for around 14% of all riders on the road. The issue is that companies are marketing to the same group they have been for close to 40 years: Baby Boomer men. As far as women go, the industry’s outlook has been way out of touch – make it smaller, make it pink.
The awesome thing is that women riders, especially in Australia, are gaining traction, whether the industry pays them any attention or not.
Make the Ladies Feel Welcome
Because it’s good business, and because it’s the right thing to do, you need to start looking at ways to encourage more female ridership. One thing you could consider doing is to start your own motorcycle rider’s training service. As more young riders get into the life, especially young women, they’re going to want mentors who can help them get into the lifestyle, choose the best gear, and of course, learn to ride.
It’d also be an awesome idea to start your own women’s motorcycle club. There’s plenty of MCs out there that cater to men exclusively. It’s way past time that the ladies had their time to shine.
The oil-and-liquid cooling system in the Kawasaki patent drawings are certainly more substantial than we have seen on any other electric motorcycle so far.
That would not only provide more range, but also greater performance.
Triumph Trident
The rumours about Triumph developing an electric motorcycle are a little more sketchy.
They are based on trademark and supposed patent filings.
We couldn’t find any details of a patent filing, but the trademark filing for the name “Trident” does spark interest.
The trademark would be used for “all possible classes”.
That includes motorcycling gear, accessories and even clothing.
But there is also a mention of electric machines which could be a motorcycle or an e-bike.
Given the enormous growth in e-bikes in Europe, that is the more likely.
Aussie Triples Rally
We can imagine the folk at the 10th annual Aussie Triples Rally at Evans Head in August wouldn’t be too impressed with a Trident e-bike!
The Triumph Trident was originally made from 1968 to 1975 and the same powerful and sophisticated triples were also sold as the BSA Rocket 3.
The Trident name was reborn in the 1990s with three- and four-cylinder bikes in various engine sizes from 750cc to 1200cc.
Meanwhile, the Aussie Triples Rally is always held on the third weekend in August.
For more information on the rally, email Col McAndrew or contact him on 0428 869889.
The cause of the Energica blaze has not yet been determine. It could be a fault with the vehicles, an accident, or even arson.
However, electric car company Tesla has been plagued by instances of their cars bursting into flame.
Some have caught on fire in a crash, while others have ignited while being driven or being charged.
Electric fires
Electric vehicles fires can be caused by impact, short-circuits, power surge, excessive discharge or heat.
They also cause special concerns for fire fighters.
Lithium batteries are obviously made with lithium which is highly flammable and stored in mineral oil.
While it is not toxic, it can cause nausea, diarrhoea, dizziness, muscle weakness, fatigue and a dazed feeling.
Electric vehicle and battery fires can also release sulphuric acid, carbon monoxide, copper and cobalt.
Fire fighters can’t douse the flames with water as the high voltage can cause an electric shock or electrocution.
Instead, they have to disconnect the power supply (usually an orange plug) and contain the fire to let it burn itself out.
Energica fire
It is now suspected the MotoE series, which was to start in May, will be delayed.
The incident occurred at the Jerez Circuit in Spain during the second full test for the Energica Ego bikes ahead of the season starter at the circuit in May.
No one was injured in the blaze, but a lot of gear, tools and computers were also destroyed.
MotoE is known as the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup and has 11 teams with 18 riders.
Harley-Davidson has now provided more detailed specs for its LiveWire electric motorcycle, together with plans for fast-charging devices at dealerships.
We rode the first incarnation of the LiveWire in LA in 2014 and inspected the production model at Milwaukee last year.
While some of the bike’s specs were provided, range was still a vague figure that seemed to vary from about 100-160km depending on whom you spoke to at HD.
Now Harley-Davidson has announced the final production-verified performance figures for LiveWire:
225km (140 miles) of city range or 142km (88 miles) of combined stop-and-go and highway range as measured using the MIC City and MIC Combined (70mph) tests;
Standard DC Fast Charge technology which provides a 0-80% of battery charge in 40 minutes or 0-100% in 60 minutes;
Top speed is 177km/h (110mph); and
0 to 100km/h in 3 seconds and 100-130km/h in 1.9 seconds.
The range figures are interesting because most companies just state one figure which is useless as range varies substantially on a number of factors. Click here for more details.
LiveWire will be available for sale in North America in August at $29,790, but is already taking orders. It will be available late this year in Europe and Canada with orders open from April.
That’s a handy service and we expect it might even be free or, at least, very cheap.
It’s also a good sales tactic as it would guarantee riders called into dealerships more often.
Riders would not only be able to charge their LiveWire electric motorcycle, but also the new children’s Harley-branded electric bicycles.
Harley also plans a range of e-bikes, electric scooters and smaller urban electric motorcycles than the LiveWire.
More LiveWire specs
LiveWire has a twist-and-go electric powertrain with no clutch or gear shifting, just like most scooters and many other electric motorcycles.
Braking effect of the power regeneration mode adds charge to the battery, especially in stop-and-go urban traffic.
Central to the technology driving the LiveWire is an Electronic Chassis Control (ECC) system.
It uses cornering ABS, traction control and Drag-Torque Slip Control System to “monitor and manage front and rear brake torque as well as motor torque to the rear wheel to enhance rider control and balance vehicle performance across diverse riding environments”.
In other words, it keeps the wheels on the ground and prevents slides.
In some markets, the LiveWire has the H-D Connect mobile app that uses an LTE-enabled Telematics Control Unit and cloud services to collect data and provide the rider with information about their bike such as battery charge status and available range, so long as you have mobile signal. It will also show riders where they can recharge and guide them there.
The app includes alerts riders if someone is trying to steal their bike and uses GPS to track it if it has been taken.
Riders will also get service reminders and other vehicle care notifications.
LiveWire has a fully adjustable Showa Balanced Free Rear Cushion-lite mono rear shock and Showa Separate Function Big Piston forks.
It comes with Brembo monoblock front brake calipers on dual 300mm discs.
Californian electric motorcycle company Fly Free has opened up pre-orders for their retro bikes starting at just $4159 (about $A5870) through an Indiegogo crowd-funding campaign.
Backers will not get a refund if the bikes do not go into production and there is no guarantee they will.
However, the Long Beach company have already raised about 50% of their $US50,000 ($A70,650) “flexible goal” with a month still to go.
So it seems likely they will achieve enough funds to start production.
Backers get up to 35% off of the retail prices.
Fly Free hope to deliver the Chinese-made bikes in December but there is no word yet on exports to markets outside North America.
Models and range
There are three models in the range and they come in single or double battery configurations.
The single battery provides range of 80km and a top speed of 65km/h.
If you buy a second battery at $US899 (about $A1270) through their Indiegogo campaign, it doubles range with a maximum speed of 80km/h.
Retail price for the extra battery after the crowd-funding campaign will be $US1299 (about $A1835).
So they are obviously targeted at city riders only.
However, you can double the range by buying an extra battery order as they holds two removable lithium batteries.
They feature a smartphone app that acts as a smart key to unlock and start the bike.
It also warns the rider when the bike’s battery drops below 50% and if someone is trying to steal it, but only if the rider is within about 50m!
All bikes feature LED lighting, twin rear shocks and disc brakes, although there is no mention of ABS.
Fly Free Smart Desert
The cheapest model is the Fly Free Smart Desert, inspired by the “Desert Sled” Triumph that Hollywood and motorcycle legend used to race in the Californian desert.
It comes with retro knobbies and will be available in red, black-and-white camouflage, grey or beige from $US4159 through the Indiegogo campaign.
After that, it will cost $US6399 (about $5875) and extra for the second battery.
Fly Free Smart Old
This brat bike features low bars, retro road tyres, bar-end mirrors and over-sized round headlight.
It comes in white, black, blue, or silver starting at $US4679 (about $A6600) for Indiegogo backers.
Retail price will be $US7199 (about $A6610).
Fly Free Smart Classic
This is also a cafe racer, but with solo seat, rear cowl, fly screen and two-tone paint options at starting $US5329 (about $A7500) for Indiegogo backers.
Retail price will be $US8199 (about $A7530).
Fly Free are pledging to donate 4% of net profits to a (yet to be selected) non-profit that will focus on cleaner air and water.
All Fly Free motorcycles have a range of options and accessories such as side plates, seats and luggage.
You can even buy racks to mount a surfboard, snowboard or skateboard.
Fly Free tech specs
Motor: 3kW continuous, 7kW peak
Torque: 200Nm (147lb-ft)
Top speed: 80km/h (50mph)
Battery capacity: 72V 25.2Ah (1.8 kWh)
Range: 80km (50 miles) in ECO mode with one battery; double with two batteries
Charge time: 5-8 hours
Riding modes: ECO, CITY, & SPEED
Max climb grade: 36%
Brakes: Hydraulic disc brakes
Suspension: Hydraulic fork and dual rear hydraulic coilover shocks
Harley-Davidson wants children riding electric “Harley-Davidson” bicycles so they become “the next generation” of riders. They hope to achieve this by selling electric bicycles through selected US dealerships.
The move follows their acquisition, for an undisclosed amount, of Californian children’s electric bicycle company StaCyc, which stands for “stability cycles”.
StaCyc will continue to sell their bikes in the US through powersports dealerships, including 29 Harley-Davidson dealerships, as well as online and in specialty bicycle shops.
However, from the third quarter of this year, selected US Harley dealerships will sell the electric bicycles rebranded as Harleys.
Harley-Davidson Australia has not advised whether the bikes will be sold here.
StaCyc electric bicycles
StaCyc started in 2016 and has a range of 12-and 16-inch-wheel electric EDRIVE bikes priced from $US649 ($A915) to $US699 ($A985).
There is no word on whether they will cost more when rebranded as Harley-Davidsons.
Electric portfolio
Harley say the acquisition expands their electric portfolio and reinforces their “commitment to lead in the electrification of motorcycling”.
Harley also plan a range of e-bikes (pedal-assisted electric bicycles) and scooters in the next couple of years.
In March 2018, the Milwaukee brand acquired a stake in electric dirt-bike company Alta Motors, but later relinquished it after gaining key technology on batteries and electric motors.
Alta Motors went bust in October and Canadian company BRP, which makes the Can-Am Spyder, has now bought a selection of its assets, including intellectual property, patents and some physical assets.
Brand loyalty
Perhaps Harley will also gain some technical know-how from StaCyc as it did in the short-lived Alta Motors deal.
However, the StaCyc acquisition seems to be more about building brand loyalty from young cyclists in the hope they will become Harley motorcyclists.
Harley-Davidson Senior Vice President of Marketing and Brand, Heather Malenshek, says StaCyc “shares the same vision we have for building the next generation of riders globally”.
“We’ve said previously that we believe electric vehicles are where global mobility is headed and they hold great appeal for existing riders as well as opportunity to build new riders,” Heather says.
“As we lead in the electrification of motorcycling, we’re demonstrating our commitment by delivering a full range of electric products for a vast audience who will be inspired to imagine and discover what is possible from Harley-Davidson.”
Vanguard Spark was formed by Alfa Romeo F1 principal Francois-Xavier Terny of Vanguard Motorcycles and Frédéric Vasseur, founder of electric Formula E race car company Spark Racing Technology.
Now they have changed their name to Fuell, which is a clever reference to Buell, even though their machines have no fuel!
We could have expected the founders’ racing genes to flow through to their products.
However, they have unveiled the Flow “urban mobility” electric motorcycle and the Fluid pedal-assisted e-bike.
The bikes are not available for test ride until they are fully revealed on April 23, but will be on show in New York for a month to investors, journalists and “influencers”.
Flow
Flow is an electric motorcycle available in 11kW (125cc equivalent) or 35kW versions.
There is no pricing information or technical details available yet such as range, but they keep referring to it as a “city” bike.
As expected from Erik whose Buell motorcycles had innovative features such as oil in the swingarm, fuel in the frame and peripheral brake discs, the Flow does have technical innovations.
Fuell say it has a proprietary wheel-motor1, connected dashboard and a low centre of gravity.
It has conventional upside-down forks, a mono shock rear and no clutch lever.
Electric motorcycles are coming on a wave of hype about range of more than 300km, but are the claims a hoax?
Traditional petrol-powered motorcycles are quoted in terms of miles per gallon or litre per 100km. It provides a reliable and realistic guide to the range from a bike’s tank. Riding hard or conservatively doesn’t make a huge difference to range.
However, the range calculations for an electric motorcycle are not as simple.
Vacuum sucks
We recently bought an expensive cordless vacuum cleaner which was claimed to have a battery that would last for a couple of hours of cleaning.
However, that was based on using the low-powered mode. If you want to really suck and use the boost mode, you are flat out getting about 20 minutes out of it. And six months down the track, that’s more like 15 minutes.
I also once drove an early Tesla sportster on a hot day around the Ipswich Motorway for only five laps before the fully charged battery overheated and I had to pit.
On another occasion, I rode an electric Zero DS with a claimed 290km of range from the Gold Coast to home and nearly ran out of battery because I was riding on the highway.
Electric hoax?
So is electric motorcycle range a hoax to rope in riders who want to be seen to be keeping pace with the modern world and showing their “green” credentials (that is, if they have access to clean power for recharging!).
Battery range in electric vehicles is subject to so many variables a range figure is almost a pointless hoax.
Factors that affect battery range include:
Extreme ambient temperatures;
Riding modes such as “eco” and “sport”;
Constant throttle at highway speeds that deplete batteries faster;
Brake regeneration extends range in stop-start traffic; and
Downhill sections conserve battery power.
Riders will have to think totally differently about electric motorcycles and almost disregard the salesperson’s claims about range.
For example, highway and city riding yield totally opposite range yields to a traditional petrol engine.
The latest Zero SR/F comes with this complex table of range calculations that vary from 132km on the highway to amiss double in the city! It’s enough to confuse any buyer.
Range
PREMIUM
STANDARD
City
259km
259km
Highway, 89km/h
159km
159km
Combined
198km
198km
Highway, 113km/h
132km
132km
Combined
175km
175km
Range (based on EU standard)
157km
158km
Electric sales
But the complex range claims have not stopped the surge of electric motorcycle sales, particularly in Asia and Europe.
While more than 90% of electric bike sales are low-powered scooters and mopeds in Asian, Europe is surging ahead on the back of a host of financial incentives for the sale and use of electric bikes.
While motorcycle sales in Europe rose by 9.9% in 2018, electric motorcycle sales rose 81.5%, although they still represent only 0.75% of all motorbikes sold in Europe.
New range claims
Almost every day an electric motorcycle company makes outlandish clams about extended range.
A Chinese company claims it has a prototype power cruiser made of lightweight aluminium withup to 400 km of range and charging from flat to full in just 15 minutes.
Battery life
As for the longevity of expensive batteries, there are few examples as electric motorcycles have not been around long enough.
However, Italian electric bike company Tacita says that in almost eight years their batteries have had more than 1700 recharging cycles with unchanged range.
They say they can guarantee 80% of the battery’s energy will remain after 4000 charge cycles.
I don’t say I disbelieve their claims, but they do make a mockery of my vacuum cleaner experience!