Australia’s first electric motorcycle company, Fonzarelli, has won the Australian Good Design Awards’ Automotive – Best Exterior category for their fun, electric, dual-sport Grom-sized NKD minibike.

The Sydney-based company which also produces electric scooters were among 800 entries in the awards.

Fonzarelli founder Michelle Nazzari says the NKD, launched in October 2019, had to meet environmental and performance targets but also an “electrifying aesthetic”.

“From stuntmen to old school riders, we’ve enjoyed a host of great feedback on our ‘street-legal beast’,” she says.

“But to be recognised as delivering the year’s most impressive exterior across the entire automotive category is an incredible endorsement.”

There are four NKD models:

• NKDa (80km/h top speed, 50km range) from $6990;
• NKDs (100km/h top speed, 100km range) from $9990;
• NKD+ (100km/h top speed, 150km range) from $12490; and
• NKDx (100km/h top speed, 200km range) from $14990.

Fonzarelli designs and engineers the bike in Redfern, Sydney, and manufactures them in Adelaide.

Good Design Awards judges praised the NKD for its innovation and design:

“The styling of the NKD ticks the box and scores big for developing a solution that targets global emerging trends. NKD answered the need to move towards greener and more sustainable mobility solutions,” the judges said. 

“The use of recyclable materials and ability to tap into renewable energy adds to the positive environmental messaging of the brand and product.

“In a world where everyone is looking for individuality, the NKD can be customised and personalised to suit individual taste. The ‘meccano’ styling has that retro handmade feel about it, reinforcing that custom appeal. It doesn’t appear like a mass-produced product, giving it a sense of uniqueness and intrigue.

“The jury loves how the retro custom styling is in complete contrast to the technology and powertrain that sits within. It’s very cool. 0-100 in 3.9 sec… WOW!

“Overall, the NKD is a cool step towards the shift to more environmentally friendly mobility solutions. Low running costs, high performance, range, customisation, safety, low service costs, the use of recyclable materials all add to a well thought out solution.”

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

A sketch for an electric Husqvarna has emerged showing the company has plans for an electric naked street bike.

It follows the launch last year of their first electric motorcycle, a small EE 5 electric dirt bike which is the equivalent of a 50cc model.

But now it looks like Husky will head to the streets with an electric after these images of an E-Pilen appeared in a leaked company investor presentation report.

The Swedish company is now owned by KTM which already makes the electric Freeride E-XC and SX-E5 trials bikes, but also plans to introduce electric street bikes and scooters.

Perhaps the technology is being developed together.

After all, the sketch was part of an investor presentation hosted by Pierer Mobility which is the parent company of KTM and Husqvarna.

So we may also logically suspect a KTM E-Duke may be on the cards.

The only difference between the E-Pilen and E-Duke could be cosmetic.

As for when they are produced, it could still be a few years if the sketches have only just emerged at an investor presentation.

It’s a long way from asking for money and showing a sketch to actually producing a prototype, then unveiling a production-ready bike.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com