Tag Archives: Electric motorcycles

Suzuki slow to plug into electric revolution

Suzuki has been slow to plug into the electric motorcycle revolution, but looks like finally joining the other Japanese motorcycle manufacturers, at least in the Asian market.

The big four Japanese manufacturers have all been slow in announcing their intentions with electric motorcycles and scooters.

However, in April 2019, electric vehicle website Electrek claimed Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Suzuki has signed an agreement to work on standardising electric motorcycle batteries and charging infrastructure.

No doubt it’s hoped to avoid the Beta/VHS situation where new video recording technology went two different ways.

Standardised batteries and charging infrastructure would mean plugs on bikes and sockets on charging points would suit all electric motorcycle models.

Perhaps a standardised battery size, shape and output would also lead to a battery swap solution which would be quicker than waiting for a bike to recharge.

Slow revolution

By comparison with their major counterparts, the usually innovative Japanese motorcycle companies have been slow to join the electric vehicle revolution.

Yamaha released the PES1 (Passion Electric Street) road bike and PED1 (Passion Electric Dirt) off-roader for limited sale, mainly in Europe.

Yamaha PES1 electric motorcycles product standardiseYamaha PES1 electric motorcycle

Kawasaki has filed a patent for a water-cooled electric.

Honda has a hybrid scooter and an electric self-balancing prototype.

Honda reveals electric self-balancing concept Honda Riding Assist-e self-driving standardiseHonda electric Assist-e self-balancing bike

Meanwhile, Suzuki has been the slow coach with no patents, no announcements, nothing!

Until now.

Autocar India reports that Suzuki Motorcycle India MD Koichiro Hirao says they are working on an EV platform for India.

There is no word on what that EV platform will be; motorcycle, scooter, mobility scooter!

Nor is there any word about whether they would be available outside the country.

India is becoming a major player in the EV market with a host of companies from start-ups to major manufacturers now making them.

This comes in the wake of tough new emissions regulations in the overcrowded and polluted country.

Learn electric terms

Living with petrol-powered motorcycles all our lives, we now find we will have to learn a lot of new terms in the coming electric revolution.

We certainly don’t profess to know much about electrical terms.

But here is a very non-technical, idiot’s guide to the main terms. (Electricians may find this quite amusing!)

Volts: This is a measure between two points in an electrical circuit, sort of like the water pressure in pipes. The mains plug in your house has 240V (230V in UK, 110V in USA) and your motorcycle battery has 12V.

Amps: Together with the voltage, it determines the flow rate of the current. High amps with a low voltage means a lot of current flowing slowly, like a fat, lazy river. Low amps with a high voltage means a faster flow of less current, sort of like when you squeeze the end of a hose and the water spurts out.

Watts: It you multiply the volts by the amps you get the watts, which is the output power of the electric motor. You should already be familiar with kilowatts which are 1000 watts. One kilowatt is 1.34% of one horsepower or one horsepower is 0.75% of a kilowatt.

Sporty Harley-Davidson electric LiveWire parade silicon standardiseHarley’s LiveWire electric motor

Kilowatt hours: This is the capacity of the battery. Think of how many litres you can fit in your fuel tank. A one watt-hour battery will power a 1W electric motor for one hour. The new Lightning Strike Carbon Edition has a 20kWh battery which means it can produce 1kW of power for 20 hours.

That’s just a start.

There are a lot of other factors involved and other terms for battery energy-density (watt-hours per kilogram), charging terms (AC, DC and fast chargers) and a variety of range calculations that take into regenerative charging.

Click here to read more about the complexities of range.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Cagiva online to return as electric

Since 2018, MV Agusta has been working on reviving the Cagiva name, but with an electric motor, and now new boss Timur Sardarov (pictured above) confirms it is still part of their plan.

“Cagiva production will resume next year, at the latest in early 2021, and will be dedicated to electric urban mobility,” he told Italian site Motociclismo.

The interview is unclear about what the electric vehicle will be: scooter, motorcycle, e-bike?

“But we will not make scooters, they will be motorcycles,” says Timur who took over from Giovanni Castiglioni last year.

Cagiva Raptor Customised BMW R nineTCagiva V-Raptor

Then he seems to contradict himself.

“Easy to drive and below 4kW, because at the moment no-one who produces beyond this threshold can generate profits.

“In six or seven years, it will probably be possible to reach the profit with vehicles equivalent to 350cc.”

Cagiva return

MV Agusta boss Giovanni Castiglioni classicGiovanni when he was still boss in 2018

When I met with MV Agusta boss Giovanni Castiglioni in July 2018, he talked about the electric Cagiva project and said he believed in the potential of electric bikes.

“There is a market for high-performing light bikes and that’s how the Cagiva electric bike project started,” he told me.

“From my pure personal experience, the torque, power and throttle response is great. You can have fun and you don’t scare the cows and the deers. It’s actually enjoyable.”

He said Cagiva electric bikes would start with 80km of range and reach 320km in the next five years with a range of bikes from commuters to off-road.

But he also said MV would not go into electric bikes because there is no market for high-performing electric street bikes.

John Kocinski's Cagiva V594 grand prixJohn Kocinski’s Cagiva V594

“People think the electric bike is for losers and the reality is it is not.

“But at the moment, its potential is in cities for short-range commuting from home to the office or for short trips.

“We don’t yet live in a world where you can live with an electric car. I would like to buy a Tesla, but only for driving from home to the office. I travel a lot by car and I can’t start my journey by doing a flight plan like in a plane.

“The charging infrastructure needs to improve first.”

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Honda patent suggests electric Fireblade

The latest patent application drawings from Honda seem to indicate the Japanese company is planning an electric Fireblade.

But don’t get too excited or outraged yet!

Most traditional motorcycle manufacturers have toyed with the idea of electric motorcycles for years.

Some have produced electric scooters, mobility scooters, trials bikes and trail bikes.

However, none has yet come to the market with a full-sized electric motorcycle, except for Harley’s LiveWire.

Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycleHarley LiveWire

Honda also filed has an extraordinary number of patent applications in the past couple of years.

None of these has yet come to the market either.

Honda patent blitz

Honda Goldwing GL1800 airbag radicalsHonda’s scooter airbag

Electric Fireblade

We wouldn’t bet on an electric Fireblade, unless they are planning on taking over the supply of race bikes from Energica for the FIM Moto-e World Cup.

Honda’s electric plans seem more tailored to scooters, mobility scooters and small commuter bikes.

Also, the use of the Fireblade outline in the drawings could simply be artist expediency as several other patent application drawings have included Fireblade outlines.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Electric motorcycles leave giants in lurch

Start-ups making electric motorcycles and scooters are leaving behind the giants of traditional motorcycle manufacturing, according to American motorcycle industry guru Robert Pandya.

“The motorcycling environment, technology, and customer are simply changing faster than our industry is adapting,” says Robert, a former Indian Motorcycle executive and now a senior motorcycle industry consultant.

“Sure there are exceptions, but by and large the same training methods, rider expectations and experiences have dominated the mindset, attention and sponsorship dollars of the major OEM’s (original equipment manufacturer).”

He says the start-ups and non-traditional companies are leaving the motorcycle giants in the lurch on electric motorcycles.

Robert Pandya Indian Scout giantsRobert Pandya

“Very interesting brands like CAKE, Zero and Damon (full disclosure I’m on Damon’s advisory panel) are exploring the future of riding in truly compelling ways that major brands seem to only dabble with,” he says.

Damon Hypersport electric motorcycleDamon Hypersport

“Why for instance is there not already an electric PW-50 style motorcycle from Yamaha?

“What an opportunity!

“Simple speed limiters, geo-fencing and throttle smoothing programs would be such a valuable tool for dealerships seeking to expand local ridership.

“Team Red, Yellow and Green would surely follow – only to the benefit of all of us in the community.”

Giants slow to plug in

Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycleHarley-Davidson electric LiveWire in action

Harley-Davidson is the only traditional motorcycle manufacturer to bring a full-size road electric motorcycle to market.

But their LiveWire is very expensive at about $A44,000, compared with start-up producing bikes at about half the cost.

Harley also plan a host of smaller electric motorcycles and scooters as well as electric bicycles.

Harley-Davidson Scooter smallHarley electric scooter

Several other traditional motorcycle giants have talked about producing electric motorcycles but some have only produced electric scooters and off-road/trials bikes.

Meanwhile, small start-ups such as Denis Savic’s Australian Savic Motorcycles are forging ahead with full-size electric motorcycles at affordable prices.

2019 Savic electric motorcycle prototype ordersDenis Savic with Australia’s first electric motorcycle, the Savic

Global slump

The global slump in motorcycle and scooter sales has been exacerbated by the recent sales slide in China and India which is now the biggest motorcycle market in the world.

While their motorcycle growth rate has been huge in recent years, the growing middle class now seem to be aspiring more to cars than motorcycles.

In “mature motorcycle markets” where premium motorcycle brands rule, the sales figures are terrible.

Australia last year suffered its third consecutive year of sliding motorcycle/scooter/ATV sales, with the top category of road bikes alarmingly down by a third over the past four years.

It’s worse in America where road bike sales slumped 19% in the first nine months last year.

There was an increase in motorcycle sales in several European nations last year.

However, it should be noted that the increase is largely due to the huge growth of electric motorcycles and scooters, as well as e-bikes which are counted in official European motorcycle sales figures.

Claudio Domenicali and Ducati e-bikesDucati boss Claudio Domenicali introduces their e-bikes

Interestingly, the US Custom Department has declared electric bicycles are “motor cycles”.

The the line between what is a bicycle, scooter, motorcycle or e-bike is becoming more and more blurred.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Carry electric bike battery inside to charge

One of the problems with electric motorcycles is finding somewhere to charge the battery, but a Chinese company believes the answer is in removable batteries you can carry inside to a power point for charging.

Removable batteries could be a way forward for electric motorcycles and scooters with several Japanese and Chinese companies now using or considering them.

Their idea is that they can be swapped at vending machines when they run flat.

Yamaha Gogoro battery swap electric scooterYamaha electric scooter with removable Gogoro battery

However, Shanghai scooter company Niu has unveiled their RQi scooter prototype which has removable two-piece Panasonic lithium battery packs which can be charged up on household mains outlets.

Niu RQi Carry battery inside to chargeNiu RQi portable battery

It makes a lot of sense if the battery packs are light and small enough to carry inside.

We are used to charging our phones and portable devices when we get to work or return home, so one more battery wouldn’t make much difference.

Harley-Davidson’s electric scooter concept also has a removable battery with a handle so you can carry it inside for charging.

Harley electric LiveWire ID specsHarley electric scooter

Niu don’t specific charging time, but they say the two packs would provide range of about 130km in combined city/highway riding.

The RQi scooter, unveiled at the recent Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show, is powered by a 30kW mid-drive motor with a top speed of 160km/h.

Other features are TFT dash, traction control, belt drive, 5G connectivity for GPS and anti-theft tracking, and an adaptive headlight that lights up the inside of corners as used by companies such as BMW and KTM.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Are electric motorcycles taking the Mickey?

Ok, so electric motorcycles are not as constrained on design as traditional bikes, but are some of the latest models simply taking the Mickey!

We recently showed one that looked like an X and another that had pineapples in the seat and now there is another made mostly of wood while the latest concept looks like a USB stick.

Wooden bike

Newron Motors founder Sébastien Mahut has spent years on his prototypes and has now unveiled a concept with a body almost entirely made of wood.Newron Motors electric wooden motorcycle

It’s actually quite beautiful with swirling, flowing lines and glowing blue lights. Does it give you wood?

But it’s also a bit impractical. What happens if you have a crash? Do you get out your whittling knife and make a new part?

We also wonder about the flexible nature of wood, the ageing when exposed to the weather, splinters in the nether regions, etc. So many issues!Newron Motors electric wooden motorcycle

And isn’t using wood running counter to the whole greenie thing of electric vehicles?

Ok, it’s just a concept and we don’t expect the production model — if it ever sprouts — will be made of wood.

Flash bike

Polestar SLR USB Polestar SLR concept

Car designer Arthur Martins has now turned his attention to motorcycles with this Polestar Salt Lake Runner (SLR) concept that looks like a USB flash drive. 

We love a slim bike like the Moto Guzzi Le Mans and Ducati Scrambler, but this just looks totally uncomfortable and unrideable in anything more than a straight line! Maybe that’s why they call it a Salt lake Runner.Polestar SLR USB

Arthur says it’s a work in progress, but that he wants to make a street-legal version. We’ll see.

Taking the Mickey

Are these guys taking the Mickey or just trying to get some media exposure?

If it’s the latter then it’s worked. At least with us!

But expect that there will be more zany electric motorcycles to come and take the Mickey out of us, given the current crop of eccentric designs.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Damon Hypserpsort electric has 320km range

Damon Hypersport electric motorcycle has launched with some impressive 200 figures: 200Nm of torque, 200mph top speed and 200 miles (320km) of “real-world” range.

The Canadian start-up won the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show Innovations Award last week and claims their Hypserport is the world’s “smartest, safest, and most powerful electric motorcycle”.

That’s not quite right. The 200hp Lightning LS-218 has a top speed of 218mph (351km/h) while the Energica Evo and Ego have 400km of range.

Damon smarts

However, it probably is one of the smartest and safest bikes around, as well as the most adaptable.

Among its attributes are the ability to scan its surroundings to warn the rider of hazards and transform to suit the rider’s style with handlebars, windscreen, seat and footpegs that move.Damon Hypersport Premier and HS

Orders are now being taken with pricing from $US24,995 (about $A36,350).

There are two models, the Hypsersport Premier which is limited to 25 and the Hypserport HS.

The Premier adds Brembo brakes, Ohlins suspension and a carbon-fibre swingarm.

Both have the same performance, less than three hours charging time on level 2 chargers and 320km of highway and city riding range.

The Vancouver company unveiled their Damon X prototype based on a Yamaha R1M in October 2018.

In July last year, Damon Motorcycles CEO and founder Jay Giraud demonstrated their patented collision avoidance system at TechCrunch Sessions in California.

Party tricksDamon Hypersport electric motorcycle

Apart from the bike’s electric performance, the party tricks are their “Shift” adaptive rider position and“CoPilot” collision avoidance system.

Making this bike more versatile than any other, Shift will change rider position from commute mode to sporting mode at the touch of a button on the handlebar.Damon Hypersport Premier and HS

CoPilot uses sensors to lock on to dozens of objects 360º around the motorcycle.

“It intuitively know what’s around you at all times by tracking and warning riders of danger through haptic feedback on the handlebars, integrated LEDs on the windshield, and an always on 1080p rearview rear-facing camera,” they say.

It also comes with 4G connectivity and 1080p cameras front and back.Damon X electric motorcycle transforms

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Cleveland CycleWerks goes electric

American fun bike manufacturer Cleveland CycleWerks is the latest to join in the electric motorcycle trend that will define Whirring Twenties decade.

For years now, the Ohio-based company has been designing small-capacity fun machines that have been built in China and retail for less than $50000.

Cleveland CycleWerks Heist and Ace
Cleveland CycleWerks Heist and Ace

However, in March 2020 they plan to unveil their first American-built bike and it will be powered by an electric motor.

It will join other American motorcycle manufacturers Harley-Davidson, Lightning Motorcycles and Zero Motorcycles in the race to win market share of this nascent market.

There is not much detail yet except the blurred image at the top of this page and this video on their Facebook page where they talk about electric bikes with another bike under a blanket in the background.

The photo and video show a light and basic street model with a sit-up-and-beg riding position, MX-style bars, upside down forks, bench seat, sprocket for chain drive, electric motor and battery forward of the footpegs and same-size road tyres front and back on spoked wheels. 

So it’s not an off-roader to replace the now-defunct Alta Motors electric company which folded in 2018.

Alta Redshift MXR Harley-Davidson electric motorcycles EV doomed
Alta Redshift MXR

We can’t see a clutch lever, so it could be twist-and-go, although they do talk about the use of a clutch on another electric bike in the Facebook video.

If it’s like their other product, it will be aimed at the bargain end of the market, not the top end like Harley, Lightning and Zero.

This is the official Cleveland CycleWerks announcement:

A New Concept in E-Mobility, to be released live to the world 03-20-2020 @ the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum in Cleveland Ohio.

This will be our first made in the USA product, which is exciting in itself.

This will be the first bike we have ever run pre-orders on, which will come soon. The project’s code name Falcon Rising represents our brand’s rise in the E vehicle space. It also brings a new chapter to our company, looking inward and local to grow globally. We have wanted to product bikes ourselves, here in Cleveland for 10 years. The time is now, and we are seizing the opportunity.

This vehicle represents 10 years of consumer insight, feedback from loyal customers, and a unique take on the market, that Cleveland has always had.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

10 unexpected benefits of Whirring Twenties

Rather than a return to the Roaring Twenties, this decade could see an abundance of electric vehicles creating a Whirring Twenties.

Let’s do the disadvantages first:

  1. Expensive;
  2. Limited range;
  3. Dubious whole-of-life environmental impact;
  4. Slow charging;
  5. Scant charging infrastructure;
  6. No common batteries across the industry; and
  7. They lack soul.

There is also the unanswered vexing question of how the government will respond to diminishing fuel excise revenue as electric vehicles take over. Perhaps a new tax!

I certainly don’t see myself buying one this decade, even though the first six disadvantages will soon be diminished by advances in technology and production.

However, I do see 10 unexpected benefits from the Whirring Twenties.

Whirring Twenties

1 Quiet

Now most of us think this is a negative, but there are many instances where a quiet, whirring motor could be a benefit:

  • For a start, police and security guards will be able to sneak up on thieves;
  • Meanwhile, police would not be able to fine you for having a noisy exhaust;
  • It would also nullify the latest draconian laws to limit use of off-road motorcycles on your own property as is occurring in some states;
  • There would be fewer complaints from residents near racetracks which might save some from extinction;
  • You could easily sneak away early on a Sunday for a ride without disturbing your cranky neighbours or come home late without waking the family; and
  • Young people may like the fact that they can still hear their phone calls and music clearly while riding!

2 Cool runnings

Sporty Harley-Davidson electric LiveWire parade silicon standardise
Harley’s LiveWire electric motor is cool to the touch

Even though batteries and electric motors heat up, it is nothing compared with the heat radiating from an internal combustion engine.

I rode the Harley-Davidson LiveWire at the world launch last year in Portland, Oregon, through the forest and through town, yet I was still able to place my naked hand on the battery and motor without it being burnt.

It was only warm, not even hot.

That is a real boon for those commuters who usually fry in slow traffic on a summer’s day.

It would also spell the end of pipe burn for young kids and novice riders.

3 Youth appeal

2019 Savic electric motorcycle prototype orders
Denis Savic with his Aussie electric motorcycle

We crusty old riders love our internal combustion engines, but many young people see them as old technology.

However, funky, whirring electric motorcycles could just be the tonic to kickstart sales to millennials.

4 Design options

Speaking of funky, there have been some weird designs among the electric motorcycles we have seen so far.

LA custom motorcycle guru Roland Sands says electric motorcycles offer a wider range of designs than ICE bikes.

Roland Sands design
Roland contemplates an electric custom motorcycle

Motors and batteries can be just about any shape and designers don’t have to factor in ugly exhausts and chain/belt/shaft drives; they can simply make them direct drive.

5 Easy to ride

Most electric motorcycles will be twist-and-go with no clutch lever, shifter pedal or gears to change.

Once again, we crusty old riders think this sucks the charm and skill out of riding a motorbike, but it may also make them more palatable to younger riders who relish convenience.

Since they will be easier to learn to ride, getting your licence should be cheaper as you would need fewer lessons.

Sporty Harley-Davidson electric LiveWire
No clutch on the LiveWire

6 Lightning fast

If it’s speed you want, it’s speed you get with an electric motorcycle.

Electric motors have peak torque as soon as you roll the throttle.

Consequently, most electric motorcycles will accelerate to 100km/h in about three seconds, which is faster than most supercars.

I tested this at the LiveWire and Victory Empulse TT launches and it’s easy to achieve. No need for a drag strip or any special launch controls. Just wind the throttle and hang on!

As for top speed, the Lightning LS-218 holds the land speed record for fastest production electric motorcycle in the world at 346km/h (218mph – hence the name) at the Bonneville Salt Flats.

Lightning electric motorcycle fast electric LiveWire electric bike race expensive
Lightning record-holding electric race bike

7 Low maintenance

Maintenance expenses should be low as there is no chain/belt, no internal engine workings, no oil, etc.

Long-life brushless electric motors and batteries need no maintenance.

Even brake pads will need changing less frequently because regenerative braking from the motor means you use the conventional brakes less often.

Brembo brakes on the LiveWire

8 No mess

Scooters shielded their oily engines with panels so women wouldn’t get their skirts dirty while riding.

The same can be said for electric motorcycles, although they don’t need panels. There are simply no oily working bits to smear your clothes!

9 Slap for industry

So far, the electric motorcycle industry has been dominated by start-ups, not traditional motorcycle companies.

That’s great for entrepreneurial engineers such as Dennis Savic who has created Australia’s first electric motorcycle.

Harley-Davidson is the first traditional manufacturer to make a full-sized road-legal electric motorcycle, while the Japanese, Ducati and BMW have only been hinting at it.

BMW E-Power Roadster electric
BMW E-Roadster concept

If the start-ups steal some market share from these companies it could just be the slap in the face they need to pick up their game.

10 Traditional bikes

Isaac Newton’s third law is: “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.”

That’s not just true for physics, but also culture. Look at the growth of hippies during the space age and hipsters in the internet age!

Perhaps a dramatic swing to whirring electric vehicles could inspire people’s love of motorcycling and a desire to preserve it!

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Segway segue into electric motorcycles

Segway, the makers of the ubiquitous personal mobility vehicle, are branching out into electric sport bikes with the help of Chinese company Ninebot.

They have released this video of their Apex sport bike on a Japanese racetrack.

The sound and speed of the bike certainly don’t impress. At one stage it shows the cockpit wth 81km/h showing on the dash. Hardly inspiring!Segway Apex electric motorcycle

It also doesn’t look like it handles all that well with the rider not really leaning it over very far, a twitchy steering and a jerky change of direction.

Or perhaps they just needed a proper racer who knows the apex of a corner; as ironic as that is for a bike called Apex!Segway Apex electric motorcycle

But we are sure it will accelerate rapidly as most electric motorcycles do.

There are no tech specs available yet, but we only have to wait until it is unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show on 7 January, 2020.

Racing Segway?Segway Apex electric motorcycle

Is this “racey” video also a segue into plans to go racing?

Italian electric motorcycle Energica currently has the contract to supply bikes for the FIM Moto-e World Cup which runs as a support event at select MotoGP rounds around the world. 

Energica MotoE
Energica MotoE race bike

The Energica race bikes have 110kW of power, 200Nm of torque and go from 0 to 100km/h in three seconds with a top speed of 250km/h.

Their Ego and Eva street bikes now have 400km of range.

Segway and Ninebot already have a working relationship to make electric scooters and bikes and have a store in Milton, Brisbane, and an Australian online shop and Facebook page. 

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com