Tag Archives: Electric motorcycles

Aussie launches electric Savic Motorcycles

Australia’s first electric motorcycle company, Savic Motorcycles, will launch their electric Cafe Racer prototype at the Melbourne Moto Expo on Friday (November 23, 2018).

Melbourne rider Dennis Savic, 26, spent more than 650 hours designing and building the prototype.Savic Motorcycles electric cafe racer prototype

The three Cafe Racer production versions will be made in Melbourne and Taiwan. They will be available in 2020.

  • Alpha 60kW, from $20,000;
  • Delta 40kW, from $15,000; and
  • Omega 20kW, from $12,000.Savic Motorcycles electric cafe racer prototype

Each model comes with several battery pack options. The largest offered in the Alpha will provide range of up to 250km, while the smallest option in the Omega will have 50km range. 

Like all electric vehicles, peak torque is instantaneous and Dennis says his bike will accelerate from 0-100km in four seconds.

Customers will be able choose a range of options in brakes, suspension, wheels, tyres and three colours – Spectre, Stealth, and Rustic.

Aftermarket upgrades will also be offered. 

Savic says it’s a ‘dream come true’

Dennis Savic
Dennis Savic on a Magelli converted to electric in 2016

This is a bit of a dream come true.

When I was 14, I decided I wanted to design and build my own vehicles one day. So I did my engineering degree and when I graduated about three years ago I got stuck into it. It’s been a long time coming.

These motorcycles are a unique offering with the most advanced features and functionality that the materials, engineering, electronic controls, electrical technology and 3D printing can offer today. 

We have created a unique design featuring a perfectly rolled (not bent) backbone frame and developed our own powertrain package.  

Our 5-10 production prototypes will start manufacture in the coming months. They feature a fully integrated, stressed, liquid-cooled, motor and energy storage system.

Depending on the model and battery pack a customer selects, a single charge can provide up to 11kWh. That costs only $3 as opposed to $15 for a petrol bike to travel 250km.

Savic Motorcycles electric cafe racer prototype

We will focus on sales and production first in Australia, then take the offering to international markets.

Our aim is to close our second round of private equity funding by February 2019.

We are accepting inquiries for our 10 C-FE (founder edition) models for 2019 and I already have a number of inquiries about the production run of about 50-100 for 2020.

Savic Motorcycles electric cafe racer prototype

Tough market

Every week we hear of a new electric motorcycle or company from traditional motorcycle companies and newcomers like Savic Motorcycles.

We wish Dennis the best of luck, but he is up against some tough hurdles in Australia:

However, it’s great to see a young Aussie engineer getting in early and developing a homegrown product.

Dennis has promised to stay in touch with Motorbike Writer during the process toward production.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Vespa debuts Elettrica electric scooter

The best thing about the Vespa Elettrica electric scooter is that it is almost a complete mirror of the iconic petrol-powered retro model.

And, of course, just like the standard Vespa, it is twist-and-go-throttle so there is one less hurdle among scooter riders crossing over from an internal combustion model to an electric.

Vespa Elettrica

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From the above video it appears to have a top speed — in power mode — of 50km/h, so it would be legally limited to 60km/h roads in Australia. It also features reverse gear to make parking easier.i

Elettrica has 100km of urban range and the x version will almost reach 200km which is plenty for the weekly commute.

Vespa says it is not just quiet but “totally silent”. We doubt that. Tyres make noise on the road. But the rest of it should be pretty quiet, allowing riders to safely concentrate on the sounds around them.

The battery under the under-seat compartment still allows riders enough room to store a “purpose-built helmet” which is an open-face design, with and without a visor.

Its recharge cable will plug into a normal socket and will charge in about four hours on our 240V power.

Elettrica’s 4.3-inch full-colour TFT dashboard includes important information to help with maintaining battery charge.

It will connect to a smartphone via Bluetooth and an app to display selected features from your phone.

You can access these features via buttons on the bars so you don’t have to touch the screen or your phone.

And if you’ve forgotten where you parked your Vespa, the app saves its position.

Elettrica comes with an electric blue accent (of course) as well as three other colour accents.

Vespa price

Vespa Australia brand manager Gavan Moody says the Elletrica has “generated a lot of interest overseas” since it was launched in concept form at the 2016 EICMA motorcycle show in Milan.

The production version was released last week at the same show to even greater interest.Vespa Elettrica electric scooter

It goes into production this year for European markets.

“Piaggio Asia Pacific advise there is no plan for this region until after 2019, if it was to be introduced here,” Gavan says.

“Price has not been discussed however the indication is it would be at the upper end of the current premium Vespa range.”

Current Vespas range in price from the GTS 250 ie at $7890 (plus on-road costs) to the $12,490 946 Belissima.

Vespa unveils Sei Giorni special edition motorcycle sales elettrica
2018 Vespa Sei Giorni

Would Aussie scooterists be prepared to pay around that amount for an electric scooter?

We think so and here’s why.

Scooter trends

Scooters have been on a dramatic slide in recent years but are slightly bouncing back.

However, the slide has not affected the quality Vespa Italian brand.

In 2011, Vespa sold 1042 scooters in Australia and last year sold 977, down just 6.2% while the whole scooter market plummeted by two-thirds to just 3852 last year.

(Note: Those figures are slightly skewed by the absence of some cheap scooter brands from the official figures, but you get the idea.)

It goes to show that scooterists appreciate top quality and are prepared to pay.

Vespa Elettrica tech specs

  • Continuous power: 3.5kW
  • Maximum power: 4kW
  • Torque: 200Nm (at the wheel)
  • Battery: 48v, 86Ah, 4.2kW/h, by LG Chem
  • Recharge: 4 hours
  • Battery life: 1000 cycles (residual capacity 80%)
  • Battery weight: 25kg
  • Energy recovery: Yes
  • Tyres: 110/70 – 12”; 120/70 – 11”
  • Brake: 200mm single disc; 140mm rear drum
  • Wheelbase: 1350mm
  • Length: 1870mm
  • Width: 735mm
  • Height: 1150mm
  • Seat: 790mm
  • Weight (with battery): 130kg

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Dial in your own electric motorcycle sound

Kymco may have the answer to one of the biggest problems with electric motorcycles by allowing riders to dial in their own motorcycle sound!

The Taiwanese scoter company is branching out with their SuperNEX electric sports bike concept unveiled last week in Milan.

They have produced this video which is actually quite useless as it doesn’t give an example of the sound nor show the bike in action.

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However, we have little doubt that the concept will work.

Kymco has been around a long time and has been working on electric vehicles for the past few years.

In March, they unveiled their Ionex electric scooter with two swappable batteries.

Kymco proposes battery swap scheme for Ionex electric scooter dial
Kymco Ionex electric scooter

The SuperNEX concept electric superbike features some serious kit including Brembo brakes, Ohlins suspension, Oz wheels, an alloy frame and Metzeler Racetec tryes.

Dial in sound

Kymco SuperNEX electric motorcycle allows you to dial in your own soundBut the most interesting aspect to us is the sound.

Electric vehicles are quiet which is not only a turnoff for riders, but also a danger to pedestrians in the urban landscape.

On the highway, electric motorcycles can actually make quite a bit of noise. In fact, like most motorcycles, at that speed the loudest noise is tyre on tarmac.

But for those who love to hear the motor working, Kymco has developed what they call a dial-in Active Acoustic Motor.

They don’t say how it works but claim the rider can dial in sound and “tune” it to their taste.

Harley-Davidson’s LiveWire electric motorcycle which will be available overseas next year and in Australia at the end of 2020 makes a turbine “whooshing” sound by meshing the gears.

Harley plans adventure, streetfighters and electric bicycles loud confirms dial
LiveWire

Maybe the SuperNEX does something similar with the gears.

Speaking of which, Kymco’s SuperNEX will also appeal to riders of conventional bikes because it has gears.

Like the ill-fated Brammo (and then Victory) Empulse, it has chain drive and normal gears.

Victory Empulse TT electric motorcycle dial
MBW rides the Victory Empulse TT electric motorcycle

Most electric bikes are direct drive and have twist-and-go-throttle with no gears like a scooter.

Other than that, Kymco has not released any tech specs on power, speed, range and battery charging times.

There is also no word on if/when it will go into production.Kymco SuperNEX electric motorcycle allows you to dial in your own sound

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Haptic jacket warns rider of collision

Imagine a motorcycle jacket that vibrates when it senses you are about to have a collision or delivers that disco bass rumble in your gut when you play music in your helmet?

The Origin “haptic” jacket will come as part of a package with a Zenith head-up display helmet (HUD) when you buy the coming 240km/h Arc Vector electric motorcycle costing about £90,000 ($A160,000, $US117,000).

Click here for more information on the British Arc Vector.Arc Vector electric motorcycle with collision warning

The bike features “haptic” handlebars and seat that vibrate if they sense a crash or you try to merge into a lane where there is a car. Similar technology has been around in some cars for years.

Vector is also integrated with the Zenith head-up display helmet.

No further details are available, but there are several HUD helmets hitting the market with different functions.Zenith HUD helmet Arc Vector electric motorcycle with collision warning

Haptic collision warning

Their Origin jacket takes collision warning even further with haptic pads that vibrate.

It features different modes including “Dynamic” to “amplify the sense of excitement during a dynamic ride”.

Another is called “Euphoric” that produces that deep bass rumble.

While these are entertainment modes, Arc founder and CEO Mark Truman says the normal haptic mode that responds to crash threats can be used to “augment mirrors as a threat detection system”.

Riders will experience a buzz in their back or one shoulder to indicate the presence and direction of another threatening vehicle.

Origin jacket Arc Vector electric motorcycle with collision warning
Vibrating haptic pads

“The haptic jacket and high-tech helmet are designed to help meld man and machine into one,” Arc claims. 

Mark says it allows the rider to keep their eyes on the road ahead. However, we would argue that a shoulder check is always advisable.

“People ask me if this could be distracting, but it is actually designed to be the total opposite,” Mark says.

“The tech frees you and your senses because the distractions have been removed.

“It allows you to concentrate on the road and your oneness with the bike, to just enjoy the moment knowing the bike is looking out for you and the information you need is right in front of you.”

So why provide entertainment haptic modes?

Arc VectorArc Vector electric motorcycle with collision warning

Meanwhile, the 95kW Arc Vector has a top speed of 241km/h (150mph) and accelerates to highway seed in 2.7 seconds.

Range is claimed to be 190km (about 120 miles) on the highway or 274km (170 miles) in the city.

Only 355 bikes will be produced.

It features a lightweight carbonfibre swingarm and a new type of battery that makes the bike a chimed 25% lighter than its competition.

It also comes with custom Ohlins dampers and Brembo brakes mounted in the 6 o’clock position.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Harley-Davidson confirms electric arrival

Harley-Davidson Australia finally confirms that the electric LiveWire being released next year around the world will arrive in Australia and New Zealand in late 2020.

The bike made its European debut at the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan overnight where tech details were released.

However, there was nothing new that we had not heard when we inspected the production version at Harley’s 115th anniversary celebrations in Milwaukee in August.

Electric Harley-Davidson LiveWire leads parade smart desert charging
LiveWire unveiled in Milwaukee

Click here for all the tech details.

Unfortunately, there is still no mention of the all-important price, battery charging time or range.

HD Vice President of Product Planning and Portfolio Marc McAllister said the bike would be the first in “a portfolio of electric two-wheelers from Harley-Davidson” by 2020.

Click here for more details on the other small electric bikes, bicycles and scooters.

Harley plans adventure, streetfighters and electric bicycles first last small
Official Harley artist’s impression a small electric bike

In September, Harley boss Matt Levatich told me they were developing a new research and development facility in California’s Silicon Valley for its coming line of electric motorcycles and bicycles.

The new facility, serving as a satellite of the Willie G. Davidson Product Development Facility in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, is expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2018.

“This new R&D facility in the heart of Silicon Valley will help us deliver on those plans and demonstrate our commitment to lead the electrification of the sport,” Matt said.

Matt Levatich Harley-Davidson CEO politics silicon confirms
Matt at the 115th party

The new R&D centre will initially focus on electric vehicle research and development, including battery, power electronics and e-machine design, development and advanced manufacturing.

In March, Harley-Davidson acquired a stake in American electric dirt bike company Alta Motors.

The collaboration project finished  a few months later and last month Alta closed its doors.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com
https://motorbikewriter.com/harley-davidson-confirms-electric-arrival/

Husqvarna adds Svartpilen 701 flat tracker

Husqvarna Motorcycles has unveiled the production Svartpilen 701 flat tracker as well as the Vitpilen 701 Aero retro sports bike concept and the EE 5 electric minicycle at EICMA in Milan.

Husqvarna Motorcycles has unveiled the production Svartpilen 701 flat tracker as well as the Vitpilen 701 Aero retro sports bike and the EE 5
Vitpilen 701 Aero retro concept

Svartpilen 701

Husky calls the Svartpilen 701 a “street explorer”, but it is inspired by flat-trackers which are all the rage, especially since Indian Motorcycle unveiled its FTR 1200 recently.

Svartpilen means “black arrow” in Swedish and, like the Vitpilen (white arrow), it is powered by a lightweight 692.7cc, liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine with 56kW (75hp) of power  and 72Nm of torque.

Husqvarna Vitpilen 701 svarptilen
Husqvarna Vitpilen 701

There is no word yet on when it will arrive in Australia but the Vitpilen 701 sells for $17,500 (+ORC) which is a tall order for a single-cylinder bike in this market.

The lightweight trellis frame is made with high-grade chromium molybdenum steel, the suspension is fully-adjustable WP and brakes are Brembo brakes with Bosch’s latest switchable ABS.

It has ride-by-wire throttle, slipper clutch and Up/down quickshifter and a big range of dedicated Husqvarna accessories.

Husqvarna Motorcycles has unveiled the production Svartpilen 701 flat tracker as well as the Vitpilen 701 Aero retro sports bike and the EE 5
Svartpilen 701

Vitpilen 701 Aero ConceptHusqvarna Motorcycles has unveiled the production Svartpilen 701 flat tracker as well as the Vitpilen 701 Aero retro sports bike and the EE 5

Husky describes this as “a modern faired sport bike with an innovative design approach that pays its respect to the past”.

Again it is powered by the 692.7cc single.

EE 5Husqvarna Motorcycles has unveiled the production Svartpilen 701 flat tracker as well as the Vitpilen 701 Aero retro sports bike and the EE 5

Europe is literally buzzing with small electric motorcycles, so Husky has jumped on the bandwagon with the EE 5 mini trail bike.

They say it has the latest in high-quality componentry, a 5kW motor, six ride modes, 907Wh lithium-ion battery, quick charging, and WP suspension.

It will be available at Husqvarna Motorcycles dealers in mid-2019, but we doubt we will see it here.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com
https://motorbikewriter.com/husqvarna-svartpilen-701/