"Harley Davidson's new middleweight electric motorcycle platform could finally drop prices" . I suppose the 'finally drop prices' bit means you only get what's in the picture, everything else is an optional extra
"By dialing back the performance and range, as well as working with a more modular platform that may offer reduced production costs, H-D could present a highly competitive electric motorcycle."
They're not going to sell more electric motorcycles by dialing back the range. IMO, the range is the biggest challenge of e motorcycles.
LiveWire the electric motorcycle arm of Harley-Davidson is sowing the seeds of expansion, as S2, S3, and S4 models are planned
LiveWire S2
The first of the new bikes to be built will be based on a new Arrow drive system. It’s a modular system that comprises a motor, battery and swingarm in a single package. Beneath the skin of the unit is an in-built inverter and on-board charger, elements that are required to elevate any EV in the modern age - it opens up the ability to fast charge without extra equipment.
Oh, and if the image above looks eerily familiar, that’s because it is… The powertrain first broke cover in an electric flat track concept a little while ago. The full image can be seen below.
The design has been chosen as it opens up a world of possibilities for differentiation in the range. A naked, adventure or even sports bike could be created from the same drivetrain and battery system.
LiveWire S3
After the S2 comes the S3, a bike that takes the same ethos and scales it back for what we guess is a more user-friendly, mass-market machine.
To help LiveWire achieve this, it is calling on lightweight and electric motorcycle specialist Kymco, a move that should open up the Taiwanese firm’s mass-production know-how and presumably its IONEX swappable battery technology. The knock-on benefit of that to the end-user is easy to see.
LiveWire S4
The final piece to the LiveWire puzzle comes in the form of the S4. This is a bike that will use the latest in technology, with a view to increasing range and improving charge time. It’s important to note that this will not be a scaled-back version of the bike above. The LiveWire presentation confirms it will be a new heavyweight machine.
The lack of range is currently why I have zero (0) interest in an electric motorcycle. By lessening range to make it more affordable makes me want to spend the extra I saved on a bike I can actually ride on.
LiveWire the electric motorcycle arm of Harley-Davidson is sowing the seeds of expansion, as S2, S3, and S4 models are planned
LiveWire S2
The first of the new bikes to be built will be based on a new Arrow drive system. It’s a modular system that comprises a motor, battery and swingarm in a single package. Beneath the skin of the unit is an in-built inverter and on-board charger, elements that are required to elevate any EV in the modern age - it opens up the ability to fast charge without extra equipment.
Oh, and if the image above looks eerily familiar, that’s because it is… The powertrain first broke cover in an electric flat track concept a little while ago. The full image can be seen below.
The design has been chosen as it opens up a world of possibilities for differentiation in the range. A naked, adventure or even sports bike could be created from the same drivetrain and battery system.
LiveWire S3
After the S2 comes the S3, a bike that takes the same ethos and scales it back for what we guess is a more user-friendly, mass-market machine.
To help LiveWire achieve this, it is calling on lightweight and electric motorcycle specialist Kymco, a move that should open up the Taiwanese firm’s mass-production know-how and presumably its IONEX swappable battery technology. The knock-on benefit of that to the end-user is easy to see.
LiveWire S4
The final piece to the LiveWire puzzle comes in the form of the S4. This is a bike that will use the latest in technology, with a view to increasing range and improving charge time. It’s important to note that this will not be a scaled-back version of the bike above. The LiveWire presentation confirms it will be a new heavyweight machine.
12-16-2021, 03:07 AM
