Harley-Davidson had showcased an electric motorcycle concept way back in 2014 as the Livewire. Seems like the American cruiser motorcycle manufacturer is looking at the electric future of mobility very seriously, and is gearing up to launch a battery powered motorcycle in the next 18 months.
This time, Harley-Davidson will introduce a production-ready electric motorcycle ready to go on sale worldwide.
The Livewire concept had a battery which produced 74 BHP of power and 56 lb-ft of torque. The brand claimed that it could sprint to 0-60 mph in 4 seconds and could have a riding range of 50 miles / charge. However, these figures by today’s standards need to be bumped up.
With the whole world relating to Harley-Davidson with the iconic Po-Ta-To exhaust not from the petrol powered engines, it will be interesting to see if the market accepts a silent (electric) Harley. The company is also confident that the thrill that the electric engines will provide will be easily masking the missing exhaust note. Also, it remains to be seen how the motorcycle will be designed. Will it be a sportster, or a XL sized bagger.
Global sales for Harley-Davidson have been on a decline in the recent past. So it makes sense that the American brand wants to venture into as many options possible.
Would you buy a battery powered Harley-Davidson?