At best, some large manufacturers have studies in their design studios that are far from ready for the market. BMW, for example, is initially content with electric scooters, of the big traditional brands Harley Davidson and KTM are just swimming with the current.
The reasons for are varied and similar to those with automobiles. The issue of range is at the forefront. Motorcycles are significantly lighter than electric cars – a Verge TS, for example, weighs just 245 kilograms, a Tesla Model Y almost two tons – and can therefore get much further with the same battery capacity. However, in the much smaller space of a bike, only much smaller batteries can be accommodated – in a car, the entire underbody is available for this. Accordingly, the current e-bikes usually have a range of 100 to 200 kilometers, depending on how you ride them. Touring motorcycles with combustion engines, on the other hand, easily cover a good 400 kilometers on one tank. A Harley, for example, can travel up to 330 kilometers with a tank volume of 23 liters, depending on driving style.
Speaking of the store. Here, too, e-bikes stand much longer than the usual models with combustion engines. If the charging connection fits. Some manufacturers give their models plugs that don’t fit everywhere. After all: Type 2 has established itself as the standard charging connector. The combo connector and the CHAdeMO connector are not very common. At least the problem seems to be slowly starting to move. After Tesla is apparently ready to open up its infrastructure of charging stations to other manufacturers in the future, the Finnish e-bike manufacturer Verge has now announced that it intends to use Tesla’s 17,000 charging stations there after the market launch of its superbike at the end of the year in the USA.
And finally the prices. As with electric cars, it is not exactly cheap to travel locally with CO2 on two wheels. Depending on the performance, the price ranges from almost 8,000 to 55,000 euros. Electric motorcycles are only marginally subsidized in Germany. Until 2030, there will only be money via the greenhouse gas quota (GHG) – i.e. 200 to 300 euros annually, depending on the GHG processor.
Which e-bikes can currently be bought in Germany or will they be available in the foreseeable future? An overview. – Livewire One Harley Davidson has created its own brand for its electric two-wheelers in 2021 with Livewire EV. Livewire has been selling its products on the market since 2022 in the USA and since April this year also in Europe. First of all, there is only one model, the Livewire One. It delivers 78 kW / 106 hp and is said to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in three seconds, with a top speed of 174 km/h. The range with one charge of the 15.4 kWh battery should be 153 kilometers, in the city 235 kilometers. The price: 24,990 euros. – KTM With the Freeride E-XC, KTM has been offering an e-bike since 2014 – as befits the brand, an enduro. The motorcycle, which is even suitable for rough terrain, has an output of 18 kW / 24.5 hp and three adjustable driving modes: Economy, Enduro and Cross. According to KTM, you can get through rough terrain for 90 minutes with one battery charge. All this for a price of 12,700 euros. – Verge The drive of the Verge TS from Finland is something very special. The hubless rear wheel integrates the ring-shaped electric motor into the rim. 102 kW / 139 hp and a battery with 20.2 kWh (charging time: 55 minutes) are in the data sheet, the range is 200 kilometers on the motorway and 350 kilometers in the city. The spacey fun costs 33,000 euros. The Superbike TS Ultra will later come to a whopping 54,400 euros. There is then 150 kW / 204 hp, 1,200 Newton meters of torque and a 21.8 kWh battery, which should ensure a range of 375 kilometers. – Energica Four e-bikes, produced by Energica, come from Modena, Italy. Electric two-wheelers have been manufactured there since 2012. The Experia travel enduro, which has been available since the end of 2022, is particularly interesting. The good piece costs from 28,263 upwards, but also offers the corresponding performance. According to the manufacturer, the large 22.5 kWh battery is good for a range of up to 420 kilometers in the city – but overland it is already over after 220 kilometers. The 75 kW / 102 hp electric motor accelerates the enduro to a top speed of 180 km/h. The other models in the range: Eva Ribelle, Eva Esse Esse 9 and Ego. They cost from 25,600 euros and should achieve a range of up to 400 kilometers in the city.
– Italian Volt After four years of lead time, Italian Volt wants to launch its electric Lacama at the end of the year. The drive is provided by an axial flow motor, which is said to deliver up to 110 kW / 150 hp and 230 Nm of torque via a toothed belt on the rear wheel. This enables a sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in under four seconds and a top speed of 230 km/h. The range should be 200 kilometers. Nothing is known about the prices yet, under the hand there is talk of around 38,000 euros. – Alrendo The TS Bravo comes from China and is relatively inexpensive at 12,000 euros. Accordingly, the performance is rather modest. The motor creates 20 kW / 27 hp and accelerates the bike to a maximum of 135 km/h. Depending on how you drive, you can get a range of up to 400 kilometers from the battery with its 17.4 kWh storage capacity. – Niu Also from China: The RQi GT, which should cost 10,000 euros. Here, too, the performance is rather modest: 7.5 kW / 10 hp, a top speed of 110 km/h. Two removable batteries together store 5.2 kWh and are good for a range of up to 120 kilometers. – Horwin And once again Made in China. The off-roader HT5 has eight horsepower and, in the best case, achieves a range of 150 kilometers. The price for the electric enduro: from 7,490 euros
– RGNT Unlike the other e-bikes with a more futuristic design, RGNT’s No.1 comes with a more classic look. The electric motorcycle from Sweden is powered by a hub motor in the rear wheel, which, thanks to 21 kW / 29 hp, drives it to a top speed of up to 120 km/h. The 9.5 kWh battery is just enough for a range of 148 kilometers. The No.1 is available from 13,500 euros. – Zero The Californian manufacturer Zero offers the largest selection of electric bikes. No wonder: Zero has been developing motorcycles with electric drives since 2006. Fun fact on the side: The drive units are supplied by Perm Motors from the Black Forest. The new DSR/X is primarily intended for touring, is equipped accordingly and costs from 26,650 euros. The engine has an output of 75 kW/102 hp and delivers 225 Nm of torque and a top speed of 180 km/h. The range is rather modest: the 17.3 kWh battery can cover 290 kilometers in the city, but at a constant speed of 113 km/h on the motorway, it is over after 137 kilometers. Although there is an option for a “Power Tank” with 21 kWh, it only extends the range a little. Also in the range: the 82 kW 110 hp sports tourer SR/S with a range of almost 180 kilometers from 26,415 euros. There is also the Streetfighter SR/F with 110 hp and a top speed of 200 km/h from 25,575 euros. Finally, the Supermoto FXE is particularly light at 133 kilograms and is correspondingly handy – but it only manages a range of 100 kilometers.
