Electric Motorcycles

Ducati appears to have made quick progress on its electric motorcycle development, especially considering that the program was first unveiled last October.

When the SONDORS Metacycle was unveiled in Los Angeles in early 2021, its highway-ready performance and low initial price of US $5,000 sent shock waves around the internet. After navigating a roller coaster of design changes, production delays, and price hikes, the bike is finally preparing to ship to the first reservation holders this month.

Electric motorcycles for police use is nothing new, and the more efficient two-wheelers solve a number of issues related to high fuel costs and improved routine maintenance. Now we’re getting a first look at a particular new model known as the CFMoto 300 GT-E that is destined for use by police in China.

Every time I think I’ve seen the electric scooter envelope pushed as far as it can go, someone comes along and builds a bigger envelope. This time that someone is California-based electric scooter company Voro Motors, which is prepared to break the internet (and perhaps a few bones) with a pint-size 65 mph (105 km/h) seated electric scooter known as the Voro Motors RoadRunner Tronic.

Energica, known for its sport-inspired electric motorcycles that offer all three levels of charging speeds, has just unveiled its newest model known as the Energica Experia Green Tourer. The comfort-oriented electric motorcycle combines a large battery with fast charging to create a bike that can go the distance and then keep on going.

When Harley-Davidson first unveiled its original LiveWire electric motorcycle and began taking orders nearly four years ago, the industry was largely in consensus about the bike itself. It scored impressive marks and high acclaim for performance and style, but its sales suffered due to the original lofty price of nearly $30,000 (though the price did drop to $22,000 after entering the LiveWire sub-brand). And so it’s no surprise that ever since the original launch, significant hype has been building for Harley-Davidson’s next lower-cost electric motorcycle.

I’ve been calling for an electric-only division of motorcycle licenses for years, now that e-motos are gaining in popularity. We aren’t there yet, but at least now some new riders can learn to ride and get their motorcycle license entirely on an electric two-wheeler.

Milwaukee-based motorcycle company Harley-Davidson is feeling the sting of supply chain issues that have plagued major manufacturers for years. Now the company has been forced to pause production across all of its various motorcycles, with the exception of its LiveWire electric motorcycles.

Kawasaki is a bit late to the electric motorcycle game, especially when compared to American motorcycle companies like Zero and Harley-Davidson’s LiveWire. That’s why the company’s promise late last year of three new electric motorcycles to be launched in 2022 was received with such excitement. But now we’re getting word that the first of those models may be a bit underwhelming, at least if you’re old enough to lace your own boots.

Electric bikes and motorcycles have been seeing increased military use for several years. So it should come as no surprise that Ukrainian forces have found them to be an effective tactical vehicle to fight back against Russian aggression.

Harley-Davidson’s electric label LiveWire just announced its second electric motorcycle model, known as the Del Mar. The bike is a middleweight class motorcycle designed to be more affordable to a younger customer base.

[Note: This is a developing story. More details will follow as this article is updated.]

Two electric motorcycles and their determined riders recently set off to strike a new cannonball run record, racing in opposing directions across the US in a bid to reach the opposite coast first. Just 111 hours later, rider Steven Day set that new record and demonstrated the possibilities offered by high-performance electric motorcycles and distributed quick charging networks.

The Miku Max electric motorbike has been a controversial design ever since we first began covering it in 2018. Now the Miku Super has improved the bike’s performance as it expands into the European market.

CAKE’s new Ready, Steady, Go line of bikes has just launched today, ushering in three new models of two-wheelers to help kids build two-wheeler skills from a young age. 

Sweden’s premier electric motorcycle manufacturer CAKE shared more images of the company’s upcoming new release and set the launch day for this Wednesday.

When we first learned that Ducati would be taking over Energica’s role as the sole supplier of racing electric motorcycles for the FIM MotoE electric motorcycle racing series, the news came as a bit of a shock. At the time, Ducati didn’t even have any electric motorcycles – at least not that they were showing off. Now we’re getting our first look – and listen – to the company’s upcoming electric racing models.

After electric vehicle company Ideanomics celebrated its successful acquiring of Italian electric motorcycle company Energica last month, the duo hosted an investor and analyst day at the Nasdaq this week. With Electrek in attendance, we heard first hand from the leaders of the two companies about how Energica’s industry-leading technology will now benefit Ideanomics other electric vehicle verticals, and vice versa. 

Oh, and we snagged a pretty awesome ride on a 150 hp electric motorcycle too.

CAKE may be best known for its stylish and highly-designed electric motorcycles. But the company’s latest teaser today seems to imply that a lighter electric two-wheeler is in the cards for the brand’s next model.

Japan’s heavyweight motorcycle manufacturers known as the Big Four have unveiled a new electric motorbike battery swapping program called Gachaco. But what Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki haven’t come right out and said is that instead of the highly anticipated innovative new motorcycle battery standard, it’s looking a lot like a blue version of Gogoro.

We learned earlier this week that California-based electric moped manufacturer ONYX was rebooting the short-lived CTY electric moped. That lower-cost model, with half of the speed of its bigger brother, the RCR, was put on the back burner a few years ago in favor of the much higher-demanded and higher-performance model. But now ONYX has given it new life with the CTY2, and bumped its performance specs accordingly.

Electric motorcycles have a wide range of advantages over their gas-powered counterparts. While most electric converts tout their low operation cost, lack of maintenance, and smoother power delivery, there’s one other big advantage that often goes unnoticed: the ability to essentially submerge in water and continue operating. A new video shows a series of Grunt electric motorcycles doing just that.