Definitely not looking good. The only silver lining, if you can call it that, is that the broader industry marches on at the same technological pace. A trailblazing company can show us an early glimpse of the future, but it only takes off when the technology is mature and buyers are ready for it. It will suck if I can’t buy an Experia in 3-5 years with more range and faster charging, but eventually I’ll be able to.
I don’t even personally need it to be full electric. I just want the instant torque delivery of a powerful electric motor with no gear changes. Given the fast deterioration of the charging network that I witnessed over my ownership of the SS9, I would actually prefer to gas up on longer trips and do shorter ones on battery power. Small battery = low cost, low manufacturing emissions, and charging from a regular outlet. It could also mean taking advantage of mass production economies of scale with detachable batteries from a supplier like Honda, Yamaha, or Gogoro. I don’t expect to see that kind of a hybrid for a while (thanks Kawasaki), but eventually it will be too expensive not to do it. After all, it won’t be long before an electric motor, controller, and 2 x 15 lbs scooter batteries are cheaper and lighter than a 6-speed transmission and 400-800c extra CC’s. Show me 40 miles of EV range, 300+ total miles before the first fuel-up, 90+ MPG, literbike acceleration at sub-100 MPH speeds, and smoother than a Goldwing, all for equal or less money to current ICE bikes, and you’d be crazy to buy a gasser.
Energica gave us the chance to buy a bike like that (minus the 300 mile range) about 15 years early, but their demise wouldn’t change the basic reality that in about 7 years, any manufacturer who doesn’t have a hybrid is going to be charging more money for an objectively inferior bike, and many of the anti-EV people who would have bought them anyway will be retired from riding by then. Another 10 years after that (2040-2045), and battery tech and the charging network will be so good that you can delete the hybrid part and still have 180+ highway miles at reasonable prices. By then, it might start getting harder to find a gas station, anyway. As I see it, that’s the future of motorcycles whether Energica exists or not.
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Topic: Call me Worthless and Weak but.... (Read 3306 times)