http://news.investors.com/business/060115-755077-harley-davidson-electric-motorcycle-launch-polaris.htm Will Polaris Leave Harley's E-Bike In The Dust? BY ALISSA WILLIAMS, INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY
Harley-Davidson's years-away electric motorcycle might be left in the dust as competing products are expected to hit the streets later this year. The battery-powered LiveWire's debut is "not in the next couple years but it's not past 2020 either, unless we run into some impossible barrier," said Harley CEO Matt Levatich said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal ... Harley-Davidson had not previously disclosed a timeline for the LiveWire's launch, but a three- or four-year delay would put it at a disadvantage against competitors, namely Polaris Industries. Polaris acquired Brammo's electric motorcycle business in January, including its lithium-ion battery technology, and said it plans to begin manufacturing electric motorcycles in the second half of this year. Besides Brammo, other electric-motorcycle brands already on roads include Mission Motorcycles and Zero Motorcycles. But Levatich said Harley is waiting on improvements in battery technology. Tested prototypes of the LiveWire have a range of about 50 miles per charge, and potential customers have indicated wanting to go at least 100 miles before charging, according to Levatich. The price point is also off. Levatich says customers see the purchase around $20,000, but because of costs, the bike wouldn't be profitable for Harley at that level. Polaris has said its electric model is expected to be priced in the range of $21,000 to $25,000. Speculation brewed in late March over Tesla Motors' introduction of an all-electric motorcycle after CEO Elon Musk tweeted that a "major new Tesla product line - not a car" would be unveiled April 30. That introduction turned out to be a Powerwall battery, which stores electricity for homes and businesses that have solar panels or other renewable-energy setups, though some analysts have said a Tesla motorcycle would be successful. [© investors.com] For EVLN posts use: http://evdl.org/evln/ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3086531/Hate-parking-car-Nissan-vehicles-automatically-2020-says-CEO.html Nissan cars will be autonomous-drive ready by 2020 http://gas2.org/2015/05/22/zero-motorcycles-announces-price-cut/ $8.5k Zero e-Motorcycles Announces Price Cut http://www.mercurynews.com/los-gatos/ci_28158057/los-gatos-shorts-click-it-or-ticket-campaign Los Gatos shorts: 'Click It or Ticket' campaign is now underway + EVLN: What if Nissan Retrofits 2011 LEAFs to 2016 Range? {brucedp.150m.com} -- View this message in context: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/EVLN-Polaris-Will-Leave-HarleyD-s-E-Bike-In-The-Dust-Snooze-U-Lose-tp4675978.html Sent from the Electric Vehicle Discussion List mailing list archive at Nabble.com. _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
