The electric revolution of two-wheelers takes centre stage at Eicma. From the Harley LiveWire to the Vespa Elettrica, to the silent return of icons Garelli and Caballero.
Milan, 76th edition of Eicma (Esposizione internazionale ciclo e motociclo). The 2018 edition of the Milan show has just closed and will be remembered, not only for the debut of the first electric Harley and Vespa, but also for the massive presence of historic models such as Garelli and Fantic Caballero, which have said goodbye to their old two-stroke engines to embrace the electric revolution. Here is a tour of the most interesting new arrivals.
It is impossible not to begin with the European debut of the LiveWire, the first electric Harley-Davidson in history. A long and complex project that kept the Milwaukee company busy for years, particularly in working out what the first Harley without its characteristic exhaust sound should be like. On the LiveWire, in place of the classic Big Twin, there is a new electric motor that allows riders to choose from seven settings (three of which are customisable) via the Riding mode control. The lithium-ion battery pack can be charged from a standard socket, using the cable stowed under the seat, or from fast-charge systems.
Safety is given careful attention, with a standard ABS system and TCS traction control. The instrument cluster features a colour touchscreen through which the connectivity interface is accessed, with Bluetooth, navigation and audio functions. And what about the unmistakable Harley sound? Those in the know say the LiveWire also has a "voice", produced by an innovative system integrated into the motor. The Harley-Davidson LiveWire will be available to order from January, when the price will also be announced.
We wrote about the Vespa Elettrica recently. At Eicma, the iconic Piaggio scooter made its first ever public appearance, presented by group chairman Roberto Colaninno. Designed above all for congested urban environments, the Vespa Elettrica has a maximum range of 100 kilometres, provided by a lithium-ion battery and an efficient energy recovery system that handles battery recharging during deceleration phases. For charging, there is a cable under the seat to connect to a standard power socket or a charging point. A full charge takes approximately four hours. Already available to order, the Vespa Elettrica costs €6,390.
This edition of Eicma 2018 will also be remembered by those who are no longer in the first flush of youth for the return of one of the most beloved mopeds of the 1970s. Back then, the Garelli ran on a two-stroke engine — that is, on a mixture of petrol and oil — and was built in Lombardy. Today, it is San Marino-based Armony (specialists in e-bikes) that has brought the iconic model back to life in electric form, reinventing it with an electric motor. Not yet on sale, the production version will feature a lightweight aluminium frame and a range of up to 120 kilometres.
Vicenza-based Askoll presented many new products. From the pedal-assisted e-Whistle and e-Blast to the foldable eBFolding, from the strictly electric eS4 scooters with a range of 100 kilometres to the cargo e-bike Concept e-Cargo2 — a compact two-wheeler designed to be agile in urban travel and to carry up to 140 kg. Also of interest is the Concept e-Cargo3, a three-wheeler (two wheels at the front, one at the rear) with a front cargo box for bulky deliveries and an electric motor in the rear hub.
The legendary Caballero returns with an "e" in front of its name. From being a crossbike adored by fourteen-year-olds in the 1970s, the e-Cab comes back to Eicma revised and updated with an electric motor, powered by a 7.5 kWh battery. The motor develops a power output of 11 kW and can reach a top speed of 120 km/h. The range is noteworthy: up to 150 kilometres in an urban cycle and 110 in mixed conditions.
Of interest is the British prototype Arc Vector, a sporty café racer with a decidedly "brit" design, featuring a carbon fibre frame, a 103 kW motor and fast-charging batteries. Performance and technology at the very top of the range (the Vector requires the rider to be equipped with a special helmet fitted with a head-up display and a jacket equipped with sensors), as is the price, which exceeds €100,000.
At Energica's Eicma stand, the electric theme is expressed above all in a racing context, with the Ego and the Ego Corsa — the latter being the competition version derived from the production Ego. The performance figures are remarkable: 120 kW, a constant torque of 200 Nm and a top speed of 270 km/h. The competition version can reach 100 km/h in just 2.8 seconds (for anyone who still thinks electric is boring…). Energica will also be the supplier of electric motorcycles for the new championship, the Fim Enel Moto-e World Cup, in which eighteen fully electric bikes will compete and which gets under way from 5 May 2019. Born from a partnership between Dorna, Enel and Energica, it will unfold over five races on European circuits.
Chinese brand Niu presented its full range of e-scooters at Eicma, built in collaboration with Bosch, Panasonic and Vodafone. Powered by 3,000-watt and 1,200-watt motors, with top speeds of up to 70 km/h and prices ranging from €2,299 to €3,999, the new UPro series features a simpler design and a compact, lightweight structure, at just 60 kg. Since 2017, Niu has been known above all for its involvement in various sharing projects with numerous companies across different countries and cities, including GoUrban in Vienna, Movo in Madrid and Scooty in Brussels.
Also on show at Eicma was the EE 5, an electric minicross bike designed for younger riders. With a 5 kW electric motor, it marks the Husqvarna brand's first foray into the world of electric motorcycles. The EE 5 "Electric Engine" has an electric motor powered by a lithium-ion battery sufficient for over two hours of riding, reduced to around 25 minutes in the case of more experienced and faster young riders. It is a minicross bike ready for racing; the motor has six different settings (via the riding mode) to adapt to different requirements and performance levels.
The Taiwanese manufacturer, known above all for producing scooters, surprised audiences at Eicma with the SuperNEX, a concept previewing the brand's first electric motorcycle. Following the recent global project iOnex — in effect a system designed to give rise to a range of electric models equipped with removable batteries, which also includes charging points distributed across the country and at Italian universities, conceived for private individuals and businesses (the project could already launch in Italy next year), the SuperNEX is an electric motorcycle designed "for those riders who would like to ride a different motorcycle, and in some ways an extreme one," Leon Wu, Kymco global product director, declared at the stand. "This is the final step in a journey that began with scooters; the public has an ever-growing appetite for electric."
This year's Eicma was not without its own mystery: the seizure of Kumpan electric scooters accused of plagiarism by Piaggio. The Guardia di Finanza seized from the manufacturer's stand the 1954 Ri electric scooters, accused (by Piaggio) of plagiarism for copying the Vespa's design. Highlighting the technological differences between the Italian two-wheeled icon and the scooters made by German manufacturer Kumpan electric was not enough; the stylistic similarities were deemed excessive. Above is an image of the Kumpan models under scrutiny at Eicma — judge for yourselves.