You you can finally preorder the future of motorcycling. It is called the Harley-Davidson LiveWire.
This morning at the International
Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Harley also put two prototypes
on display: The HD Electric Concept 1 (dirt bike) and HD Electric
Concept 2 (scooter).
Harley claims the LiveWire will
accelerate from zero to sixty in 3.5 seconds and will go “approximately”
110 miles between charges.
According to Harley Media Relations
Manager Jen Hoyer, “It’s one of our fastest production bikes ever. We’re
also announcing H-D Connect, which allows riders to monitor battery
charge status remotely via their smartphone and enables features like a
GPS enabled anti-theft system.”
Charge Times
You can plug it into a wall outlet. If
you do you can ride for about 13 miles on a one hour charge. If you use
something called a Level 3 DC Fast Charge you should be able to ride
about 85 miles after a one-hour charge.
The LiveWire features a “signature sound” produced by the gear set between the motor and the drive belt.
U.S. sales of Harley-Davidson motorcycle
have dropped by about half since 2008 and the company has been trying
to reinvent itself for at least the last five years.
The Future
According to a press release, The
LiveWire represents the future of Harley-Davidson, bringing
high-performance electric propulsion…and cellular connectivity to
today’s rider.”
The Live Wire will retail for $29,799.
The prototype dirt bike features a
swappable battery. The prototype scooter also features a removable
battery and floorboards that look like a skateboard cut in half.
Harley-Davidson’s Chief Executive
Officer Matt Levatich said, “We’re at a historic juncture in the
evolution of mobility…Our vision for the future is all encompassing….for
all ages, from urban professional to exurban retiree, and from
commute-minded to thrill-seeking.”
