When it comes to design, and contemplating the present state of reasonably priced, available (learn: non-experimental) battery know-how, a passable EV motorbike is a a lot larger design problem than any EV automotive.
The explanation why is easy: House.
Except all you propose to make use of your motorcycle for is a fast run to the retailers/work/college and again, vary nervousness is totally a factor. I’ve each lived with EV bikes and spent a few years of my life doing each quick and lengthy commutes on motorbikes, so I am undoubtedly talking from expertise right here, and never simply theorizing.
As emissions restrictions tighten in nations around the globe, there’s naturally curiosity in EV conversions of ICE machines for some individuals. Due to the inherent spatial restrictions on bikes, you will discover way more attention-grabbing EV automotive and truck (and different four-wheeler) initiatives than bikes at this time limit.
That’s, in fact, if you have not heard of High Field. It is a customized store in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, that makes a speciality of all issues Harley-Davidson. They have been in operation for a few many years now, and are nicely revered within the native customized group.
In September 2024, with the assistance of the EV conversion consultants at OZ Motors, it completed the prototype for what it hopes will turn out to be a brand new, available EV conversion package for a Harley-Davidson Fats Boy. Simply a few months later, Harley-Davidson motorbike designer Dais Nagao even stopped by to verify the bike out and go for a journey.
It did not occur in a single day, in fact. This challenge was a labor of affection, and one which started with the dream of Excessive Discipline founder Makoto Ueno, all the best way again in 2018. He noticed the writing on the wall and needed to see if he might efficiently combine an applicable electrical drivetrain and battery resolution into his beloved Harleys. Emissions guidelines in Japan are strict, and solely getting stricter, so he needed to get forward of the curve.
Why could not Harley house owners profit, he reasoned?
After all, there was resistance inside his store, as a result of Harley followers are typically drawn to little issues like their engines and their distinctive sound. Nonetheless, Ueno believed in his concept, so he started consulting with OZ Motors in regards to the feasibility of this challenge. Sadly, he was recognized with abdomen most cancers and handed away earlier than his EV Harley dream could possibly be realized.
Nonetheless, present Excessive Discipline proprietor Yuko Ueno, who was Makoto’s spouse, carried on the mission. Along with the remainder of her staff and the parents at OZ, they ultimately settled on a design that shrouded the electrical motor to provide a lovely aesthetic look. To get a good vary, they mounted twin battery packs the place exhausting saddlebags can be, and might reportedly get between 99 and 136-ish miles on a single cost.
Better of all, says Ueno, is the truth that this EV-converted Fats Boy is ridable in Japan by riders who solely have mid-sized motorbike licenses. The plan is to develop this right into a available conversion package that Excessive Discipline can supply to Harley house owners. Whereas nothing has been finalized but, the pricing additionally does not sound unreasonable in any respect. They’re aiming for a retail worth of between 500,000 and 1,000,000 yen, or about US $3,165 to $6,331.
So, would you give this EV Fats Boy a strive when you had the possibility? In case you occur to be anyplace close to Excessive Discipline, it is not solely on show on the store proper now; you can even take it for a take a look at journey, says the store.
For extra info, or to plan your go to to Excessive Discipline’s store, verify the hyperlink above.
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