A few weeks ago we told you about the IAA and the growing attention of all automakers in the world and the electric green and smart mobility. So we did not miss the opportunity to browse the stands of EICMA 2015 to see if the bikes are going through this revolution. We anticipate now that the answer is yes , perhaps even above expectations, and the reality in the field are the most diverse and for each product category. Here you go.
The Queen is 100% Italian
Alcuni even consider it one of the most important news of all EICMA. We are talking about Energetic, 100% Italian company that is born in the Modena Motor Valley . Born as an offshoot of the Group CRP , active for years in the field of components for motor racing, punching had already impressed with his first creature, the Ego. This year at their booth sported The first streetfighter 100% electric and 100% Italian: Energetic Eva . Both models of the Modena are characterized by high quality materials and careful design to the smallest detail. Bikes are top of the line in every respect, and so is the price of € 25,000 plus VAT. Ego is already on the market for several months, although not officially in Italy, while Eva is now in the final version, and sales will start in spring 2016 with a target price of the same level. Price definitely not popular, but plans to lower it Energetic mass production.
From what they told us at the stand, customers are already many around the world with the market that is California , so as to have earned the nickname of “ Tesla wannabe “. Some Italian fans have not been able to wait for the official sales and have bought up a cool Ego factory.
From the technical point of view, Ego reach the speed of 240 km / h with a torque of 195 nm available from zero rpm as a prerogative of the electric motor. Autonomy can be up to 150 km depending on gait and mapping to be chosen from Standard , Eco , Rain and Sports . Also adjustable electric regeneration braking, three different levels or off. The battery has a capacity of 11.7 kWh and is fully charged in about 3 hours, or 30 minutes if you can take advantage of the fast charge type Combo CCS , the same electric cars homes German and European standards in general. The new Eve is very similar, with speed limited to 200 km / h, the same mappings and the same battery, but by virtue of the lower power can offer up to 200 km in the urban cycle . Both bikes feature Bluetooth, and just during the fair was presented the dedicated app, which means the new LTE module , will provide all the data in real time, enabling also to check the charging status remotely.
Anche Ireland are serious
Certainly Ireland is famous for the production of two wheels, but now comes a serious proposal and the unmistakable name: Volt Motorcycles . Unlike punching, the founder Colin Darby has focused his attention only to road bikes but to a wider catalog, from scooters to the urban maxi scooter, and finally the 220 V , a sport by the way.
With a price not yet announced, the Volt has always 220 an appearance by super sports , although it is now clear that the finishes and materials are lower than the competition Italian. And also the technical specifications reflect a pattern that maybe wants to be cheaper, although the price is still unknown. The speed is limited to 120 km / h and 120 km autonomy . The total charge is reached after about 6 hours, and there were no reports of any fast charger. Surely this is not a bike with features that many fans have come to expect but we reserve the right to make a judgment as soon as we will have to try it, because despite the limited speed who has led talks about acceleration burning and not a little fun in the streets. As mentioned, however the proposed Volt is very wide, and also the prices reported for the whole range are very interesting for the class.
The rest of the catalog consists of Volt Motorcycles four models of electric scooters, the growing size and performance. It starts from the classic little scooter citizen, City 60 , with a distinctly retro design but with lines and colors that convince. As for the normal category, the speed is limited to 45 km / h and the battery that recharges in 5 hours ensures a range of 90 km. More than enough for city use. Online also the smaller burden of 70 kg. Prices from 2,569 euro .
The second family is 70 volts, for 2,846 euro provides a more urban dimension but with more modern lines . Identical to his younger brother speed and distance, but the charging time increases to 6 hours, a sign that to counter the brunt of the battery is slightly larger.
The most interesting model is Volt 80 . It offers the same features of 45 km / h and 90 km of autonomy, but has an unusual design, a cross between sports and work vehicle . Curious arrows integrated in the handle that also perform the task of hand guards. To take home need 3,725 euro .
It comes finally to 90 volts, the maxi of the Irish proposal. The km of paths are always 90, but the speed in this case rises to 90 km / h. Obviously, also the weight of salt up to 115 kg. The price, all things considered discrete covering its area is 5,660 euro .
All prices are excluding taxes, and when there is an official dealer Italian. However they are very interested in Italy and made us realize that we can already arrange tests also in the beautiful country, in the case of affected customers.
City 60
Gogoro, the scooter of the future that is already a success
We’ve already mentioned something in our news, and so we could not avoid to have a chat with the guys at Gogoro , present in force at EICMA 2015. First, let us say, the enthusiasm and the dynamism of this company is contagious, and it is clear that we believe a lot and are very convinced of the quality of their product.
Cosa really defines Gogoro? The factors are many but the most important is certainly not abandon the idea of the customer at the mercy of charging, but to offer them support in the field. Gogoro can not be reloaded, but once finished charging the batteries must be replaced at a special station . It seems perhaps more complex, but it’s actually very simple and straightforward.
Gogoro stations, which are already 90 in Taiwan , where the project is at home, do not seem complex mini workshops but rather the information point with a lot of touch screen monitors. When approaching with his scooter, recognition is wirelessly without any authentication and the operation is totally self service. Simply raise the seat, pull the handle with two batteries and insert them in the slots of the station. At this point after 6 sencodi exact (yes, we have seen and we counted) are proposed two charged batteries, insert the fly, it closes the seat and you’re ready to go.
In addition, each time you make a change, the system performs a diagnostic check and detect any abnormalities. The price of Gogoro is little more than $ 4,000, and then you pay a monthly fee for the batteries and refills . For $ 50 it includes unlimited battery changes, and soon will be also introduced a cheaper rate for those who use the scooter and just needs a small number of battery swap.
A half so could only be smart in fact has a companion app that lists any data available : kilometers traveled, average speed, estimated range, and even a map with stations Gogoro closer. It was during the EICMA Gogoro announced it had identified in Amsterdam the right landing in Europe, for its considerable attention to sustainable mobility, but said they were confident of being able to expand quickly in other cities. To this are essential belay stations, which however have the advantage of being easily installed, are fine and do not require personnel to presidiarle.
The American beautiful and accessible
One of the biggest stands of the green sector has been to Zero Motorcycles. Starting from a small garage in Santa Cruz in California, Zero has quickly become a house of international renown , with a full range but especially affordable now.
Zero Motorcycles have long available on the Italian market and are also available for test drive tire for skeptics. The top of the range is the Zero DSR, with acceleration from 0 to 100 in 3.9 seconds and 144 nm of torque. It starts with € 18,290 plus any options that are fast charger or a bigger battery. The basic model can travel up to 237 km in the urban cycle and have a top speed of 158 km / h. Standard replenishment occurs in almost nine hours and can be lowered up to 2.6 hours by adding the optional charger. Note that the batteries are guaranteed 5 years or 160,000 km .
We also said affordable, and it is the Zero S and DS start at 12,800 euro . To this figure offer respectively 195 km and 177 km range. Interestingly, the S, with all the surcharges applicable, may be as high as 317 km. Speed always slightly above 150 km / h. In basic charge it is reduced to almost 7 hours or up to 2 hours because of the smaller size.
To complete the family the Supermoto Zero FX and FXS, suitable for any terrain and fun at the highest levels, with a price even more interesting: € 10,390 . The speed is lower, about 130 km / h and maximum autonomy in urban cycle stops at 70 km, coming down a lot if you fancy yourself a bit ‘. The battery is obviously smaller and charges in 4.7 hours or at top speed optional in an hour and a half.
And big? Poorly
Absent not in the sense of not being present. All the big names of the two wheels were present at EICMA 2015. The usual suspects, Honda, Yamaha, Ducati, Suzuki and Kawasaki were all huge stand with models in plain sight. However, no home, including also MV Agusta, Benelli and Moto Guzzi sported a simple prototype of mobility alternative to oil. If fear or excessive secrecy or another is unknown. Only two realities that have already unveiled future plans: BMW and Harley Davidson .
BMW had its stand area dedicated to sustainable mobility, with beautiful views in his maxi scooter C-Evolution Electric . Nothing particularly new, pattern already seen in many occasions, but it is interesting to note that the German group does not keep hidden his alternative proposals (in the automotive field are the i3 and i8) but rather spend the designated areas in its exhibition spaces . who knows that there are also at the construction site of the actual motion for the brand propeller.
The other house that sported one of his creatures electrified, in sharp contrast with the target company is Harley Davidson. The LiveWire enjoyed a dedicated with a lot of simulator to prove to fans the force of the electric motor. A technician was available to explain all the details of the bike, and the means, a real specimen, was connected to a mechanical roller with a turbine to throw air f accia the pilot to simulate the speed. No need to say many Harley fans decidedly skeptical they were blown to find that the LiveWire is anything but quiet, but has a different noise . The American company has not yet specified how this project has chance to get out of the prototype stage and become a commercial motorcycle, but the effort and the media in the field (with tests, reviews and test drives) is promising. We just have to wait until next year to see if the great classic houses are just taking time to come out in better times, or if you do not want to boycott idea of mobility which can not be reflected.
China’s emerging power
The industrial strength and creativity of the Chinese people has become almost uncontrollable, and also in the motorcycle world invasion is already in place . Asian companies offering different models in our market are active for some time, and now a new wave is coming to follow the tide of electric bikes.
Proposals were lots of scooters and motorcycles in clear Chinese, so much so that for many stand was even hard to tell who was the producer and importer who was a simple and rimarchiatore. In addition to the big reality as precisely Gogoro, there are a multitude of unknown names and sometimes the delivery impossible trying to carve out a slice of this expanding market. Just to mention one in particular because it was surprised by the size of the stand, like many names most titled: Yadea . This Chinese company, which also has an Italian partner, has an immense catalog that ranges from simple bike, through different models of scooters to motorcycles. Their presence had certainly tastes very institutional, to showcase the company’s production capacity and also the technical one, since some models on display have interesting features from the point of view of style.
Prototipo Yadea special design and futuristic
The exhibition features a complete range of scooters Yadea, from smaller and slender models up to slightly below the maxi scooter.
There are also the minibike, both as a boy as an adult.
L’intento of many of these companies do not sell directly in our market, given the difficulty of creating a network of sales and service. Often are seeking collaborations , with existing companies or investors, to offer their production and export to different countries and with different names.
Get creative
One advantage of the new concept of mobility, green and smart, is that the public willingly accepts eye on particular ideas, futuristic design, and attempts out of the ordinary. And such examples are not missed even at EICMA.
Citiamo Doohan as the French, too, in collaboration with an Asian group, with shows in a model with three wheels ready for sale in 2016. Project interesting, and design that seems straight out of Tron .
very Italian also Armotia, a motocross bike, the first two-wheel drive . Definitely a project to watch, which also uses the 3D printing to customize the motion on the demands of customers.
The Swiss Overview , among the many models of its compact SUV with four wheels, has showcased a prototype three-wheeled electric.
In addition to special projects and aesthetically unusual, the group perhaps most strongly was that of the scooter . Also here it is really difficult to distinguish between manufacturers and importers, and the feeling is that many limit themselves to jump into a market without much knowledge and relying much on the aesthetics of the product. This market share will certainly have new life, but the risk is to be on the market too many products of dubious reliability, and without the skills to solve technical problems and mechanical systems.
We went to EICMA with the understanding that every year the attention to new technical solutions and motor increases more and more. The sharp growth in the world smart and generally “the internet of things” is affecting all sectors, and the two wheels are certainly not immune, with smartphones increasingly traveling companions. Next year we will be able to judge whether there will be in 12 months was really an evolution, not only technical but also of mentality.
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