LiveWire Livewire
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 810
Likes: 570
From: Detroit Metro Area
It is the EPA highway cycle requirement. It likely was never altered once the 55 MPH limit was given up. This is the biggest reason cars and trucks do not get the projected highway fuel economy as well. Manufacturers will NOT run a special cycle because there would be a bazillion different cycles they could run. So, they use what they certify to.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 544
Likes: 61
From: San Diego
It is the EPA highway cycle requirement. It likely was never altered once the 55 MPH limit was given up. This is the biggest reason cars and trucks do not get the projected highway fuel economy as well. Manufacturers will NOT run a special cycle because there would be a bazillion different cycles they could run. So, they use what they certify to.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 4,269
Likes: 3,161
From: Texas
It is the EPA highway cycle requirement. It likely was never altered once the 55 MPH limit was given up. This is the biggest reason cars and trucks do not get the projected highway fuel economy as well. Manufacturers will NOT run a special cycle because there would be a bazillion different cycles they could run. So, they use what they certify to.
Electric vehicles have their own testing procedures, but I can't find the details on those, they're behind a paywall.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 4,269
Likes: 3,161
From: Texas
Cars aren't that bothered by it to the same degree, because they generally have much slipperier coefficients of drag (a Mercedes A-class has a cd of just .22). Bikes have comparatively terrible drag. A typical naked bike with an upright rider has a cd of around .7, so wind resistance just kills range the faster you go.
On my gas bike, I can get about 54 mpg at a constant 55 mph, that drops to around 37 mpg at a constant 80 mph. If the same ratio applied to the LiveWire, that would mean that the same 130 miles at 55 mph would translate into just 87 miles at 80 mph.
Last edited by FatBob2018; Jan 8, 2020 at 12:31 PM.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 4,269
Likes: 3,161
From: Texas
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Road Captain
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 544
Likes: 61
From: San Diego
no it doesn’t. I was getting ready to put my money down on the Livewire. Just wasn’t worth the price and range. If they wanted to charge that much they should have put out much better range.
if that bike was ACTUALLY getting 130 miles at true highway speeds, I would sell my SR/F today and buy the Livewire today.
My hostility comes from misleading information. I’ve been in the EV motorcycle field for a bit now and false/misleading claims have been RAMPANT and vapor ware does NO GOOD for anyone.
it’s the same for the Lighting brand with their Strike model. If they actually come through with their claims that’ll be a big deal. But as of right now.....who knows.
I am by no means a Zero fanboy. It just was the best for the money at the time that actually has dealer support.
if that bike was ACTUALLY getting 130 miles at true highway speeds, I would sell my SR/F today and buy the Livewire today.
My hostility comes from misleading information. I’ve been in the EV motorcycle field for a bit now and false/misleading claims have been RAMPANT and vapor ware does NO GOOD for anyone.
it’s the same for the Lighting brand with their Strike model. If they actually come through with their claims that’ll be a big deal. But as of right now.....who knows.
I am by no means a Zero fanboy. It just was the best for the money at the time that actually has dealer support.