Daily Slideshow: The Electric Harley-Davidson is Confirmed for Production

An Electric Harley-Davidson by 2020

Part of Harley-Davidson having an effectively diverse portfolio means embracing options the purists might otherwise balk at. Of course, we're talking about fully electric motorcycles. From what we've seen, EV Harleys couldn't be less kosher with hardcore fans if they came with neon pink streamers on the handles and a 10% chance of blowing up every time you turned the ignition.

Let's be clear first: there's a good argument against whether a full-electric Harley could ever be true to the loud, proud spirit of the originals. A quiet engine mutes the catharsis, and a battery's range nips those long rides. However, by this point it should be clear to everyone (not least of all to Harley-Davidson themselves) that this is where the market is headed; they won't attract that much needed next generation of would-be bikers if they don't adapt. H-D know the writing's on the wall and they've already shown some admirable determination in making things work.

>>Join the conversation about the EV Harley "Livewire" right here in Harley-Davidson Forum.

A Strong Vanguard in Livewire

Livewire! It's the sort of name that seems like it should get followed by an exclamation point by default. Harley-Davidson's first foray into EV bike technology wasn't met with a ton of buzz, but the introduction of the limited H-D Livewire bikes in 2014 is evidence that Harley's been long in the process of preparing this transition. At 460 pounds and 74 horsepower, these bikes could already cut a stark contrast with the Road Kings of Harley veterans. However, it's the 50-mile range that would nip the bud in these bikes being used for anything by short-range city trips.

There is plenty to turn one's nose up with the Livewire, but a lot of that hinges on directly comparing it to its forebears, which is unfavorable and unfair in almost every way. As any first-wave is meant to do, the Livewire gave Harley-Davidson a hands-on idea of what worked, what didn't, and-- perhaps most importantly-- what people are looking for in a successful Harley-Davidson EV adaptation.

>>Join the conversation about the EV Harley "Livewire" right here in Harley-Davidson Forum.

A Different Harley for a Different Age

In order to better understand this situation, there are a few questions worth asking. For one, what are people using these bikes for? Second-- and perhaps just as importantly-- what have Harley-Davidson's competitors been doing to account for the times?

We'll answer that first one first. While one of the biggest criticisms of the first Livewire bikes was their admittedly pathetic range, new buyers are going to have a lot more on their mind than cross-country recreational fare. One of the more significant changes between the established ridership and millennial newcomers is the difference between daily driver and weekend rider.

In times past, a Harley-Davidson may have been purchased as a primarily recreational vehicle specifically for those rides. New customers are likely to be purchasing one for daily city use, which typically involves multiple shorter trips throughout the day. A 50-mile range would still be too small for much other than a quick way to get around campus, but figures like that can only be expected to get a lot higher by the time the 2020 EV bikes start rolling into dealerships.

>>Join the conversation about the EV Harley "Livewire" right here in Harley-Davidson Forum.

Investment in Infrastructure

Part of the issue doesn't have to do with the bikes themselves per se, but the infrastructure around it. Just as if you were one of the lucky few who got early access to a gas-powered car, you would soon be frustrated by the lack of gas stations. Infrastructure has been steadily developing for EV tech over the last few years, and Harley-Davidson is going to be doing their part to help things along. The company's Chief Financial Officer John Olin declared on an earnings call that Harley-Davidson "expects to spend an incremental $25-50 million per year" on developing EV power stations. 

>>Join the conversation about the EV Harley "Livewire" right here in Harley-Davidson Forum.

Stiff Competition?

On the subject of electric bikes, you would think Harley-Davidson would be coming into a crowded room, and arguably as one of the less-fitting names for the bill. Surprisingly, none of the major bike competition-- not even Honda-- have an EV bike available yet for sale in the United States. There are a few small names worth mentioning-- Alta Motors and Zero Motorcycles are a pair of stateside competitors-- but if Harley-Davidson is striving for a market that's hence populated by minor outfits, they could enter the competition with a strong foot upon the others.

>>Join the conversation about the EV Harley "Livewire" right here in Harley-Davidson Forum.

Where's the Classic Harley in all this?

Mourn as we would for the classic Harley-Davidson, there won't be any cause for concern for the company culling out the main lineup. Those gas hogs are the bikes that made their name, after all, and made the memorable rides that helped ingrain the company as a cultural icon. This will ideally create a new dimension of Harley-Davidson for a new dimension of customers. By the time (or if?) the original gas models are phased out, the EV bikes will presumably have improved to the point where they outmatch their forebears in every way. For now, the old-fashioned motorcycle's still got many years worth of stories to tell. 

>>Join the conversation about the EV Harley "Livewire" right here in Harley-Davidson Forum.

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