KTMphil
Senior member
Husqvarna Debuts E-go Electric Concept
Husqvarna tenders its first bid for the burgeoning electric motorcyle market, the BMW-owned marque debuting its E-go concept at the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show. Marketed toward the young commuter, the E-go feature minimalist supermotard styling and the use of radical components like a single-sided front fork.
Details of the E-go’s electric powertrain are sparse, Husqvarna press materials stating only that it’s a functional prototype. Photos reveal a belt drive from the motor output shaft powering the chain final drive. Zero information on the battery chemistry or design, except that the battery support is constructed from aluminum.
Stripped down styling takes center stage on this concept, with the E-go’s front end the star attraction. Husqvarna dubs the eye-catching component “a single sided double leg fork.” The right side fork is complemented by a single-sided rear swingarm jutting out the left. A Sachs shock connects the swingarm to the steel-tubed frame at the base of the “self-supporting” seat.
The most eye-brow raising stat in the E-go’s press material is a claimed weight of 80 kilograms (176 pounds). This matches up quite favorably with the current crop of production electric rides - the Zero DS weighing 278 pounds and Brammo Enertia 335 pounds when tested in MotoUSA’s 2010 Electric Motorcycle Comparison.
Perhaps most interesting is Husqvarna’s targeted pitch toward young riders. The debut press announcement mentions “young” and “first-time” riders repeatedly. It E-ven uses the E-lectric E-marketing shtick, promising that “on the Concept E-go, urban traffic will seem like a videogame that will be fun and easy to skilfully nE-gotiate.”
The bid for the youth sector makes strategic sense, particularly in the European market. While the current performance of electric motorcycles flag behind traditional ICE designs, they are comparable to the low-displacement horsepower-restricted mounts mandated by Europe's tiered licensing laws.
Expect more news on Husqvarna street lineup at this year’s round of bike shows.
Article from: http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/
Husqvarna tenders its first bid for the burgeoning electric motorcyle market, the BMW-owned marque debuting its E-go concept at the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show. Marketed toward the young commuter, the E-go feature minimalist supermotard styling and the use of radical components like a single-sided front fork.
Details of the E-go’s electric powertrain are sparse, Husqvarna press materials stating only that it’s a functional prototype. Photos reveal a belt drive from the motor output shaft powering the chain final drive. Zero information on the battery chemistry or design, except that the battery support is constructed from aluminum.
Stripped down styling takes center stage on this concept, with the E-go’s front end the star attraction. Husqvarna dubs the eye-catching component “a single sided double leg fork.” The right side fork is complemented by a single-sided rear swingarm jutting out the left. A Sachs shock connects the swingarm to the steel-tubed frame at the base of the “self-supporting” seat.
The most eye-brow raising stat in the E-go’s press material is a claimed weight of 80 kilograms (176 pounds). This matches up quite favorably with the current crop of production electric rides - the Zero DS weighing 278 pounds and Brammo Enertia 335 pounds when tested in MotoUSA’s 2010 Electric Motorcycle Comparison.
Perhaps most interesting is Husqvarna’s targeted pitch toward young riders. The debut press announcement mentions “young” and “first-time” riders repeatedly. It E-ven uses the E-lectric E-marketing shtick, promising that “on the Concept E-go, urban traffic will seem like a videogame that will be fun and easy to skilfully nE-gotiate.”
The bid for the youth sector makes strategic sense, particularly in the European market. While the current performance of electric motorcycles flag behind traditional ICE designs, they are comparable to the low-displacement horsepower-restricted mounts mandated by Europe's tiered licensing laws.
Expect more news on Husqvarna street lineup at this year’s round of bike shows.
Article from: http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/
