An Introduction To Harley-Davidson Electric Motorcycle Project By President And COO Matt Levatich

In New York City, an introduction to the LiveWire electric motorcycle project by Matt Levatich, President & Chief Operating Officer of Harley-Davidson Motor Company

21 Responses to “An Introduction To Harley-Davidson Electric Motorcycle Project By President And COO Matt Levatich”


  1. 1 Mr Dick Jul 2nd, 2014 at 9:33 am

    52 mile range, cost of components quite high, hmm, sounds like a loser.

  2. 2 Dana Jul 2nd, 2014 at 10:35 am

    This would be a great commuter bike, especially here in Cali where premium is over $4/gal. I could probably almost cover the payment just in gas savings.

  3. 3 CafesportyTC Jul 2nd, 2014 at 11:03 am

    in small numbers things cost more. If you have a manufacturing back round at all you’d understand…nothing they’re are doing is breakthrough or revelutionary, its testing the waters in the direction that the industry will end up heading…

  4. 4 Matt W. Jul 2nd, 2014 at 11:17 am

    And even if it flops in the States I think it might have potential in the Asian market at least.

  5. 5 Tom Ryan Jul 2nd, 2014 at 11:21 am

    Everyone is concerned about the cost of today’s gasoline. If you were to charge up your new electric motorcycle in the future, are they going to charge you the equivalent of buying three to five gallons of gasoline that you’re paying today, especially at all of those charging stations that they’ll have to set up.? That is the question people aren’t asking!

  6. 6 Fritz Jul 2nd, 2014 at 11:47 am

    Tom Ryan hit the nail on the head.

    How much does it cost to fully charge up a vehicle? Is it super cheap? Now that coal / electric generation plants are bad news and Fukushima showed the shortcomings of nuclear energy the price of juice can only go up. When we go somewhere to within maximum range and require a charge to get home or to the next destination, are we setting ourselves up for a nasty gouge? I can see a pub or restaurant letting one vehicle or two get a free charge but say 50 or 100 vehicles? Over a month that will effect the bottom line and I can see business owners not letting an opportunity to make coin slip by.

  7. 7 Lyle Landstrom Jul 2nd, 2014 at 11:50 am

    I’d consider buying one. Hat’s Off to HD for testing the waters.

  8. 8 TJ Martin Jul 2nd, 2014 at 12:56 pm

    An interesting statistic/fact from automotive EV’s . It takes on average 15 – 20 years + …..just to break even with an EV in light of the higher cost of purchase as well as maintenance of an EV [ battery packs are godawful expensive ] over an equivalent ICE . Not to mention the expected and projected [ by the manufactures ] lifespan of any EV at present is less than ten years . For interest sake it also takes a minimum of 10 years to break even with a Hybrid . Factor in the inevitable increases for cost of electricity .. an already over strained power grid nation and worldwide [ according to WSJ Reuters ConEd PG&E etc ] … no money , technology or capabilities to expand the grid [ again worldwide ] along with where to charge your EV etc .. these are the points hardly no one is taking into account nor considering when applauding the so called merits of EV’s

    So lets all hope that ‘ Testing the Waters ‘ with no plans for manufacturing is all they’re doing … for their sake as well as ours

  9. 9 Lyle Landstrom Jul 2nd, 2014 at 2:05 pm

    Well, the demand for oil is already over the limit too. Assuming these bikes are smaller and lighter than the typical gas hog, they take less fuel however the electricity is produced, than a traditional combustion engine. I think there’s room in the world for both types of power. Personally, if I had one, I’d consider solar charging while it’s parked in front of my house. Can’t do that with petroleum. Given the choice, I’ll stick to my bagger for long trips but I’d use an Ecycle if they were available and affordable for around town.

  10. 10 nicker Jul 2nd, 2014 at 2:45 pm

    TJ,

    RE:
    “…. points hardly no one is taking into account nor considering when applauding the so called merits of EV’s …”

    Could there.be a reason…….???
    Perhaps its not Politically Correct to fined fault with “Progressive Left Thinking.”….?

    Just a thought.
    -nicker-

  11. 11 James just another Crazy Kiwi Jul 2nd, 2014 at 3:00 pm

    They will just be another electrical appliance with the soul of a sowing machine.

    I can pull out dozens of brochures by HD proclaiming the beating heart of the V Twin owning the street…….etc etc

    Maybe the new CEO needs to go back and read some of their own literature

  12. 12 LoneRider Jul 2nd, 2014 at 3:03 pm

    Electric vehicle bikes or cars just are not practical at this time. Not enough places to charge in public, biggest drawback so far lack of range, cost of batteries, and weight. The future will probably bring lots of advances in range, weight, and energy management. So far they are a little more than a expensive short range commuter. Nice to see the Company thinking toward the possible future though, but I think they would be better off spending resources on better engine management, and liquid cooling because I don’t think they can continue to evade the EPA thugs with oil over air cooling.

  13. 13 Woody Jul 2nd, 2014 at 5:48 pm

    So sad to see production leading technology instead of the other way around. As much as it’d be great for their to be some magic battery that meets the needs of electric vehicles being meaningful and economical, there isn’t one yet. Throwing billions of tax dollars to hand picked companies to make products anyway and then more tax dollars as party favors for those buying the end product just doesn’t make sense. Even a train locomotive will fly with a big enough rocket attached, but it doesn’t make them good airplanes.

  14. 14 Blackmax Jul 2nd, 2014 at 5:56 pm

    The man said it for me
    “There are going to be traditionalist out there, that you’d have to pry
    their air cooled, gas powered, engines from their cold dead hands”…..
    Damn straight, buddy !!!!
    Besides I’m waiting for the jet powered flying skimmer bikes
    That’s got to be just around the corner, the next “big thing”
    LOL !!!!!!

  15. 15 Roscoe Jul 2nd, 2014 at 7:35 pm

    If it was all about gas consumption, you would riding a single cylinder Japanese bike.
    Admit it, most people ride for leisure, not for transportation.

  16. 16 1550tc Jul 2nd, 2014 at 8:01 pm

    I keep thinking of the scene in mad max where they are all fighting for gasoline lol

  17. 17 1550tc Jul 2nd, 2014 at 8:18 pm
  18. 18 tim Jul 3rd, 2014 at 7:55 am

    Electrics are coming.the question you need to ask the magic ball is will it be like the 8 track-full of problems, better then what was before, but not there, and after everyone invests in accessories to use it, will something much better come along like the cassette. The biggest down side of electrics is the batteries. Technology is not there yet, My opinion is the battery needs to be the size and weight of a YTX-20 or the largest aYIX-30 and have a 250 mile range with a 30 minute full recharge. That would make it commercially wanted. We are not there yet. I have heard rumors or Tesla getting out of the coachwork biz and concentrating solely on Battery development. If this is true it will speed up the development greatly. Tesla is a great company and has the talent. Like other electronics (VHS, DVD, Blueray) once it is in the market and consumers want it, prices will go down and it will be affordable. (I never said Cheap) Of course this is how things work in a true capitalist society one with out gov’t intervention, crony capitalism and the like. (for you die in the wool liberals and socialist read “Atlas Shrugged”) I did repeat myself in that sentence
    Electrics are coming, just not this year

  19. 19 mk Jul 3rd, 2014 at 11:30 am

    I have to wonder what the length of “machine” life this vehicle is?

    I have to say, if I was trying to design a vehicle that’ll go “a million miles”, it would either have to be electric (or something really weird). Does anybody have a feel for how long these vehicles would last (not batteries) before you’d have to scrap it?

  20. 20 nicker Jul 5th, 2014 at 11:14 pm

    Look,
    If ya-wanna go REALLY Fast, without noise, with the fewest moving parts, and no maintenance,,,,,

    Then have your buddy shove a high pressure oxygen bottle up your ass, then whack the valve off with a hammer…… 🙂

    -nicker-

  21. 21 Dave Blevins Jul 6th, 2014 at 11:16 am

    MK,
    The typical life of most electric powered devices (meaning battery powered of course), is usually two-three times the life span of the battery. I can only assume this rule might be applied to a vehicle, as it is to other battery powered devices.
    The bike itself would be rebuildable of course, suspension, brakes. etc., but as with any vehicle, the consumer must decide when it is no longer practical, especially the motor.

Comments are currently closed.
Cyril Huze