I disagree that motorcycles are a “soft” challenge. Traditionally motorcycles have always been recreational vehicles. Although they are a common commuter vehicle, the vast majority are Sunday Drivers. Most bikers don’t stray too far from home, but even though it may be only 20 miles as the crow flies, they may have torn up 100 miles worth of canyon roads en route. Others prefer to hit the highway at speeds well above the 60mph limit these bikes are capable of. The electric motorcycle is still very immature compared to electric cars but luckily they do present less of a challenge in that their systems are not as complex.

I do believe there is a market for the existing low speed, low range electric motorcycles, but they are simply for commuting and getting around town, not for casual riders who don’t have a carefully planned route picked out. Their low maintenance and lack of gas make them appealing to many, but that isn’t enough to sell most on it.

I disagree that motorcycles are a “soft” challenge. Traditionally motorcycles have always been recreational vehicles. Although they are a common commuter vehicle, the vast majority are Sunday Drivers. Most bikers don’t stray too far from home, but even though it may be only 20 miles as the crow flies, they may have torn up 100 miles worth of canyon roads en route. Others prefer to hit the highway at speeds well above the 60mph limit these bikes are capable of. The electric motorcycle is still very immature compared to electric cars but luckily they do present less of a challenge in that their systems are not as complex.

I do believe there is a market for the existing low speed, low range electric motorcycles, but they are simply for commuting and getting around town, not for casual riders who don’t have a carefully planned route picked out. Their low maintenance and lack of gas make them appealing to many, but that isn’t enough to sell most on it.

Electric Motorsport’s GPRS is an even more appealing CAFE styled 70 MPH Li-Ion e-motorcycle with up to 60 miles of range.

Zero-X builds a motocross bike with a 50 mph top speed and a 40 mile range, in a svelte 120 lb. featherweight, but the big attraction is a quick-swap battery pack, freeing riders from long intervals tied to a recharge cord.

Xtreme Scooters’ XM-3000 manages to match Brammo’s Enertia speed: (43 MPH, 50 mile range)in a perky scooter that sells at a discounted $2,645. For the price of one Enertia, you could buy five XM-3000′s and practically never run out of e-bike range. If that’s not enough oomph, Xtreme’s XM-500 LI offers a 60 MPH top speed and 85 mile range. At $6,049, it’s less than half the price of Brammo’s offering.

Point: This is Chevy Volt revisited; despite the huge marketing push, Enertia’s performance is inferior to e-bikes already available, at a price point well beyond market prices on competing products. e-motorcycles are already here and surprisingly affordable. The bottom line is that we don’t have to wait for Segway-style pricing to go electric on two wheels

Electric Motorsport’s GPRS is an even more appealing CAFE styled 70 MPH Li-Ion e-motorcycle with up to 60 miles of range.

Zero-X builds a motocross bike with a 50 mph top speed and a 40 mile range, in a svelte 120 lb. featherweight, but the big attraction is a quick-swap battery pack, freeing riders from long intervals tied to a recharge cord.

Xtreme Scooters’ XM-3000 manages to match Brammo’s Enertia speed: (43 MPH, 50 mile range)in a perky scooter that sells at a discounted $2,645. For the price of one Enertia, you could buy five XM-3000′s and practically never run out of e-bike range. If that’s not enough oomph, Xtreme’s XM-500 LI offers a 60 MPH top speed and 85 mile range. At $6,049, it’s less than half the price of Brammo’s offering.

Point: This is Chevy Volt revisited; despite the huge marketing push, Enertia’s performance is inferior to e-bikes already available, at a price point well beyond market prices on competing products. e-motorcycles are already here and surprisingly affordable. The bottom line is that we don’t have to wait for Segway-style pricing to go electric on two wheels

The only reason to buy this bike is it’s looks. And it sure looks awesome – I take my hat off to the designer and engineers.

To the business and marketing managers I’d love to know how you’re going to sell these at this price/performance points.

Sorry to be so negative – I really want to see the two wheel EV segment succeed. Like you say it’s a natural fit done right. Alas, the Enertia doesn’t seem to be done right.

However, you might want to cast your net wider and look at other two wheeled EVs before apparently leaping to the conclusion that an EV motorcycle needs to be this expensive.

The only reason to buy this bike is it’s looks. And it sure looks awesome – I take my hat off to the designer and engineers.

To the business and marketing managers I’d love to know how you’re going to sell these at this price/performance points.

Sorry to be so negative – I really want to see the two wheel EV segment succeed. Like you say it’s a natural fit done right. Alas, the Enertia doesn’t seem to be done right.

However, you might want to cast your net wider and look at other two wheeled EVs before apparently leaping to the conclusion that an EV motorcycle needs to be this expensive.