Harley Davidson unveiled an iteration of its future vehicles in India by taking the wraps off its first ever all electric motorcycle - the Harley Davidson LiveWire. A concept that transitioned to a production motorcycle over a course of 4 years and made its global debut at EICMA 2018, the LiveWire has now finally reached the Indian shores.
The company has already listed the electric motorcycle on its India website. While the price and launch date of the motorcycle have not been revealed yet, it is expected to be here by the end of this year. As of now, we have just had our first looks at the bike and it is safe to say that the future is electric!?
But first, a little reminiscence of the past. Harley Davidson had been hinting at the bike since about half a decade now. Still, the announcement of the LiveWire literally came as a bombshell to the motorcycling industry. That was mostly because no other major motorcycle manufacturer had looked at an electric drivetrain as a viable option till then.
What is new!
Now making a concept come to reality is one thing. Making it stand out from anything you have ever produced before is another altogether. With LiveWire, Harley Davidson did the latter.?
LiveWire is the quickest Harley Davidson ever produced. Understandably so as the torque delivery in electric drivetrains is instantaneous. In numbers, Harley claims that the LiveWire can rush from 0 to 97 kmph in mere 3 seconds. These figures are not very far off from the fastest of superbikes, including the Suzuki Hayabusa (2.47 seconds) and Suzuki GSX-R1000 (2.35 seconds). A Harley almost as quick as these, that is the LiveWire for you. All this is made possible by a 78 kW (or 105 HP) electric motor delivering a 116 Nm torque.?
Harley also claims a range of up to 235 kms for the LiveWire in the city on a single charge. This range drops down to 152 km on the highways. The company says that the bike can charge up to 80 percent in just 40 minutes through Level 3 DC Fast Charger.
Harley Davidson LiveWire (Image: Sarthak Dogra/ IndiaTimes)
Naturally, LiveWire is also the first Harley Davidson bike to come with an automatic transmission, i.e. no clutch or gears. In addition, there is a regenerative braking system in the motorcycle that manages to add lost energy back to the battery upon braking, thus increasing its overall range. Known as the Renewable Energy Storage System (RESS), the regen mechanism is also the reason why the bike is able to deliver a better range in the cities than on highways, as the braking in the former scenario adds back to the battery.?
Another mechanism exclusive to Harley¡¯s electric motorcycle is a Reflex Defensive Riding System (RDRS) that essentially combines four different functions into one for an optimum ride. These functions include Cornering enhanced ABS, Cornering enhanced traction control, Rear-wheel lift mitigation as well as Drag Torque Slip Control System (DSCS).
While the LiveWire is considerably different in operations than a regular IC engine motorcycle, HD has made sure that the LiveWire sports its hallmark design. For the same reason, the bike still features a gas tank at its designated place.?
To make it even sound like the regular Harleys, the LiveWire has been fitted with an electronic sound that reminds something of a supersonic jet taking off from the runway. Then there is the haptic pulse, that imitates the vibrations of a loud Harley IC engine when you start the bike.?
The bold look at the front amplified by just the right amount of faring, a minimalist?rear end with a 180 mm wide wheel and a 84.1 inch long side profile that is constantly growing on you as look at it, all adds up to a signature Harley Davidson make. Even the rider position is seemingly upright with a wide grip giving you that HD rider feel.?
LiveWire marks the future of the US bike maker in many ways. Now that the company has been successful in developing a potent electric motor, in a design just right for an HD logo, it is expected to use this for more such vehicles in the future.
Harley Davidson LiveWire (Image: Harley Davidson)
There are various opinions about the all electric Harley Davidson. Some embrace it, citing the dire need to shift to electric vehicles. Others complain about the missing IC engine feel well known to regular riders. Be that as it may, HD has made sure to keep the LiveWire a thrilling experience for both sides. And the company has to be commended for doing this before anyone else. Great job Harley Davidson!?