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Project LiveWire

Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2014 2:49 pm
by Sabre
Ars Tech link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcjMUg38NdU[/video]
BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON—On June 18, 2014, Harley-Davidson shocked the motorcycle community by announcing an electric motorcycle prototype called Project LiveWire. The Project LiveWire teaser video showed a bike screaming down route 66, emitting a sound that vaguely resembled a turbine. I could barely believe what I saw, so I immediately spent time reading comments about LiveWire—naturally, the reaction was mixed. Some gave props to Harley-Davidson for thinking outside the box; others complained “this is no Harley."

...

he Project LiveWire engineering team uses all of the latest design, prototyping, and manufacturing expertise that Harley-Davidson developed over the last century of building v-twin motorcycles. I learned about how the LiveWire team engineered and built their ground-breaking electric bike when I talked with lead project engineer Ben Lund. Lund studied Mechanical Engineering and—as you'd expect—loves riding. He's got multiple motorcycles spanning dirt to street.

Like any other “product,” Project LiveWire started out as an idea. Instead of thinking about this new bike as an electric Harley, the LiveWire team started with a clean sheet, setting out to design a great motorcycle that “happens to be electric." Overall, the Harley-Davidson design criteria are simple. A Harley is about the look, the sound, and the feel. So these key concepts would also be at the core of the LiveWire design process.

When you see Project LiveWire in person, you know that you’re looking at something special. It’s forward looking while retaining a balance of design elements that make it “believable” as a Harley. There's no denying it's quite different.
Shocked I was the first to post this! Also shocked that Harley would do this. I know the video says they keep up with innovation... but I can see this causing a huge rift in the Harley community! That bring said, I LOVE that bike. The design, the sound, everything about it.

Re: Project LiveWire

Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 12:41 pm
by complacent
i think electric bikes are in the same boat as electric cars right now - tons of potential, not quite practical or cost effective.

i'm very interested for that to change.

Re: Project LiveWire

Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 9:19 am
by ElZorro
We're at the tipping point with electrics. My guess, 2025 they'll be 25% of the market and growing fast.

Re: Project LiveWire

Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2014 11:34 am
by Mr Kleen
Depends. Gas prices are dropping for a while and Americans have short memories.

I think an electric bike makes more sense than an electric car at this point in the technology.