Harley-Davidson promises a real electric bike in 18 months

After having surprised the world by having the incredible prototype called Livewire tested on the public, the American brand says it wants to keep its promise: an industrial production by the year 2020 at the latest. Which means that they have found a way to increase autonomy and make the thruster reliable.

Harley-Davidson promises a true electric motorcycle for the end of 2019. US brand CEO Matt Levatich told US and international media at the annual Milwaukee House earnings conference.

This news may seem very surprising considering the image of Harley-Davidson and the attachment of the brand's customers to motorcycles with a very distinctive sound signature. But it's really just a confirmation. And that's already a lot.

Harley-Davidson has already presented to the astonished world a prototype of perfectly functional electric motorcycle. It was in, and the craft was called LiveWire. The machine was a futuristic cross between a naked and a cruiser. Like other journalists and a number of customers and non-customers of the brand, we could try it. On the test circuit of Michelin in Auvergne, the LiveWire had proved convincing (read our test). But his autonomy - announced, not tested - was much too small. It was supposed to allow only about 70 kilometers. And the Harley-Davidson representatives present that day had pointed out that at least 160 kilometers would be needed.

At that time, Levatich had promised a realization "at the latest in 2020". And today, it is more precise. Maybe because the 2017 figures are not good news. Indeed, Harley-Davidson has passed 241498 motorcycles worldwide, 7.9% less than in 2016 (262221 units). In terms of sales, last year saw a drop of 6.7% globally, which was 8.5 percent for the US market alone. On the other hand, the rate of income per share has increased.

At the same time, the Moto Company announced the upcoming closure of its Kansas City manufacturing facility, soon to be consolidated at the York, Pennsylvania plant. That means about 260 jobs lost.

The good news, officially, and from the point of view of the numbers, is that the renewal of customers has happened according to the plans in the United States. The company says it has 32,000 more motorcyclists driving in Harley at the end of 2017.

And the introduction of the new Softail family will also certainly help to raise the bar. But the announcement of the launch of an electric motorcycle, inspired by LiveWire or not, is a big step.

Currently, only the small American brand Zero Motorcycles offers this kind of thing in a successful and proven way. But its impact is more than modest. Otherwise, KTM has launched an electric dedicated to off-road, Freeride e. And BMW offers a maxi-scooter, the C Evolution. And that's all, basically, with two or three builders at the very confidential hearing.

The return of the public and professionals after the LiveWire Tour was very positive. But the two potential stumbling blocks before a possible purchase of such a motorcycle were autonomy and price. Matt Levatich obviously thinks that these obstacles will be able to be lifted in 18 months. Even if they already are.