Indian Motorcycle Developing Its First Ever Electric Bike

Indian Motorcycle is developing an electric motorcycle which might hit production by 2021

Indian Motorcycle is one of the oldest bike manufacturers in the world known for their cruisers. The fact that they are working on an electric motorcycle is an interesting move but not exactly a pioneering one as in 2014, rival cruiser manufacturer, Harley Davidson came up with the LiveWire electric bike concept and is quite close to launching the same. Electric motorcycles never really caught on with bikes as it did in cars owing to packaging constraints for the battery. Lesser batteries meant lesser range for bikes.

Indian is targeting a range of above 200 kilometres on one full charge and expect battery technology to develop over the next few years to be able to store more energy. The motorcycle is still in the early stage of development and we expect the bike to have a futuristic cruiser styling with Indian design influences. The new bike will be positioned as a lifestyle bike. It is interesting to note that this is not the first time Polaris, the parent company of Indian and Victory Motorcycles (now defunct), has made an electric bike.

Victory Motorcycles had had an electric motorcycle in its portfolio. The Empulse TT offered a range of 120 kilometers on one full charge and was sold in the United States for 20,000 USD (around Rs 14 lakhs without taxes). We won’t be surprised if it is used as a base for the future Indian electric motorcycle.

Steve Menneto, President at Polaris Motorcycles, announced that he wants to attract new riders with ‘fun’ electric motorcycles. "The characteristics of the electric powertrain would allow riders to enjoy the bike in twisties," he added.

Indian Motorcycles also plans to expand their current model range in the next few years by adding smaller capacity motorcycles.