Motorcycles

In pictures: The electric side of EICMA

In pictures: The electric side of EICMA
The Energica Esse Esse 9 concept was one of the electric highlights of EICMA 2016
The Energica Esse Esse 9 concept was one of the electric highlights of EICMA 2016
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The Energica Esse Esse 9 concept is a stylish take on the streetfighter Eva, displaying a patented aluminium battery box that promises very effective heat dissipation
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The Energica Esse Esse 9 concept is a stylish take on the streetfighter Eva, displaying a patented aluminium battery box that promises very effective heat dissipation
The Energica Esse Esse 9 concept was one of the electric highlights of EICMA 2016
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The Energica Esse Esse 9 concept was one of the electric highlights of EICMA 2016
The Goodyear Ego 2 is an electric-powered tilting three-wheeler
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The Goodyear Ego 2 is an electric-powered tilting three-wheeler
The Goodyear Ego 2 is powered by a 60V 26AH Lithium-Ion battery feeding a DC brush-less 60 V 1500 W motor
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The Goodyear Ego 2 is powered by a 60V 26AH Lithium-Ion battery feeding a DC brush-less 60 V 1500 W motor
The Goodyear Ego 2 trike will go on sale in Europe for €3,990 (US$4,200)
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The Goodyear Ego 2 trike will go on sale in Europe for €3,990 (US$4,200)
The Goodyear Ego 1 is an electric foldable scooter that can carry up to 100 kg (220 lb)
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The Goodyear Ego 1 is an electric foldable scooter that can carry up to 100 kg (220 lb)
The electric Vespa concept may soon enter production
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The electric Vespa concept may soon enter production
The Armotia Due X is a two-wheel drive off-road bike made in Italy
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The Armotia Due X is a two-wheel drive off-road bike made in Italy
The Armotia Due R is an electric supermoto with two-wheel drive
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The Armotia Due R is an electric supermoto with two-wheel drive
The front wheel hub motor of the Armotia Due R
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The front wheel hub motor of the Armotia Due R
The Armotia Due R two-wheel drive supermoto
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The Armotia Due R two-wheel drive supermoto
Smartphone integration is a standard feature in Armotia's Due R and X models
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Smartphone integration is a standard feature in Armotia's Due R and X models
Detail from the rear suspension of the Armotia Due R
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Detail from the rear suspension of the Armotia Due R
Electric Motion from France produces the E-Trek enduro
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Electric Motion from France produces the E-Trek enduro
An electric trials bike from French company Electric Motion
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An electric trials bike from French company Electric Motion
Chinese manufacturer Niu produces two electric smartphone-connected scooters, the M1S and the N1S Civic
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Chinese manufacturer Niu produces two electric smartphone-connected scooters, the M1S and the N1S Civic
Detail from the instrument panel of the Niu M1S Civic scooter
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Detail from the instrument panel of the Niu M1S Civic scooter
The Niu M1S Civic electric scooter
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The Niu M1S Civic electric scooter
Niu employs Bosch's rear-wheel hub motor in both its scooters
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Niu employs Bosch's rear-wheel hub motor in both its scooters
KTM's Italian dealer had the Austrian company's pedelec models on display
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KTM's Italian dealer had the Austrian company's pedelec models on display
Gogoro is expanding to Europe with its replaceable battery scheme
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Gogoro is expanding to Europe with its replaceable battery scheme
Italian scooter expert Polini is actively expanding to electric support for bicycles
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Italian scooter expert Polini is actively expanding to electric support for bicycles
Polini's pedelec electric motor
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Polini's pedelec electric motor
The connected display that pairs with Polini's electric pedelec motor
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The connected display that pairs with Polini's electric pedelec motor
The electric motor that Piaggio employs in the Wi bike series
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The electric motor that Piaggio employs in the Wi bike series
The Piaggio Wi bike
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The Piaggio Wi bike
The Torrot Muvi is an electric scooter made in Spain
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The Torrot Muvi is an electric scooter made in Spain
The Torrot Dhuna is a conceptual take on an off-road version of the Muvi scooter
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The Torrot Dhuna is a conceptual take on an off-road version of the Muvi scooter
The Torrot Muvi e-scooter is ready for police duties
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The Torrot Muvi e-scooter is ready for police duties
Italjet was once known for its innovative scooters, but lately has shifted its focus to electric bicycles
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Italjet was once known for its innovative scooters, but lately has shifted its focus to electric bicycles
The Italjet Ascot Classic electric bicycle
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The Italjet Ascot Classic electric bicycle
Detail from the Italjet Ascot e-bike
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Detail from the Italjet Ascot e-bike
Italjet announced that it's working with Samsung to develop a new generation of connected e-bikes
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Italjet announced that it's working with Samsung to develop a new generation of connected e-bikes
The Tacita T-Race Diabolika is an electric supermoto that can be ordered with four different battery and power packs
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The Tacita T-Race Diabolika is an electric supermoto that can be ordered with four different battery and power packs
The Aero E-Racer is an Italian concept developed in co-operation with Tacita and InMoto magazine
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The Aero E-Racer is an Italian concept developed in co-operation with Tacita and InMoto magazine
Detail of the Aero E-Race concept bike
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Detail of the Aero E-Race concept bike
Detail of the Aero E-Race concept bike
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Detail of the Aero E-Race concept bike
Klever is a Dutch e-bike manufacturer owned by Kymco, producing models like the Q-Comfort
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Klever is a Dutch e-bike manufacturer owned by Kymco, producing models like the Q-Comfort
Detail from the Klever Q-Comfort rear-wheel hub motor
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Detail from the Klever Q-Comfort rear-wheel hub motor
The battery pack and rear suspension of the Klever Q-Comfort e-bike
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The battery pack and rear suspension of the Klever Q-Comfort e-bike
Klever's electric mountain bike range includes the X Limited Edition
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Klever's electric mountain bike range includes the X Limited Edition
GenZe is an American company based in Michigan, owned by India's Mahirda Group, and is now launching its 2.0 electric scooter in Europe under the Peugeot monicker
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GenZe is an American company based in Michigan, owned by India's Mahirda Group, and is now launching its 2.0 electric scooter in Europe under the Peugeot monicker
Detail from the Nito NES e-scooter
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Detail from the Nito NES e-scooter
Based in Turin, Italy, Nito Bikes announced a new e-scooter called NES that will go on sale in 2017 with a €4,750 (US$5,000) price tag
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Based in Turin, Italy, Nito Bikes announced a new e-scooter called NES that will go on sale in 2017 with a €4,750 (US$5,000) price tag
The rear-wheel electric motor of the Nito NES e-scooter develops a maximum power of 4 kW
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The rear-wheel electric motor of the Nito NES e-scooter develops a maximum power of 4 kW
The Nito N3 e-scooter is expected to enter production soon
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The Nito N3 e-scooter is expected to enter production soon
The externally housed electric motor of the Nito N3 scooter
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The externally housed electric motor of the Nito N3 scooter
The Askoll eS scooter is marketed in Italy with two engine options (1.5 or 2.7 kW)
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The Askoll eS scooter is marketed in Italy with two engine options (1.5 or 2.7 kW)
Italian KRC Motors introduced an electric concept bike called E-voluzione
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Italian KRC Motors introduced an electric concept bike called E-voluzione
KRC Motors produces the Easy e-scooter, with a 11kW motor fed by a 72 V/50 Ah battery pack that is enough to power it to a top speed of 100 km/h (62 mph)
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KRC Motors produces the Easy e-scooter, with a 11kW motor fed by a 72 V/50 Ah battery pack that is enough to power it to a top speed of 100 km/h (62 mph)
Tazzari EV brought a series of electric mini-cars called Zero to EICMA
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Tazzari EV brought a series of electric mini-cars called Zero to EICMA
View gallery - 51 images

Electric mobility is still taking baby steps in Europe, but some interesting developments did come out of the Italian motorbike expo EICMA earlier this month. Energica unveiled a new concept model and Goodyear launched two small scooters, though the big manufacturers appeared once again indifferent to battery-powered two-wheelers.

Following in the footsteps of Intermot, EICMA was once again all about the internal combustion engine. Still, interest on electric bikes is constantly growing, as evidenced by several European brands that displayed their e-bikes. On the other hand, with the exception of Piaggio and its electric Vespa concept, most major manufacturers simply continued to ignore electric mobility.

The Energica Esse Esse 9 concept is a stylish take on the streetfighter Eva, displaying a patented aluminium battery box that promises very effective heat dissipation
The Energica Esse Esse 9 concept is a stylish take on the streetfighter Eva, displaying a patented aluminium battery box that promises very effective heat dissipation

The big news from the electric motorcycle industry came from Energica with the unveiling the Esse Esse 9 concept. Much more important than the bike itself though is the fact that the Italian company seems to be growing at a steady pace year after year. Founded in 2014, it already has two sport motorcycles on the market – the superbike Ego and the streetfighter Eva – and keeps on growing its dealer network, which currently includes eight European countries, and has just branched out to San Francisco, USA.

The Goodyear Ego 2 is powered by a 60V 26AH Lithium-Ion battery feeding a DC brush-less 60 V 1500 W motor
The Goodyear Ego 2 is powered by a 60V 26AH Lithium-Ion battery feeding a DC brush-less 60 V 1500 W motor

Goodyear came to Milan, Italy, with two low-cost electric scooters made by its partner iTrike in Luxembourg. The Ego 1 is a small work horse, as the Ego 2 tilting three-wheeler will take on the tasks of commuting, with both models ready to market in Europe.

The Armotia Due R is an electric supermoto with two-wheel drive
The Armotia Due R is an electric supermoto with two-wheel drive

Numerous other manufacturers, like Aero, Armotia, Askoll, Electric Motion, Italjet, Klever, KRC, Nito, Niu, Tacita and Torrot displayed their electric-powered novelties at EICMA, helping form a new map of zero emission mobility that European cities really need.

Head to our expo gallery for a taste of what was on offer in Milan this year.

View gallery - 51 images
1 comment
1 comment
Mzungu_Mkubwa
Love the tilting reverse trike chassis, but where are the recumbent designs? Are the advantages of lower wind resistance, driver comfort, and potential of weather-protective enclosures not worth exploring? Most seem stuck in either a super-moto or scooter design paradigm (kudos to those who've moved beyond that, or tapped the retro craze!) where most consumers are just not interested.