Motorcycles

Italian electric cruiser breaks cover at AIMExpo 2017

Italian electric cruiser breaks cover at AIMExpo 2017
The T-Cruise is Tacita's first cruiser after a series of off-road models
The T-Cruise is Tacita's first cruiser after a series of off-road models
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The Tacita T-Cruise can be equipped with three different battery packs, ranging from 7.5 to 27 kWh
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The Tacita T-Cruise can be equipped with three different battery packs, ranging from 7.5 to 27 kWh
The Tacita T-Cruise will be offered in a wide price range, starting at US$10,999
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The Tacita T-Cruise will be offered in a wide price range, starting at US$10,999
For the unveiling of the T-Cruise, Tacita chose the AIMExpo 2017 show in Columbus, Ohio
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For the unveiling of the T-Cruise, Tacita chose the AIMExpo 2017 show in Columbus, Ohio
The T-Cruise is Tacita's first cruiser after a series of off-road models
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The T-Cruise is Tacita's first cruiser after a series of off-road models
The Tacita T-Cruise runs on Metzeler Marathon tires, 120/80-17 at the front and 140/80-15 at the rear
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The Tacita T-Cruise runs on Metzeler Marathon tires, 120/80-17 at the front and 140/80-15 at the rear
View gallery - 5 images

Tacita's first cruiser motorcycle has been officially unveiled at the AIMExpo show in Columbus, Ohio. The electric T-Cruise comes equipped with selectable power delivery, adjustable ergonomics and a variety of optional power packs that translate to prices ranging from affordable to high-endish.

The timing of the American International Motorcycle Expo (AIMExpo) didn't leave much room for important model debuts, as most companies are holding their best for the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show in late October and the annual EICMA show in Italy. Nevertheless, Italian electic motorcycle manufacturer Tacita opted to reveal its new model on American soil, as a clear indication of the customer base it is actually targeting. In fact, announcing the price only in US currency could be interpreted as indicative of which market will get to see the T-Cruise first.

As announced, Tacita lifted the veil on an electric cruiser that draws obvious inspiration from the lines of Harley-Davidson's Sportster, powered by its own liquid-cooled asynchronous three-phase induction motor. Peak power is announced at 30 kW (40.2 hp) at 8,000 rpm, with a maximum torque of 70 Nm (51.6 lb-ft).

The electric powerplant allows the rider to select between two power delivery modes, Eco and Sport, as it drives the rear wheel via Tacita's proprietary five-speed gearbox that also includes a reverse gear for easy unparking. Interestingly, Tacita revealed a chain-driven motorcycle, yet in its website it states that the final drive can alternatively employ a belt. Perhaps this suggests a possible customer option?

For the unveiling of the T-Cruise, Tacita chose the AIMExpo 2017 show in Columbus, Ohio
For the unveiling of the T-Cruise, Tacita chose the AIMExpo 2017 show in Columbus, Ohio

Tacita will offer the T-Cruise with three different 120 V lithium-polymer battery packs, starting with the 7.5 kWh base kit for a maximum range of up to 50 mi (81 km) before the engine enters reserve mode. The second pack includes a 15 kWh battery, good for 93 mi (149 km), yet the most interesting is the long-range 27 kWh battery that can propel the T-Cruise for as long as 168 miles, or 270 km.

Depending on the selected battery pack, charging times range from two to seven hours on a typical home socket with the standard on-board 3 kW charger, but things can accelerate considerably with the optional fast charger that can replenish its batteries up to 80 percent in as little as 40 minutes.

The T-cruise sports a set of non-adjustable conventional 41-mm front forks, and two piggyback shock absorbers with preload adjustment and 65 mm of travel. Braking is handled by a Brembo front caliper biting on a 280-mm steel disk, with a combined system in place linking it with the 240-mm rear disk, and a regenerative circuit to charge the battery while braking. Weight figures have not been disclosed, as these will understandably depend heavily on battery choice.

Sitting on the handstitched leather saddle with double memory foam, the rider can adjust the footpegs in three different positions along the frame, moving them longitudinally to better fit his or her body size.

The Tacita T-Cruise runs on Metzeler Marathon tires, 120/80-17 at the front and 140/80-15 at the rear
The Tacita T-Cruise runs on Metzeler Marathon tires, 120/80-17 at the front and 140/80-15 at the rear

By offering it with different battery options, Tacita makes the T-Cruise accessible to a variety of customers. The base 7.5 kWh model costs US$10,999, while the middle option (15 kWh) will ask for $4,000 more. For the most impressive 27 kWh battery-powered version though, the cost rockets to $27,999.

As of yet there's no word on availability, with mystery surrounding which countries the T-Cruise will be marketed to. Perhaps the most urgent matter though is whether Tacita will set up a dealer network in the US, which the new model appears to be primarily designed for.

In the meantime, Tacita is also planning to unveil a new road-going Rally variant of the T-Race for 2018, hinting at a 112-mi (180-km) range, 19-inch front wheel and lower seat height compared to the current Rally model. The new adventure bike is expected to be introduced as soon as January 2018.

Source: Tacita

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5 comments
5 comments
vince
40 hp and 51 ft lbs torque is a joke. A complete joke.
swaan
@vince you do realize this is a cruiser and not a track bike? 40hp is plenty to enjoy the backroads or your commute.
Darus Zehrbach
I am a bit surprised at the motor selection / gearbox / and range efficiency per battery size. They say 8000 rpm and 30 kw (40 hp). My comparison is what I work with every day - A ZEV Electric MS30 motorcycle or the LRC-X motor scooter has that exact 30 kw power, but at under 1,000 rpm. Lots of electrics have far more torque at far lower rpm than they represent. There also seems to be some efficiency issues. They say a 27 kwh battery pack will yield 168 miles. Yet the LRC-X yields 185 miles on 13 kwh (and for 1/2 the price). The ZEV MS-30 Motorcycle with the same battery pack is yielding even more range over the X given its more slippery aerodynamics. The Tacita seems out of step with the rest of the market.
Mayakovski
Ugly, nuf said.
bhtooefr
The electric market leader would be the Zero line, no?
And, on the EU 134/2014 Annex VII test cycle that Tacita is using, a Zero S ZF13.0 with Power Tank (so 14.3 kWh "nominal" per Zero's terminology - that's I think what they're actually using, and their "max capacity" is the true nominal rating) is getting 168 km or 104 mi. That's more efficient than Tacita, but Tacita's approach appears to be to bring electric to existing markets (the cruiser market being a colossal one in America).
Are any of the ZEV scooters or motorcycles tested on the EU 134/2014 Annex VII test cycle? Because that gives a lot worse results than a 55 MPH steady state SAE J2982 test, and in fact Zero's results on it are only slightly better than the 70 MPH J2982, where you're only claiming 100 miles on the LRC-X. (For that matter, are your figures even J2982-compliant?)