Energica

Two major high-performance electric motorcycle makers have filed for bankruptcy within as many days: Italian maker Energica, and FUELL, the American electric two-wheeler company. Which leaves the question: are EV motos before their time?

Energica has expanded its range of premium electric motorcycles with a new Experia "green tourer," built for long-range, two-up comfort with hard luggage, multi-level charging and the largest-capacity battery we've ever seen on a volume production bike.

MotoGP will get its own electric motorcycle class for 2019 in the form of a single make Moto-e race based on production streetbikes. And now we know what the bikes will be based on: the Energica Ego, a 145-horsepower, 570-lb Italian sports machine capable of 150 mph.

The craze for neo-retro motorcycle conversions has spilled over to the EV world with an all-Italian synergy of Apache Customs and the prominent manufacturer of battery-powered two-wheelers, Energica. Based on the Eva streetfighter, the Midnight Runner pays homage to superbikes of yesteryear.

Born in Modena, in the heart of Italy's Motor Valley, Energica second model, the Eva, is built around a downtuned version of the Ego's electric motor for longer range and rids itself of the full fairing for a pure streetfighter feel.

It's silly season in Milan, with manufacturers jostling for the spotlight with a cavalcade of new bikes, model updates and wacky prototype concepts at the 2014 EICMA motorcycle expo. Here's our favorite new bike highlights from one of the biggest motorcycle shows on the global calendar.

With major manufacturers still dragging their feet on electric performance bikes, it's up to smaller, independent factories to forge the future of battery-powered motorcycles. The Italian Energica Ego is a 134 horsepower, 143 lb.ft road rocket with around 120 mile range.

Italian electric race-bike outfit CRP Racing has announced its first road-going superbike, the Energica.