Meet the all-new fully electric 2020 Harley-Davidson (H-D) LiveWire. Designed to capture a new generation of motorcycle riders, H-D has finally come out with an electric motorcycle.
LiveWire features plenty of classic Harley power, with an impressive 0-60 in 3 seconds with just the flick of the wrist. There is no clutch and no gears associated with this bike; just throttle and go.
Powered by a 15.5 kWh Rechargeable Energy Storage System (RESS), the battery is made up of lithium-ion cells inside a cast aluminum housing. This high-voltage battery is said to offer up to 95 miles (152 km) of highway mileage or 146 miles (235 km) of city range.
LiveWire will feature two ways of charging. A level one standard power cord for overnight home charging or while out on the road, stop at any Level 3 DC Fast Charge station for an 80% charge in just 40 minutes.
Special Features
Welcome to what Harley calls “the world’s most connected motorcycle experience.” Teaming up with Panasonic, they will use ‘cellular telematics connectivity,’ which will enable you to connect your smartphone. This will allow you to check the live location status on a map and check battery usage and time remaining; certain models also come with tire pressure and ride mode.
LiveWire comes equipped with a GPS-enabled stolen vehicle tracking system, as notifications are sent directly to your phone in case someone is tampering with your bike.
LiveWire enables the rider to control the performance of the bike with a Reflex™ Defensive Rider Systems (RDRS) intervention. The bike will feature seven different selectable rider modes. “Each Ride Mode consists of a specific combination of power, regeneration, throttle response, and traction control settings.
LiveWire comes with four pre-programmed modes: sport, road, range, and rain, along with three ride modes the rider can customize.” A color touchscreen display panel highlights the instrument panel.
LiveWire weighs in at 549lbs (249kg). It comes standard with a fully adjustable suspension that the rider can adjust to their comfort level.
The price tag is quite steep, starting at $29,799 for the base black model, and you can add on around another $450 for a color model.
It’s nice to see Harley Davidson looking to reduce emissions. For people who care about the environment and love to ride motorcycles, it’s great to see them taking the lead for the future of electric motorcycles.
Hopefully, more companies will jump on board with other new and exciting electric motorcycle designs. The NAWA Racer concept motorcycle from NAWA is a more futuristic design that I would love to see become a reality.
