Italian electric motorcycle manufacturer Energica has recognised a growing worldwide market for high-performance electric powered bikes, and has taken steps to increase its production capabilities.
The company has listed on the “Alternative Investment Market,” a branch of the Milan Stock Exchange, and announced it will soon move to new production facilities in Modena.
Energica is part of the CRP Group, an Italian industrial group that provides prototyping and high precision machining services to the motorsport, automotive, and space industries.
CRP has a over 40 years experience in Formula 1 and the Le Mans 24 Hour.
Energica began producing electric motorcycles in 2014, and the company has done everything it can to bring together the looks, features and performance of regular petrol powered machines with the benefits of an electric bike.
The company currently produces two bikes, the Eva street fighter and the Ego superbike.
The Ego sports bike has a spec sheet that reads as well as any top level sports bike.
At the heart of the Ego is a synchronous oil-cooled electric motor that produces maximum power of 100kW all the way from 4,900 to 10,500 rpm.
Maximum torque of 195 Nm is generated from 0 to 4,700 rpm.
Despite its relatively heavy weight of 258kg, the Ego’s performance is reasonable in comparison to many petrol powered sports bikes.
The motorcycle can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in 3 seconds and has an electronically limited top speed of 240km/h.
The bike has a range of between 100 and 190km, depending of course on how it is ridden.
Charge time from flat to fully charged is around 3.5 hours, but a fast charge option will take it from 0 – 85% in around 35 minutes.
Like most sports bikes it has multiple riding modes – Standard, Eco, Rain, and an optional Sport mode.
It even has a reverse mode that can be operated at very low speeds.
It has 17 inch wheels front and rear with Pirelli Diablo Rosso 120/70 tyres on the front and 180/55’s on the rear.
The front suspension has 43mm diameter upside down Marzocchi forks adjustable for preload, rebound and compression damping. The rear has a mono shock that is adjustable for preload and rebound.
Brakes are twin floating disks on the front with 4 piston Brembo calipers. The rear has a single disc with a 2 piston Brembo caliber.
The bike has a switchable Bosch ABS system as standard equipment.
Instrumentation is by way of a 4.3″ colour panel that has internal memory for data logging, an integrated GPS receiver and Bluetooth communication.
Electric motorcycles commonly don’t have a clutch and gearbox, and the Ego is no different.
Energica points out that an internal combustion engine generates power and torque relative to the engine rpm but an electric motor behaves differently, delivering maximum torque from zero rpm.
That eliminates the need for a clutch and a gearbox.
The main issue with electric bikes at this stage of course, is the cost. The Ego sells in Europe for around $39,000 Australian.
But with increased demand and production, and improvements in technology this is certain to reduce over time.
The impressive thing though, is that the electric bike is now technically a viable alternative.