Energica appears to be leaping ahead of the pack with what looks to be the first practical long-distance EV sports touring motorcycle.
The Italian EV motorcycle company is now accepting preorders for its Experia, which was unveiled in late May. It features a new motor and sports the largest battery capacity of any EV motorcycle.
Energica says its new 22.5 kWh pack (19.6 kWh nominal) is good for up to 130 miles of interstate travel with a peak 102-horsepower rating at 7,500 RPM.
What makes its special is its combination of power, range, luggage, fairing and fast charging.
Energica estimates the Experia will get to 60 miles per hour in 3.5 seconds with a weight of 573 pounds.
It’s already being compared to Ducati’s Multistrada on social media, thanks to similar styling and same country of origin – although – it remains to be seen whether the Experia will have the same rugged off-road chops as the Multistrada.
Zero Motorcycles’ SR/S is probably the Experia’s closest EV competitor right now, but the two bikes will likely appeal to different audiences for a variety of reasons.
At the top of the list is charging. Since Zero doesn’t offer CCS DC fast-charging, it starts off with a big disadvantage when it comes to interstate travel. Energica is the only EV motorcycle maker right now that offers both Level 2 and Level 3 charging.
CCS chargers are more plentiful next to the interstates – and – with a 3kWh Level 2 charger, the Experia can still take advantage of Level 2 charging when needed, although at significantly slower speeds in all but the base model SR/S.
Next up is range: To come anywhere close to the Experia’s range, SR/S buyers will have to spring for Zero’s optional Power Tank, which ups interstate range to 113 miles. But that also means settling on Zero’s slower 7kWh charging setup since the Rapid Charger option goes in the same space as the Power Tank option.
Bottom line, if you want to tour, based on paper-specs, the Experia is the clear choice. However, we all know there’s more to motorcycling than what’s on paper.
With Energica you get a chain drive, while Zero goes with a quieter belt drive.
The Zero will also appeal to shorter riders with a lower 31-inch seat height, compared to the Energica’s 33.3-inch perch.
The weights are similar once the Zero optioned out with either a Power Tank or Rapid Charger, although base models are lighter at 518 pounds.
More Zero Motorcycles coverage
Both bikes offer top and side boxes to keep up with storage needs. The Zero’s style leans toward a more traditional sports tourer where as Energica leans toward adventure touring.
Given Zero is likely to move its DSR line over to the next-generation motor, battery, frame and software of the SR/S, it will likely have a closer competitor to the Experia in another model year or so.
But the bigger question is when will Zero catch up to Energica on charging speed. Without CCS charging, Zero is currently running behind as the U.S. and much of the world focuses more infrastructure development on faster Level 3 charging.
While Zero’s Level 2 charging speeds far outpace Energica’s Level 2 charging, that matters less and less as CCS becomes more dominant.
The Experia has a peak charging speed of 24kW, although current Energica owners have noticed significant drop-offs from that peak factory-rated speed, especially when doing multiple charges during long distance touring on hot days. It’s unknown right now whether the Experia will be able to maintain a faster charging curve than the current bikes.
The announced Experia Green Tourer U.S. base price is $25,880 dollars.
A Zero SR/S, with a 15.6 kWh battery and 12 kW Level 2 charging setup costs $24,995.
But, that doesn’t include a software unlock to access the full 17.3 kWh battery capacity, nor does it include the SHAD hard luggage or mounting hardware. Zero doesn’t list the luggage cost in its accessories catalog, but to get a top box, side cases and mounting hardware, it will easily mean a bike that tops $26,000.
Plus, most Zero riders will probably want to spring for a Cypher store upgrades like the battery capacity unlock and 13kW charging, so once options and TT&L are figured in, the SR/S could top $28,000.
According to Energica’s Experia configurator, the only current extra cost option is keyless start ($397). Everything else is included.
Since Experia deliveries haven’t started yet, it’s too soon to say how it will handle or perform but with specs and components like Pirelli Scorpions and Brembo brakes, all signs point to it being a winner.
One thing is clear: Energica is coming on strong. If you’ve enjoyed this EV Rider post and video, please give it a YouTube like and subscribe so I can bring you more adventures in EV motorcycling.