There’s big news today for motorcycle fans. Italian motorcycle EV motorcycle brand Energica has emerged from bankruptcy and completed a deal with Singaporean investors.

That’s according to Energica CEO and Global Sales Director Stefano Benatti. Benatti says the first order of business will be restoring the flow of parts for existing owners of bikes that may need servicing.

Benatti also confirmed Energica plans to resume production of existing models: the Ego +, Eva Ribelle +, EsseEsse 9 and the Experia sport touring EV.

Energica plans to rebuild distribution in its former key markets and expand from there. Benatti didn’t say where the bikes will be manufacturered but did confirm “the core team of Energica will run our development and operations from Italy.”

Benatti didn’t get into specific details such as annoucing the size the investment or naming the Singaporean investors. Nor did he give a timeline of when production is expected to resume or how many former employees might be rehired.

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Energica previously announced in Oct. 2024 it would be going through a bankruptcy liquidation and has been working its way through the process.

Energica Bankruptcy Oct. 15, 2024 Bankruptcy Announcement

Energica Motor Company SpA, a manufacturer of high-performance electric motorcycles 75% controlled by the American fund Ideanomics Inc., announces that its Board of Directors meeting held on 14 October 2024 at 3:00 p.m. resolved to enter into a bankruptcy judicial liquidation – Source: Energica news release

Ideanomics had acquired a 70% controlling interest in Energica in 2022. In its 2021 investor presentation Energica reported it had a production capacity of 500 bikes per year.

After Ideanomics acquired a majority stake in Energica, stocktitan.com reported production capacity had been increased to 2,000 bikes per year and sales had surged 78%.

Some fans of the brand claim Ideanomics starved Energica of needed capital. While EV Rider can’t confirm the accuracy of the accusations it is public knowledge that Ideanomics’ stock crashed, plunging from $618 a share in 2021 to 10 cents at the time Energica’s bankruptcy was announced.

Energica motorcycles have both AC Level 2 and Level 3 DC fast charging, giving them a refueling edge over models from American competitors Zero Motorcycles and Harley-Davidson owned LiveWire.

I’ve ridden three different Energicas over the years, including the current generation Eva Ribelle and Experia.

The Evas were top heavy bikes that didn’t do a particularly good job of hiding their weight compared to gas bikes of similar weights I’ve ridden.

However, the Experia, which is Energica’s newest design, is a wonderfully balanced bike and is – in my opinion – the best EV touring option available at the time in the EV space.

While Zero’s SR/S and DSR/X are lighter, their lack of DC-charging slows them down when it comes time to refuel after eating up the interstate miles.

Energica isn’t some fly-by-night startup. It has a track record, including a rich racing history in MotoE and MotoAmerica.

The former version of Energica was a family business which traced its roots back to CRP. CRP has been in business over 45 years, while the former Energica EV business had passed the decade mark.

Here in Florida, Energica owners Rick Flashman and his wife Sabrina have had many touring adventures on their Evas and Experias, including a nationwide ride from California back home to Florida.

Over in New Zealand, popular YouTube Energica-owner Sam Baker has more than 12,000 followers. He and his wife used to document their Energica adventures.

For Energica owners looking for more information, here are some additional resources:

• Energica Owners Association (owners only)

• Energica Owners Group

• Energica website (Editor’s note: At the time of this story’s posting, the website had not been reactivated yet.)

• More EV Rider Energica coverage

The post Energica Motorcycles Is Back, Emerging From Bankruptcy appeared first on EV Rider.

A lot has happened in the EV motorcycling industry over the past year. While a good number of new models have been introduced, it hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows.

It’s time for EV Rider’s 2025 look at the state of the EV motorcycle industry.

Zero Focuses On Affordable Motorcycles For 2025

As this episode was being uploaded, deliveries were about to begin for the two new Zero Motorcycles models introduced for the 2025 model year, the XB and XE.

They are at the low-end of the EV motorcycle market, which seems to be where most of the action is this year.

While it’s great to see the XB and XE finally in production, they really are more along the lines of beginner bikes than motorcycles. For starters, they aren’t street legal here in the states, meaning they’re pretty much limited to private land and dirt bike trails.

The XB and XE be taking on the popular Sur-Rons, which are a step above electric bicycles, but are also limited to off-road use.

LiveWire Expands Lineup

LiveWire, which is owned by Harley-Davidson, has filled out its line with the recently introduced S2 Alpinista, which it describes as a sport bike standard. It’s very similar to its S2 Del Mar and Mulholland siblings.

I’ve personally ridden more than a hundred miles on the Mulholland and came away impressed with the build quality, handling and acceleration, but all three have small 10.5 kWh batteries so LiveWire fans that like to get out of town on the weekends will probably instead look at the LiveWire One, which has a 15.5 kWh hour battery and DC fast charging.

However, if they want the most range currently available in the EV motorcycling space with a somewhat affordable price tag, then Zero is the brand to look at here in the the U.S. We’ll get to Zero’s long-range offerings in a bit.

Verge TS EV Motorcycles

The EV company perhaps making the most waves this year is Verge Motorcycles, which has finally gotten its TS bikes on roads.

Verge is unique in that it uses a futuristic-looking hub rim motor design and offers what is currently the industry’s largest battery pack available in the U.S., checking in at 21.8 kWh.

Energica was the previous record holder with a 22.5 kWh battery but unfortunately that Italian motorcycle maker declared bankruptcy last year and is currently being liquidated.

Verge’s bikes feature a big touchscreen where a gas tank would normally go and the Ultra model has six cameras for a full 360-degree view along with front and rear radar, bringing automotive-like blind spot safety features to motorcycles.

Verge’s bikes also accel at charging with a peek DC charging speed of up to 25 kW and 3.5 kW when using Level 2 AC chargers.

While Verge’s bikes are exciting, here in the U.S. there are only two stores in the entire country, one in Los Angeles, the other in Santa Clara, CA. Pricing is also out of reach for most riders with the TS Ultra checking in at more than $45,000 once taxes and fees are added.

That leaves Zero to carry the biggest chunk of the EV touring torch here in the U.S. with its SR/F, SR/S and DSR/X lineups.

Those motorcycles currently have 17.3 kWh batteries while a second 3.6 kWh battery can also be added, bringing the total capacity to 20.9 kWh.

Zeros with an optional AC Rapid Charger can reach a peak charging speed of 12.6 kW. The extra battery or Rapid Charger goes in the same location so you can only opt or one or the other – not both.

For long distance touring the other option is the LiveWire One with its smaller 15.5 kWh battery but faster DC charging that peaks at 25 kW in ideal conditions.

There are other new entries in the shorter distance per charge end of the market.

Cam-Am Gets Back Into Motorcycle Business

Can-Am is in the process of rolling out its Origin and Pulse EV motorcycles, which marks its return to building motorcycles after exiting the market in 1987. From a pricing and range standpoint they’ll be competing primarily with the LiveWire S2 models.

The Pulse streetbike is the cheaper of the two at $14,000. They look to be atractive urban commuters but their batteries are even smaller than the LiveWire S2 models, checking in at just 8.9 kWh.

Then there’s Kawasaki’s  Ninja e-1 ABS an Z e-1 ABS with an estimated range of just 41 miles, which is less than some electric bicycles. And forget about taking them on the interstate. The Ninja e-1’s top speed is just 65 miles per hour while the Z e-l manages 63 mph. In both cases that’s using e-boost mode. The sustained top speeds without e-boost modes engaged are 55 mph for the Ninja e-1 and 53 mph for the Z e-1.

Also expected to enter the U.S. market sometime in 2026 is Royal Enfield’s Flying Flea C6 and S6 EV lineup. Final specs haven’t been announced but all signs point to it being yet another urban commuter with a battery size that’s likely to be under 10 kWh.

There is a ton of other stuff out there but most of it isn’t available in the U.S. and this video is sticking with motorcycles – no scooters, no e-bicycles and no vaporware like Damon.

EV Motorcycle Cottage Industry

The last category is the cottage industry, which is the extremely low volume stuff like Lightning and Curtiss Motorcycles. They exist but probably aren’t making more than a few dozen bikes a year – if that.

Finally there’s Shandoka, which is converting old Japanese motorcycles to EVs. EV Rider got to try out one of Shandoka’s conversions last year. You’ll find a link to that video at the end of this one.

And that sums up the state of the EV motorcycle industry here in the U.S. in 2025. If I missed anything let me know in the EV Rider YouTube comments section.

The post Roundup Of 2025’s EV Motorcycles appeared first on EV Rider.

This week on EV Rider we’re looking at an innovative EV brand that didn’t make it, despite a family’s history of business success that can trace its roots back more than 45 years.

By now most Energica enthusiasts probably know the Italian-based EV motorcycle manufacturer announced in a news release posted on Oct. 15 it would be going through a bankruptcy liquidation, meaning the brand as we know it is likely finished, barring an unexpected last-minute surprise.

Energica Bankruptcy Announcement

Energica Motor Company SpA, a manufacturer of high-performance electric motorcycles 75% controlled by the American fund Ideanomics Inc., announces that its Board of Directors meeting held on 14 October 2024 at 3:00 p.m. resolved to enter into a bankruptcy judicial liquidation – Source: Energica news release

There’s a lot of conjecture in the Energica enthusiast community that American-based Ideanomics is responsible for Energica’s downfall.

Ideanomics acquired a 70% controlling interest in Energica in 2022. In its 2021 investor presentation Energica reported it had a production capacity of 500 bikes per year.

After Ideanomics acquired a majority stake in Energica, stocktitan.com reported production capacity had been increased to 2,000 bikes per year and sales had surged 78%.

Some fans of the brand claim Ideanomics starved Energica of needed capital. While EV Rider can’t confirm the accuracy of the accusations it is public knowledge that Ideanomics’ stock has crashed, plunging from $618 a share in 2021 to 10 cents at the time this post was originally written.

Whatever the reason for Energica’s downfall, it’s a sad moment in the relatively brief history of EV motorcycling.

Energica was the only brand-to-date to successfully manufacture motorcycles in any meaningful volume with both Level 2 AC and DC fast-charging, which made the bikes arguably more versatile than its two prime competitors: LiveWire and Zero Motorcycles, which are both American-based.

I’ve ridden three different Energicas over the years, including the current generation Eva Ribelle and Experia.

The Evas were top heavy bikes that didn’t do a particularly good job of hiding their weight compared to gas bikes of similar weights I’ve ridden.

However, the Experia, which was Energica’s newest design, is a wonderfully balanced bike and was – in my opinion – the best EV touring option available at the time in the EV space.

While Zero’s SR/S and DSR/X are lighter, their lack of DC-charging slows them down when it comes time to refuel after eating up the interstate miles. This story was written before the expected introduction of Zero’s 2025 model lineup

Energica wasn’t some fly-by-night startup. It had a track record, including a rich racing history in MotoE and MotoAmerica.

It was a family business which traces its roots back to CRP, which has been in business over 45 years, while the EV business had passed the decade mark.

Here in Florida, Energica owners Rick Flashman and his wife Sabrina have had many touring adventures on their Evas and Experias, including a nationwide ride from California back home to Florida.

Over in New Zealand, popular YouTube Energica-owner Sam Baker has more than 12,000 followers as he and his wife document their Energica adventures.

For Energica owners looking for more information, here are some additional resources:

• Energica Owners Association (owners only)

• Energica Owners Group

• Energica website (Editor’s note: Due to bankruptcy proceedings it is unknown how long this site will remain active.)

The post EV Motorcycle Brand Energica Annouces Bankruptcy appeared first on EV Rider.

As we all focus on 2024, here’s a quick look back at the top 10 EV Rider videos from 2023 and a brief look at some of what we’ll be doing in 2024. 

This list is comprised of the 10 most watched videos on the EV Rider YouTube channel that were produced 2023, with the most popular video coming in at number one. Shorts and videos from previous years were not eligble for inclusion.

#10 | Ford Mustang Mach-E Towing Test

Coming in at number ten was a Mustang Mach-E towing test. Plenty of you wanted to know how much the Mach-E can tow. The short answer is more than 3,300 pounds. The longer answer: Ford doesn’t want you towing in the U.S. but is happy to sell you an OEM hitch in Europe. 

#9 | Showdown: Ford F-150 Lightning Vs. Rivian R1T

There’s a ton of interest in EV pickup trucks right now which quickly became apparent as EV Rider pitted two local owners with a Rivian R1T and Ford F-150 Lightning against one another. 

8# | 2023 Kia EV6 GT Blows Away Many Performance Cars

Economical performance is also on the minds of EV Riders. Our road test of Kia’s EV6 GT checked in at number 8. It screams to 60 miles per hour in just 3.4 seconds. 

#7 | Tesla Owner Ditches Model X Plaid For Rivian R1S SUV

SUVs make up the hottest EV segment out there with thousands upon thousands of you wanting to know more about Rivian’s R1S SUV and why a Tesla owner dumped his Model X for the R1S. 

#6 | Owner Review: Cadillac Lyriq Debut Edition

Although Cadillac struggled with production volume for its Lyriq in 2023, our EV Rider review of Caddy’s first pure EV proved there’s plenty of interest as it checked in as our sixth-most watched video of the year. 

#5 | Energica Experia Delivers Top Notch EV Motorcycle Touring Experience

EV Rider’s fan base includes a lot of motorcyclists so it’s no surprise that so many of you couldn’t wait to learn more about Energica’s Experia, which at the time of its debut had the EV motorcycle industry’s largest battery pack. We called it a top-notch EV motorcycle touring experience. 

#4 | Long-Term Review: ’22 Mustang Mach-E

While some traditional ICE Mustang fans are still upset that Ford used the storied nameplate on its Mach-E EV, that didn’t stop more than 10 thousand of you from wanting to know about how EV Rider’s personal electric pony is holding up. In a word: great. So far I’ve put about 35,000 miles on it. 

#3 | Owner Review: Tesla Model 3 Vs. Hyundai Ioniq 5

While one YouTube channels video views certainly aren’t scientific when it comes to automotive trends the more than 10 thousand of you that watched EV Rider’s Tesla Model 3 vs. Hyundai Ioniq 5 comparison anecdotally illustrates there seems to be quite a bit of cross shopping interest between the two brands. 

#2 | Canoo EV Startup: Factory Update, Other News

EV startup Canoo is just now gearing up for volume production at its new Oklahoma City plant and EV Rider’s audience is obviously very interested in this brand. Canoo videos produced this year would have dominated five of the top ten spots if I had broken them out one by one. Altogether, Canoo videos and shorts accounted for more than 348,000 EV Rider video views in 2023.

#1 | Why Tesla Model Y Owner Switched To BMW iX

The number one individual video EV Rider produced in 2023 was a look at why one EV Rider dumped his Tesla Model Y for a BMW iX. More than 38,000 of you had watched the iX video at last check.

The Road Ahead

So what’s ahead for EV Rider in 2024? Given the high-interest level, we’ll continue to follow Canoo as it looks to ramp up its production in 2024. 

EVs Assembled In Jacksonville, FL

Cenntro, an EV fleet maker with an assembly plant right here in Jacksonville, Florida has promised us a factory tour. So watch for that video, probably sometime in mid-to-late February. 

EV Motorcycle Industry’s 1st Heavyweight Cruiser Arrives In 2024

Evoke Motorcycles is preparing to rollout the industry’s first high-volume electric cruiser 6061-GT with a massive 29.8 kWh battery. Evoke plans to let EV Rider take one for a spin during a visit to Florida in June and we expect to get to experience its Urban Classic sometime in March.

Automotive EV manufacturer and owner reviews will continue to play a big part on the channel. We’ll also continue to occasionally feature product reviews, including a review of a universal LED-lit  topbox for motorcycles.   

To everyone that’s watched EV Rider in 2023, thank you, and here’s hoping we all have a safe, prosperous and happy 2024. Enjoy the ride. 

The post EV Rider’s 2023 Top 10; What’s Ahead In 2024 appeared first on EV Rider.

It seems like every day there’s a new article or video about electric motorcycles. If you don’t closely follow the industry, you might be under the impression there are a ton of options out there just waiting to be bought. 

Not really. This week we’re going to a take at what’s actually available right now in the U.S. 

If you want an EV motorcycle you can buy today in most or at least a good number of major U.S. metro areas that is capable of sustained interstate speeds of 70 or more miles per hour, your choices come down to basically two brands: LiveWire, which is owned by Harley-Davidson, and Zero Motorcycles. 

Those two American brands have the most U.S. dealerships and are the brands that are more likely to have models sitting on showroom floors that can be bought right away. 

Next up is the Italian brand Energica, which has a growing U.S. presence. It offers the biggest batteries and charging speeds in the industry that are currently in the hands of customers. However, due to its supply constraints and smaller dealer network, it may require patience to get the one you want. 

And that’s it for what I would call anything approaching mainstream availability.   

By the way, I’m purposely not counting electric scooters or motorcycles that are basically the equivalent of 125cc or less ICE bikes, like the new Kawasaki Ninja e-1 EV or BMW CE 04 maxiScooter. 

Some of you are probably thinking hat about all the videos I’ve seen on Can-Am, Damon, Evoke, Fuell, Verge and other EV motorcycle brands? 

Yep, there’s a bunch of stuff planned or just starting to reach the U.S. market. There are also what I would call cottage brands like Curtiss and Lightning that are currently making an extremely limited number of EV motorcycles.  

If you’re considering an electric motorcycle perhaps the first thing to consider is what’s your tolerance for risk?  Depending on the model, are you willing to wait anywhere from a few months or a few years to take delivery? 

Is it worth it to you if you end up being forced to ship or tow your bike to another city or state to get it properly serviced? 

More importantly, are you confident the brand will deliver, survive and be able to service your bike if something like a battery or circuit board goes bad? 

It’s an exciting time with lots of new EV motorcycles in development. But that’s a lot different than being able to buy a bike today that you can start riding immediately and still be confident that if anything goes wrong there will be a service department nearby that can deal with it. 

My main point here is don’t just plop down a deposit because a company is making big claims and has a splashy website.  

That’s easy. How easy? I created the concept motorcycle just above this line in about 30 seconds using Bing’s Image Creator.

Do your research and if you’re considering buying from a startup be sure to understand its financial situation and odds of actually being able to successfully bring the bike to market. Follow up questions include: What’s the warranty? Where will you be able to get it serviced? Will you be able to test ride it before buying?

If you’ve got questions about EV motorcycles, drop them in the comments. Whether it’s me, or another EV Rider motorcyclist, chances are good someone will know the answer. 

The post EV Motorcycles: What’s On Roads Vs. What Might Come Next appeared first on EV Rider.

EV Rider caught up with the owner of eMoto Powersports. Austin Ammarell has extensive long-term riding experience with the Energica Eva Ribelle and Zero Motorcycles SR/S since his shop in Robbinsville, NC rents out both electric motorcycles.

He’s probably got more saddle time with the two bikes than all but a handful of riders.

I got to ride both motorcycles during a glorious fall day recently and I share my impressions in the video. But more importantly, the video focuses primarily on Austin’s riding experiences with the American and Italian EVs.

Give the video a watch, then post your questions or comments about the Energica Eva Ribelle and Zero Motorcycles SR/S here.

Related: Eva Ribelle specs | SR/S specs

If you’d like to learn more about the Deals Gap, NC area or eMoto Powersports, watch this video:

The post Long-Term Review: Energica Eva Ribelle vs. Zero SR/S appeared first on EV Rider.

Energica Motor Company Inc. CEO Stefano Benatti was at Bike Week in Daytona Beach, FL to cheer on an Energica EVA Ribelle RS racing team in the 2023 Mission Foods Super Hooligan National Championship by MotoAmerica at the Daytona International Speedway.

In the video at the top of this post Benatti discusses a variety of topics during a break in the action ranging from the history of Energica to how the Italian EV motorcycle company jumped ahead of its competition in terms of charging and range.

He talked about Energica’s expanding U.S. dealer network and how U.S. customers that live far away from an authorized dealers can obtain service for their Energicas.

Stefano also discussed how Energica is doing its best to stay ahead of its competition in the EV motorcycling space.

Comments or questions about this video can be posted here.

Related: More Energica coverage

Benatti heads Energica’s U.S. operations while Livia Cevolini is Energica’s worldwide CEO. You can read both their bios here.

If you enjoy this episode of EV Rider please give it a like and subscribe to the EV Rider YouTube channel.

The post Energica CEO Talks Experia & Racing EVA Ribelle RS In Daytona appeared first on EV Rider.

For this week’s EV Rider, I rode from Jacksonville to Edgewater, FL to check out Rick Flashman and Sabrina Batchelor’s pair of new Energica Experias. They have the first two of the EV touring motorcycles in Florida and already have thousands of miles of experience after picking them up in California and riding back home.

My first charging stop of the day was in St. Augustine, which is the nation’s oldest city, where I did my first on-the-road charge since getting Zero’s 10% charging speed firmware upgrade for my 2020 SR/F with 14.4 kWh battery. It performed as expected, delivering between 6.4 and 6.6 kW, settling in for the most part at 6.5 kW. My previous peak was 5.9 kW.

Post your Experia questions or comments here.

Next, I pulled into Daytona Beach where I charged for about a half-hour on a brand-new Volta charger, one of about a half-dozen recently installed at Tanger Outlets. A cool sidenote: The outdoor shopping mall is installing solar canopies so some of the charging will be powered by sunshine. 

From there, it was about a half-hour hop to Rick and Sabrina’s house in Edgewater where the first two Energica Experias in Florida were waiting for me. 

Watch the video in this post for a full interview with Rick and his experiences with the electric motorcycles from Italy.

Sabrina let me hop on her Experia to head out with Rick on a ride through some quiet back inland Volusia County roads. I’ve got to say, Energica has come a long way in a short period of time. 

The last Energica I rode was an Eva, back in 2019, before the Eva Ribelle with the larger 21.5 kWh battery and lighter design was available. 

Energica’s last generation Eva was loud, top heavy and did not inspire the level of confidence in corners, as compared to the nimbleness of my Zero Motorcycles SR/F.  In fairness to the last generation Eva, the one I rode had a hard life and had been dropped by the time I rode it. At the time, it was the only Energica available at a dealer in the entire state.

When I took the prior generation Eva out, it constantly felt like it wanted to tip over in low speed turns.

But the Experia is dialed in just right. It’s super plush and the balance felt superb. Refined pretty much sums it up, including the sound.  

All Energicas are louder than Zeros but that’s by design and the sounds coming from the Experia are oh-so-sweet. The old Eva felt like it was trying too hard.  

The Experia is an entirely new bike from a company that has gained a ton of experience through its MotoE racing program and the other consumer models that preceded it; the Ego, Eva Ribelle and EsseEsse9. Energica has now passed the MotoE baton to Ducati.

The Experia features what Energica calls its new PMASynRM (Permanent Magnet Assisted Synchronous Reluctance Motor), which is lighter and in a lower position than other Energica models. Energica says the motor’s peak power is 75 kW (101 hp) at 7,500 rpm with 85 lb-ft of torque. Rider Magazine quoted a reported top speed at 112 mph and cited sourcing that the Experia accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds.

While that’s slower than the 3.1 seconds NewZeroland recorded on a Zero Motorcycles SR/F, the Experia has a different mission, which is maximizing range and comfort. So a wee bit of off-the-line end acceleration is sacrificed.

The Experia’s Brembo brakes are excellent and the suspension easily soaked up Florida’s potholes and railroad tracks, making them barely noticeable.

The Bosch cornering ABS provided plenty of confidence as I leaned into turns.

As Rick explains in the video interview, the real stars here are the 22.5 kWh battery and DC CCS fast charging. Combined, they make for the most range and time efficient EV touring motorcycle currently available. 

The Experia’s two closest competitors are the Zero SR/S, which can be outfitted as a sports tourer, and the DSR/X, which is an all-out adventure bike, also available with touring luggage. 

In terms of size and styling, the DSR/X is closest to an Experia, although I’d argue that the SR/S is the better comparison since its mission is more geared toward touring with a bit more highway range than the DSR/X. 

The Experia comfortably splits it down the middle. It’s not advertised as an off-road adventure bike but it’s just a matter of time before someone swaps tires – and maybe even wheels and/or suspension – to take it off road. 

If you want to do relatively time-efficient, comfortable long-distance EV motorcycle touring, the Experia is the new gold standard. Rick is getting 120 miles or so per charge at interstate highway speeds.  

Other EV motorcyclists, including me, are doing long distances on our Zeros and LiveWires and some are doing cross-country rides, but due to their smaller batteries and slower charging, the time travel difference is staggering. The rest of Energica’s line comes with 21.5 kWh batteries and also include DC fast charging.

Zeros with the optional Rapid Charger have a peak charging rate that’s half the Experia’s and since Zero doesn’t currently support CCS, riders are automatically excluded from being able to use thousands of additional charging locations that Experias have access to. 

The Zero’s battery is also significantly smaller at 17.3 kWh vs. the Experia’s 22.5 kWh. You can add a second, smaller 3.6 kWh Power Tank battery to a Zero to get closer to the Experia’s range but then you’ll have to limit yourself to a charging set up that maxes out at 6.6 kW as opposed to the 26 kW peak that Rick has seen. Officially, Energica rates the Experia’s peak charging speed at 24 kW. Zero says the SR/S with Power Tank has a highway range of 113 miles.

If you add Zero’s optional Rapid Charger you’re looking at a price of $26,995 before adding luggage at the time of this video’s posting. The Experia without luggage bases at $23,750. In the case of the Zero, the Rapid Charger is a dealer installed accessory, so the price Zero is quoting doesn’t include labor. 

Getting back to the Experia’s hard side panniers and top case, they have a total capacity of 112 liters.

Zero does come with a stronger five-year battery warranty as opposed to three-years on the Energica, although Experia buyers can purchase an optional five-year warranty. 

Some of you might be asking, wait a minute, what about Harley-Davidson’s LiveWire One EV? Since the LiveWire One doesn’t offer factory hard luggage or a touring windscreen it’s not really competing in the same space, especially given its smaller 15.5 kW battery. 

Energica has done a wonderful job getting the weight down. It checks in at 573 pounds. While that’s a bit heavier than the Zeros, it’s worth it for the extra range and charging speed. And, by touring standards, that weight is not bad. 

Rick discusses the Experia’s real world charging times in the video at the top of this post.

By way of comparison my Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Classic LT, which is what I use for longer trips, tips the scales at over 650 pounds but it doesn’t have nearly the performance or handling chops of the Experia or the Zeros. 

A better comparison might be Yamaha’s FJR 1300 that weighs in at 537 pounds. The best comparison of all might be another Italian bike, Ducati’s Multstrada V4 Rally, which starts with a 73-pound weight advantage over the Experia.

In terms of criticism, where the Experia falls short is Level 2 charging. It’s handicapped at 3.3 kW per hour, which is half the speed of energy that my SR/F can suck down at J-1772 stations and Tesla destination chargers. 

It’s also designed with taller riders in mind. I’m 5’ 8’’ and found myself on my tippy toes at intersections on the Experia. If I were seriously considering an Experia I’d be looking for a way to lower the suspension at bit. What I wouldn’t touch is the seat. In over an hour of riding it felt very comfortable just the way it was.

The Experia’s front is equipped with a ZF Sachs suspension with 150mm travel and adjustable preload, extension, and compression. Rear suspension is also provided by ZF Sachs with 55mm travel and 150mm of wheel travel.

The Experia’s balance is great, and the weight has been shifted lower compared to the old Eva.

Riders shorter than 5.’ 10″ may find it too tall in stock form to consider. Besides the Level 2 and height nits, there’s just no debate, the Experia is currently in a class by itself for EV long-distance motorcycle road tripping. 

Experia has most of the electronic assists we’ve come to expect on premium bikes; including cruise control, six levels of traction control, four riding modes: Sport, Urban, Eco, Wet and three customizable modes: C1, C2, C3. There are two USB ports on the dash and two in a waterproof storage compartment. It also includes the MY Energica App for Android and iPhone.

It does not support Apple Car Play or Android Auto, nor does the Experia include any sort of native navigation, so a smartphone or portable GPS will be needed when venturing into unknown areas. EV competitors LiveWire and Zero do include dashboard navigation. I haven’t used the LiveWire’s setup, but the Zero’s built-in app-to-dashboard navigation is currently very barebones and I have seen it disconnect from time-to-time.

In terms of drive units, the Experia uses a chain while the Zeros and LiveWire One use belts.

As I rode back home, I couldn’t help but think of the biggest difference between my SR/F and the Experia. I spent roughly an hour-and-15 minutes charging during two stops on the return trip, doing a total of 242 miles for the day. Had I owned the Experia, riding the same speed on the same roads, I would have likely made it home without a single stop.  

It’s amazing how fast EVs are advancing. Zero, now it’s your turn. Let’s see you top the Experia. 

If you’ve enjoyed this EV Rider post and video please give it a like and subscribe to my YouTube channel so I can bring you more EV motorcycling adventures. 

See Also: Full Energica Experia specifications, including torque, horsepower and more

The post Energica Expiera Delivers Best EV Motorcycle Touring Experience appeared first on EV Rider.

Happy New Year. We’re kicking off 2023 by giving you a look at what’s ahead here on EV Rider. 

First off, congratulations to EV motorcyclists Sabrina Batchelor and Rick Flashman. The Florida couple just finished riding their brand new Energica Experias across the country from San Francisco to Orlando, including a New Year’s Eve celebration stopover in New Orleans. 

They are the first Floridians to take delivery of the new sport touring machines. They flew out to California to pick them up rather than wait for them to be shipped back to Euro Cycles of Orlando. 

Rick is also under the impression they are likely the first individual customers in the world to take delivery of the Experias, which have so far primarily been loaned to journalists for riding evaluations. 

If you’re not familiar with the Experia, it’s currently the king of the hill when it comes to motorcycle touring EVs with the industry’s biggest battery at 22.5 kilowatt hours as well as Level 2 and DC CCS fast charging. 

Once Rick and Sabrina get settled back in, I’m hoping to catch up to them to on my Zero Motorcycles SR/F for a full-blown episode on their Experias. 

You can read more about Rick and Sabrina’s journey on their Facebook page, including the charging issues they experienced in some parts of the country.

It’s a topic that many of you obviously care about since my Experia versus Zero Motorcycles SR/S tale of the tape episode was the fifth most watched video on the EV Rider YouTube channel in 2022. 

Speaking of high interest topics, more than 400,000 of you had watched my ride along at last check in the Canoo EV Lifestyle Vehicle. 

I’ll be following the EV startup closely in 2023, including taking a look at Canoo’s fourth quarter earnings report as soon as it becomes available.  

Canoo expects to begin volume production of about 20,000 EVs in 2023, delivering them to fleet customers like Walmart and Zeeba. It’s also accepting preorders from the general public. 

While startups like Canoo, Rivian, Lucid and others have been receiving a lot of attention, the legacy automakers certainly haven’t been standing still.  

More than 16,000 of you watched my review of the 2021 Mini Cooper SE EV, which my wife Susan owns. It’s one of the most affordable EVs on the market.  

Mini is expected to fully unveil its next-generation Cooper EV this year and start deliveries in 2024. It will also be expanding its EV lineup with a vehicle very similar to the Aceman EV concept shown here. 

Based on the stats, EV Riders are also  excited about a next-generation rivalry brewing between Chevrolet and Ford. The EV Rider tale of the tape between the upcoming Chevy Blazer EV and existing Mustang Mach-E EV was the fourth most watched video in 2022. 

Ford has already built more than 150,000 electric Mustangs and plans to boost annual Mach-E production to 270,000. 

Electric motorcycling is a big part of EV Rider, so it’s no surprise that my review of the Brake Free Helmet Light checked in as the third most watched video on the channel last year. 

After two years, I’m still rockin’ the Brake Free and can give it a hearty recommendation as a wise riding safety investment. 

2023 promises to be the biggest year yet for EVs with electric vehicle sales accounting for 5.6% of the total automotive market in the final quarter of 2022, according to Kelly Blue Book. 

Here in Jacksonville, FL we’re kicking off the new year with forming a new Drive Electric chapter that is bringing together EV advocates in a public and private partnership. You can learn more about the initiative at the Florida Drive Electric website.

Here’s hoping 2023 is the best year yet for all of us. Let’s live life one spark at a time and enjoy the ride.

The post Florida Couple Rides Cross Country On Energica Experias appeared first on EV Rider.

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.

More Energica coverage

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.

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