9 brands which have dabbled with electric power

1. Vespa Elettrica
Unveiled recently at Piaggio’s home expo in Milan, here's a retro-styled scooter powered by an all-electric motor. Called the Elettrica, which low and behold translates to 'Power' from Italian, the scooter is still officially a concept model but the firm used the unveiling as the platform to announce the Elettrica would go to production and be available from the second half of 2017. As it's still officially unofficial, there are no specifics surrounding weight, range or output.

2. Harley-Davidson LiveWire
In terms of unmistakable engine noise, it really doesn’t get any louder or prouder than Harley-Davidson. So when the old American brand unveiled its electric-powered LiveWire concept some two-and-a half years ago, it was big news. Aimed at piquing the interest of the 18-35-year olds, the concept was released and then presented to different markets around the world where would-be owners could ride and offer comment on the experience. From there, Harley-Davidson said it would gauge the feedback of the paying public before committing to a production schedule. It’s all a bit quiet on the Project LiveWire front; perhaps Harley owners prefer the loud and proud? Time will tell.

3. Honda RC-E concept
The future looked clear when Japanese giant Honda unveiled the RC-E concept at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show. Though dressed in race get-up, the well finished detail on the so-called concept looked production ready and Honda’s tight-lipped approach to tech and spec had many people thinking it would be a goer. However, like H-D’s LiveWire, it has quietly disappeared from view for the time being. Honda does have a bit of skin in the electric powered game though, being involved in the Mugen Shinden project campaigned by John McGuinness in the annual Zero TT held as part of proceedings at the Isle of Man since 2009.

4. Motoczysz E1pc
Speaking of the Zero TT, the Motoczysz E1pc was the bike which claimed honours in the 2010 Zero TT in the hands of Mark Miller. The team celebrated victory four times from 2010 through to 2013 and in 2012, Michael Rutter became the first bloke to lap the Mountain Course with an average speed of 100mph (160km/h) on an electric-powered bike.

5. KTM Freeride E range
The innovative Austrian firm became the first mainstream marque to take electric power seriously enough to put off-road models into production. Way back in 2014, the brand released two versions: the Freeride E-SX, which was the serious off-roader and the Freeride E-XC, the enduro-esque model. A year later, it announced the Freeride E-SM, which was a registrable electric-powered motard. The firm also dabbled in an electric-powered scooter called the E-Speed concept which it unveiled back in 2013 at the Tokyo Motor Show, but it decided it was too much of a departure from the core of the business and shelved it.

6. Victory Empulse TT
Okay, so Victory didn’t exactly dabble in electric power, and instead it purchased electric company Brammo and slapped a Victory badge on the faux tank and the Brammo Empulse R immediately became the Victory Empulse TT. It received a few tweaks before releasing to market, like a better battery, a narrower rear tyre and some minor styling changes, but it is more or less the same bike. Unlike most electric-powered two wheelers, the Victory boasts a six-speed gearbox which offers a far more conventional riding experience to the petrol-powered affair riders are used to. The TT name was a nod to the American brand’s podium finish in the 2015 Zero TT, again on a Victory-branded Brammo ridden by Lee Johnson.

7. Yamaha PES2
Yamaha unveiled both road-going and off-road versions of an electric-powered concept at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show. The street version, named the PES2, was an innovative approach to sports riding and which saw an additional motor mounted to the hub off the front wheel to create a simple two-wheel drive result. Despite its wild concept styling (like white tyres and neon blue highlights on the wheels and the bodywork), it was thought the two bikes would reach production — at least in Yamaha’s domestic Japanese market. Perhaps the declining popularity of sportsbikes steered the manufacturer to put the electric-powered pathway on the back burner.

8. BMW C-evolution
What began life as the Concept C unveiled at EICMA in Milan back in 2010 progressed to the Concept e a year later before the BMW C-evolution maxi-scooter hit the European market place in 2014. These days, drawing on the electric-powered experience the German firm has within its automotive sector, the C-evolution offers 160km of range and a maximum speed of 130km/h. It does 0-50km/h in 2.8 seconds. It uses regenerative braking system, offers four different rider modes and boasts a reverse assist mode. There’s a base model available, too, which has a reduced range and lower power capability but currently neither of the electric-powered scoots are available in the Aussie market.

9. Suzuki EXTRIGGER
First released as a concept back in 2013, the surprise success of Honda’s Grom and Kawasaki’s Z125 Pro — two small-wheeled roadbikes — have paved the way for Suzuki’s small-wheeled electric-powered option, the EXTRIGGER. In early 2016, Suzuki applied for patents in various countries around the world relating the electric bike which strongly suggests the Japanese brand is seriously considering throwing it into the ring.