In a run-up to the Husqvarna E-Pilen electric bike launch, Pierer Mobility introduced the Husqvarna E-Pilen Concept. The company is displaying the new electric bike at the 2021 Munich Motor Show (IAA 2021), and Twitter user EVCartel has pictures with us from the event.
Video Source: YouTube/Husqvarna Motorcycles
Design & Features
The new Husqvarna electric bike has proportions similar to the Husqvarna Svartpilen and Husqvarna Vitpilen twins. However, it carries unique styling bits typical of EVs, like splashes of green in the electrical compartment, tank shroud, and other places. It builds on the rugged yet progressive design of the Vitpilen and Svartpilen bikes with a minimalist approach.
An 8 kW (10 hp) motor powers the new Husqvarna street motorcycle, and the bike has a swappable battery pack that allows a range of 100 km (62 miles) (company-claimed). It is safe to assume that the production version would have a new LCD instrument console with crisp graphics and many features, including smartphone connectivity.
Even with a range of 100 km in the real world, the first E-Pilen model will be suitable for urban commute, not inter-city trips. Expect the company to offer a Battery as a Service (BaaS) subscription model that allows users the flexibility of purchasing the bike and subscribe to the usage of battery packs separately.
In this ownership model, the customer buys an electric two-wheeler, but not the battery. The customer pays for a subscription to a swapping service that maintains thousands of battery vending machines or swapping stations across the country. The experience is similar to refuelling a motorcycle.
On 1 March 2021, Pierer Mobility group’s KTM group (includes Husqvarna) signed a letter of intent to establish a swappable battery consortium for motorcycles and light electric vehicles with Piaggio, Honda, and Yamaha Motor. So, customers should benefit from a widespread battery swapping infrastructure across Europe.
Pierer Mobility revealed in September 2021 that a new Husqvarna electric bike called the Husqvarna E-Pilen is in development. In December last year, in an interview with motoringworld.in, Stefan Pierer, CEO, Pierer Mobility, provided details on the specifications of the product.
Speaking about entry-level Husqvarna electric bikes equivalent of 50-125 cc ICE bikes, Pierer said that customers expect “huge mileage” on such bikes. Offering high-voltage battery packs with high energy density would mean losing profitability.
Production & Release date
In November 2020, a report from moneycontrol.com said that KTM and Husqvarna are working on e-bikes in the power range of 3 & 10 kW (48V system). It stated that the platform would support multiple products for both brands. One of these models should be the Husqvarna E-Pilen. The report concluded that the E-Pilen would be ready for its launch in 2022 and that the Indian plant’s capacity would be expanded to 200,000 units (from 108,000 units) that year.
In the company presentation of April 2021, Pierer Mobility confirmed that it will manufacture 48 V electric two-wheelers with outputs ranging from 4 to 11 kW in India. The E-Pilen launch in Europe could take place as a MY2023. “We are also enlarging our cooperation (with Bajaj Auto) on the low voltage electro-bike concepts. And the new lineup for model year 22 and 23, its precisely on track. So the new generation will show up in Model Year 23,” Stefan Pierer, CEO, Pierer Mobility said during the Half Year Results 2021 call in August.
Husqvarna has announced that the development of the E-Mobility range is “well-advanced,” hinting that the production e-Pilen electric motorcycle and the Vektorr electric scooter are not far from reaching showrooms.
Husqvarna is making strides in increasing its dealer network in Europe. The brand with Swedish roots has said that it is looking for qualified dealerships in large metropolitan areas of Europe, focusing on Germany, Italy, France, and Spain.
Pierer Mobility is targeting a revenue of EUR 500 million from its PTW (Powered Two Wheeler) models, which includes E-Bikes and E-Motorcycles, by 2025. It says that the Addressable premium market in Europe would be about EUR 10 billion.
Husqvarna E-Pilen FAQs
When will the Husqvarna E-Pilen launch take place?
The Husqvarna E-Pilen will launch by 2023. It will come with an 8 kW motor and a swappable battery.
Which are the competing models of the E-Pilen?
The Horwin CR6 series would be one of the chief competitors of the E-Pilen.
Featured Image Source: Twitter/EVcartel
