The manufacturer of AK-47, Kalashnikov’s ambition for modern electric vehicles is nothing new. The Russian gun giant has now revealed its latest electric motorcycle Izh-49, which is a limited edition model for motorcycle collectors in the Russian Federation.
Kalashnikov has not revealed the pricing of the motorcycle but claims that most of these are already sold and only a few remain in stock. According to what we gather from Russian reports, the electric motorcycle is priced at around $20,000.
Kalashnikov’s press secretary Mark Reznikov has informed that the company has made only 49 models and doesn’t plan to make more at the moment.
The Izh-49 electric motorcycle is themed around the Soviet-era motorcycle with the same name. It was displayed at the Army-2020 military exhibition in Moscow in August. The retro-themed electric motorcycle looks like what the Terminator would save the world on if the sequel was set in 2021. The motorcycle carries the typical visual features of the original Soviet-era model’s design.
The Kalashnikov Izh-49 has a brushless air-cooled motor and stopping power comes from disc brakes. The bike can charged through a household 220V power socket. The 130 kg electric vehicle can run at a top speed of 90 kmph and it has a range of 80 km on a single charge, as claimed by the manufacturer.
In early 2018 Kalashnikov Concern made 30 units of ‘Izh Pulsar’ motorcycles for Moscow’s Police, which were used during the 2018 FIFA World Cup. These were the electric motorcycles suitable for off-roading. A cruiser motorcycle with the name Izh was also developed by the company for the Russian President’s motorcade in 2018.
| Kalashnikov Izh-49 Electric Bike Aspect | Value |
| Weight | 130 kg |
| Top speed | 90 km/h |
| Range | 80 km |
| Max output | 15 kW (20.1 hp) |
| Peak Torque | 60 Nm |
| Braking system | Ventilated hydraulic disc brakes |
At the end of 2019 as well, Kalashnikov showcased an Izh model with a cafe racer design, which was developed for fast rides, as the company claimed. This was designed to run at a top speed of 100 kmph, similar to the latest model.
Not only motorcycles, but Kalashnikov also tried its hands in electric cars. In 2018, the Russian company showcased an all-electric Kalashnikov CV-1 at an event in Moscow, which was touted as Russia’s answer to the Tesla electric car. This EV was claimed to have a range of 350 km on a single charge from a 90 kWh battery pack. It was then said that the EV was capable of accelerating 0-100 km/h in around 6 seconds, but little has been reported on the car since.
Andrew Agapoff checks out the Russian electric bike
ElectricVehicleWeb reader Andrew Agapoff has sent in his thoughts and couple of photos of the bike from his visit to the Russian exhibition. Here’s what Andrew wrote in his email:
Hello everyone! In the summer of 2020, I was able to participate in the international exhibition in Moscow – ARMY 2020. There I visited the Kalashnikov pavilion, where the IZH-49 electric motorcycle was presented . The bike looks in the style of retro-futurism. It is beautiful, brutal and elegant at the same time. Despite the fact that the seat on a motorcycle of the 1950s, it is very comfortable. One battery charge is enough for 80 kilometers of range. Its maximum speed is 95 km/h . It can be charged from a regular 220-volt outlet. The manufacturer claims that the IZH-49 is a collector’s item for fans. Unfortunately, there will be no mass production, only 49 motorcycles will be produced.
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