2021 was a busy yr for Harley-Davidson and LiveWire. First, in May, the corporate introduced it was spinning LiveWire off into its personal electrical bike model. Not lengthy after, it launched the LiveWire ONE, which dropped the worth of admission right down to $21,999 earlier than tax credit.
By the tip of 2021, LiveWire introduced plans to go public within the first half of 2022 through a particular objective acquisition merger—additional powering its drive into the subsequent section of electrical bike growth. That additional growth, not less than the primary section of it, appears to be upon us.
First and foremost, there was the introduction of the LiveWire One. From there, LiveWire would transfer onto its S2 middleweight bikes, adopted by the S3 light-weight two-wheelers produced in partnership with KYMCO. If all goes in response to the plan as presently laid out, S4 will see LiveWire circle again to heavyweight electrical bikes with improved applied sciences.
On February 8, 2022, Harley-Davidson had its 2021 This fall earnings name, throughout which CEO Jochen Zeitz (who can be present performing CEO of LiveWire) formally mentioned we are able to count on the primary LiveWire S2 middleweight electrical to roll out very quickly. How quickly, precisely? The first S2 bike, referred to as Del Mar, is predicted someday in Q2 of 2022.
LiveWire S2 bikes will make the most of the corporate’s proprietary and scalable Arrow motor structure. While full particulars about Arrow aren’t obtainable simply but, the MoCo claims that it comes packing a severe energy density and a direct-drive design, together with key options together with each an built-in inverter and an on-board charger. Current plans additionally say that the S3 two-wheelers (a time period that LiveWire itself makes use of) will make the most of a scaled-down model of the Arrow structure.
If you’ll recall, the LiveWire S3 fashions can be produced in partnership with KYMCO. Obviously, in February, 2022, we’re standing on the precipice of S2 and are nowhere close to S3 but—however this investor doc’s terminology makes use of the precise phrase “two-wheelers” to confer with these upcoming light-weight fashions.
Does that imply LiveWire electrical scooters might ultimately be a factor that exists? Furthermore, whereas we’re speculating wildly right here, might mentioned light-weight electrical two-wheelers bearing LiveWire badges make use of KYMCO’s Ionex swappable battery know-how? (Also, tangentially, might this be how we lastly get a KYMCO RevoNEX on American shores?)
We don’t wish to get too far forward of ourselves, clearly, however these are some fascinating inquiries to ponder. At this level, all we all know for positive is that LiveWire and KYMCO will work collectively on future light-weight electrical LiveWire-branded two-wheelers of some sort. Still, it’s not like Harley-Davidson hasn’t give you some electrical scooter designs previously. Since these could be branded with the LiveWire brand and never the bar-and-shield, maybe the thought isn’t completely useless in any case.