Its sound is even compared to the music of the great classics. A powerful, proud roar, so personal and identifying that it is even a registered and unrepeatable trademark. Features that could soon end up in oblivion, sending the most ardent fans into total despair, for whichHarley Davidsons are not just motorcycles, they are cult objects.
Four years after the presentation of the LiveWire zero-emission prototype, the famous Milwaukee-based company has in fact announced the arrival of the first electric Harley Davidson, even providing the indicative date of the debut: "In just 18 months we will be on the market with an electric motorcycle". Very silent, eco-friendly, very light. Exactly the opposite of a "normal Harley", in short, of which, however, it will maintain one of the main characteristics: power. It will have a range of 160 km and will be able to sprint from 0 to 100 in 4 seconds.
The purpose of the motorcycle manufacturer is twofold: on the one hand, beat the competition on time in order to become world leaders in the electrification of motorcycles, on the other hand, to revive sales which have for some time now recorded an increasingly substantial decline.
According to the quarterly published on January 30, the decline will continue in 2018, with 236.000 motorcycles delivered globally, against 241.498 in 2017. Last year, the turnover generated by motorcycles fell by 6,8% to 4,92 billion. Numbers that forced Harley Davidson to close the Kansas City factory, leaving 800 people at home and which were badly digested by Wall Street investors who in yesterday's session implemented a real sell off bringing the stock to lose 8,4% with a market capitalization down to 8,45 billion dollars.
According to the top management of Harley Davidson, the "rebirth" therefore passes through electricity, hoping that the "Live to ride and ride to live" people, who have already risen up against the novelty, will come to terms with it.
