The Big Issue with EV Motorcycles
The biggest problem with electric motorcycles? Sure, the high prices are a hurdle. And no, they don’t roar like a Ducati Panigale V4. But the real sticking point has always been range—or the lack of it. However, that might be changing soon.
Recent Breakthrough
Late last month, Swedish automaker Polestar teamed up with charging company StoreDot to test a ground-breaking solution. The goal was to use the Polestar 5 prototype to experiment with StoreDot’s Extreme Fast Charger (XFC). The result? They managed to charge the EV from 10% to 80% in just 10 minutes… and what is more, it worked!
Addressing the Range Issue
This collaboration aims to address a persistent issue that’s plagued both automotive and motorcycling industries since the rise of EVs: limited range. The current reality is you can only travel so far before you’re stuck at a charging station for what feels like an eternity. Matching the convenience of refueling an ICE vehicle has been the elusive goal for EVs, but StoreDot and Polestar may have cracked the code.
Potential for Electric Motorcycles
So, could this breakthrough work for electric motorcycles? According to Jens Groot, Polestar’s Chief Engineer for Battery Systems, it absolutely could. “There is no intrinsic limitation to this technology that will require a special voltage range,” he explained “In fact, a down-scaled (motorcycle) system would be easier to realize since it would be easier to find a charger with the capability to supply enough power.” When asked if an EV motorcycle system would even need the XFC to achieve similar results, he confirmed, “That’s correct.”
Real-World Application
Polestar’s original release highlighted this world-first demonstration of a 10-minute, 10-80% fast charge using silicon-dominant cells in a drivable vehicle. This isn’t just lab theory—it’s real-world applicable tech. The specially designed 77 kWh battery pack, which can be scaled up to at least 100 kWh, could potentially add 200 miles of range to a mid-sized electric car in just 10 minutes. The charger itself dispensed between 310-370kW, far surpassing the power of average Tesla Superchargers or other fast chargers available today.
Future Implications
If Polestar’s technology can indeed be scaled down for motorcycles, this could be a game-changer for electric motorbikes. We might see brands like Harley-Davidson’s LiveWire adopting Polestar’s tech, or perhaps Geely—Polestar’s parent company—could integrate it into their QJ Motors lineup.
We’re excited to see where this innovation leads the future of electric motorcycles. Faster charging could soon make these bikes a viable competitor to their ICE counterparts.
