Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/891001
IN THE WIND P28 STEFAN PIERER OUTLINES KTM'S MASSIVE ELECTRIC FUTURE K TM CEO Stefan Pierer laid out some of KTM's future plans that will see a major shift towards electrically powered machines and machine sharing among consumers. He made the comments at the media launch for the 2018 KTM Freeride E-XC electric enduro machine in Salzburg, Austria, and his thoughts clearly show KTM is moving to a future that com- bines the classic internal combustion en- gine with hybrid and electric technology. Pierer said he doesn't believe the inter- nal combustion engine is doomed, say- ing, "You have to take into consideration where the raw materials are coming from [to make the batteries for electric vehicles]. Secondly, nobody has the knowledge how to handle [batteries] after accidents. In my opinion, as a bridge technology for the next decade, it will be the hybrid. It's a mild hybrid and combustion engine. I think the combustion engine will not disappear in the next 20, 30 years. "The power [electric] two-wheeler is the solution for urban mobility in the future," Pierer said. "So, in that we have a clear focus and a clear strategy. Part of our very successful existing sport motorcycling program in off-road or on-road, we are developing two-wheelers on an electric base between 250, 400 watts up to 15 kilowatts. That's the range. We think in 10 years' time, in Europe at least, 50 percent of the total fleet is electric. That's a clear strategy, a long-term strategy, but to afford it, you need a very successful, classic combustion [engine] program to earn the money you can invest in the future." That future appears to be a one where the bicycle and the motorcycle will once again meet at a crossroads, much like they did at the start of the 20th century, as KTM has recently collaborated with Ger- man e-mobility/electric bicycle manufac- turer PEXCO. "The motorcycle is stepping down and the bicycle is going up, and they [will] meet each other. Then it's like setting up a family. It was our long-term strategy to step in the electric e-bikes segment, but we didn't have the plan to do it that quickly," said Pierer. "Our vision and future development program is a small motorcycle in the future, with a pedal. That's the long-term vision. In the next couple of years for sure we will do a lot in that segment." Hubert Trunkenpolz, KTM's Chief Sales Officer, also outlined KTM's plans to inte- grate a fractional ownership, where you essentially rent a machine for an indefinite period with other users, thus sharing the cost. "Electric-driven cars are expensive, so are motorcycles," Trunkenpolz said. "We tried to find a smart solution to make the motorcycle or the Freeride E-XC easily accessible. We defined the price of 7500 euros retail. That is pretty much on the same level as the 250 Freeride F. "We are on the same level in terms of the price. What we then did is the bat- tery and the charger comes extra (for the customer). We developed a lease system where customers can lease the battery and the charger with less than 50 euros a month. They basically run about four years. "This is around what fuel costs in a standard combustion engine. So, there is Stefan Pierer is aiming to be on the front foot when it comes to KTM's (and Husqvarna's) electric range.