> Maybe the Livewire is just the tip of the spear in a Harley attempt to
> expand to new markets? <
You may have something there. HD has a history of doing that with
varying degrees of success. You have to give them credit for having the
nards to do that.
Back when HD originally made their announcement, my take was also WTF. I
mean HD is well know for ice motorcycles, and there are already plenty
of e-motorcycle companies on the market vying for business. So, why
would HD, as an e-motorcycle beginner, jump into a more-mature-than-them
e-motorcycle market?
As far as I know, there is no CARB requirement that makes motorcycle
companies sell e-versions for credits like with four wheel vehicles. So
again, why is HD doing this? Is it a token effort to show they could
('we made an e-motorcycle, but no one wanted it ...'). Is there some
other method to their madness?
At EVS-20
http://brucedp03.150m.com/evs-20/
John Deer (well known for their farming and other well made equipment)
had brought a small fc-hybrid Gator vehicle
http://brucedp03.150m.com/evs-20/IMG_0292.jpg
I talked to the JD rep, and asked why they made one, when clearly they
did not have a strong market need to.. He said their R&D engineers
wanted to show that they could do it. So, was that money and time JD
spent (wasted) on that vehicle's development justified as PR, or was it
a toy for their engineer's amusement ('look what we made! ... '). As far
as I know, JD never pursued serious marketing of that vehicle, but sold
plenty of its ice versions.
So, we are back full circle ... Why did HD make an e-motorcycle?
While I hope they did it for the best reasons: more EVs on the road, but
most large established ice-product companies do not try to sell EVs.
{brucedp.150m.com}
...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WTF
...
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=nards
...
http://www.deere.com/wps/dcom/en_INT/products/equipment/gator_utility_vehicles/gator_utility_vehicles.page
...
http://investor.harley-davidson.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=87981&p=irol-livewire
-
On Tue, Aug 19, 2014, at 04:28 AM, Chris Tromley wrote:
> The Livewire is getting good reviews in the mainstream motorcycle press,
> but it remains to be seen if that means anything. It is being trotted
> around the country to be shown to Harley riders and dealers for feedback.
> Sorry if this seems closed-minded, but that's hardly the most
> open-minded
> or forward thinking crowd. There are already reports that the response
> has
> been varying degrees of "WTF?".
>
> Some Harley dealerships have more floor space devoted to Harley-labeled
> boots, vests, chain wallets, ashtrays and phones that go VROOM when they
> ring than motorcycles. I just can't see that demographic bending their
> heads around such an alien concept as an eMC. Harley is a cult, and it's
> just not wise to introduce anything that will lead to rifts among the
> devoted.
>
> I'm thinking a new brand is in order, sort of like Toyota and Lexus cars
> are sold in different dealerships. But that's a pretty big undertaking.
> Maybe the Livewire is just the tip of the spear in a Harley attempt to
> expand to new markets?
-
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