28 • August 2024 • Powersports Business

U . S . Senator Bob Casey ( D-PA ) has secured $ 89 million in grant funding from the U . S . Department of Energy ( DOE ) to support Harley-Davidson ’ s zero-emissions motorcycle production in York County , Pennsylvania . The funding comes from the Domestic Manufacturing Conversion ( DMC ) Grant program , an Inflation Reduction Act ( IRA ) provision that supports domestic production of zero-emissions vehicles ( ZEVs ).

“ In a world where demand for electric vehicles is only growing stronger , we have an obligation to ensure American manufacturers can compete on the international stage ,” says Senator Casey . “ Harley-Davidson is one of America ’ s iconic manufacturers , and this funding from the Inflation Reduction Act will ensure it will be able to continue leading the global market in the years and decades to come . I will always fight for investments that support a strong , clean economy and continue South Central Pennsylvania ’ s legacy as a manufacturing powerhouse .”

Senator Casey sent a letter of support to the DOE advocating for the zero-emission motorcycle manufacturing project . Thanks to the DMC grant , Harley-Davidson will adjust and increase the production of certain existing Harley-Davidson and LiveWire-branded electric motorcycles . Harley ’ s electric motorcycle business , LiveWire , uses an all-American supply chain and is the largest electric motorcycle manufacturer in the country .

Senator Casey has a history of fighting for the York Harley-Davidson facility

Harley will use its grant funding to upgrade its York Plant to further develop and build electric motorcycles . Photo courtesy of Harley-Davidson , Facebook

and supported the Inflation Reduction Act , which included tax credits for individuals and companies manufacturing or deploying clean energy technologies to help lower costs and secure our energy independence . The IRA included a Casey-led provision to provide a “ domestic content ” bonus credit for companies that use American steel , iron , and manufactured goods .

In May 2023 , Senator Casey visited Harley ’ s York facility to introduce the Electric Motorcycle Parity Act to include qualifying motorcycles among the vehicles eligible for the clean vehicle tax credits in the IRA .

ENGWE , a fat tire electric bike company , has revealed its ENGWE M20 2.0 e-bike . Building on the popularity of its predecessor , the M20 , the new model integrates significant upgrades tailored to enhance performance , comfort , and safety .

ENGWE shares that the M20 e-bike has a motorcycle-like design , and media outlets have highlighted its affordability and ability to compete with the best on the market , surpassing the Super73 in battery range .

The M20 2.0 offers a series of upgrades under the concept of “ Double Is Better Than Single .” This includes double batteries for extended range , double suspension for enhanced comfort , and double headlights for improved safety .

Key Upgrades : Enhanced Power System : Upgraded from 48V to 52V , the M20 2.0 delivers greater power and efficiency , ensuring a smoother and more powerful ride .

Extended Battery Life : Featuring a larger 1622Wh battery ( up from 1248Wh ), riders can enjoy longer journeys without the worry of frequent recharging .

Improved Safety : The transition from mechanical to hydraulic brakes offers more responsive and reliable stopping power .

Superior Suspension Comfort : The enhanced hydraulic rear suspension is designed for longer travel distances and smoother rides , providing ultimate comfort and performance .

Optimized Display : A new colorful display ensures better visibility and a more vibrant riding experience , keeping riders informed and in control .

The ENGWE M20 2.0 e-bike features a 1622Wh battery . Photo courtesy of ENGWE

Energica Motor Company , a high-performance electric motorcycle OEM and EV system integration company , and Electra Vehicles Inc ., an applied AI-ML for battery management software company , recently announced a strategic R & D partnership .”

This collaboration will leverage Electra ’ s AI-powered technology to enhance battery performance , optimize vehicle range , charging , and lifetime , and improve the overall riding experience .

Energica has been at the forefront of electric vehicle technology from its base in Italy ’ s Motor Valley for over a decade . This new strategic R & D collaboration with Electra will utilize Electra ’ s ‘ Brain for Batteries ’ AI technology to improve the battery management systems ( BMS ) in Energica ’ s vehicles , enhancing performance across the board .

“ We met Electra and were immediately interested in their AI solutions related to batteries , a crucial element on which we have based our know-how from the beginning ,” says Giampiero Testoni , CTO of Energica Motor Company . “ Together with their team , we have started a research and development collaboration apply AI to the BMS of our batteries . The objective is to better monitor the data and optimize the range . The studies are still underway , but we are thrilled to be able to work together with a dynamic company like Electra .”

AI is crucial in managing real-time battery

performance , benefiting drivers , OEMs , and fleet operators . Electra says its advanced algorithms integrate battery data with external factors such as riding behavior and temperature . This data integration and elaboration through AI algorithms can shorten charging times , optimize range extension , extend battery life , and reduce the battery ’ s operational costs . These enhancements help alleviate range anxiety for drivers and foster broader adoption of electric vehicles .

“ The battery is the heart of any electric vehicle ,” says Fabrizio Martini , an ex-NASA engineer now CEO and Founder of Electra . “ Adding a ‘ Brain ’ to manage it , supported by AI , not only enhances performance and durability but also addresses fundamental driver and industry concerns .”

Electra ’ s AI-powered technology optimizes energy consumption and reduces charging times . It accurately estimates the battery ’ s state of health with up to 97 percent accuracy throughout its entire lifespan , extending its life by over 20 percent . The technology also provides range estimations with just a one percent error rate , and it preemptively

This new strategic R & D collaboration with Electra will utilize Electra ’ s ‘ Brain for Batteries ’ AI technology to improve the battery management systems ( BMS ) in Energica ’ s vehicles , enhancing performance across the board . Photo courtesy of Energica

detects faults and maintenance issues months in advance .

According to the companies , this approach elevates battery asset monitoring , increases operational efficiency , and boosts ROI for EVs and batteries . By integrating Electra ’ s solutions , Energica minimizes costs associated with downtime and maintenance while improving battery reliability .