Everything we have published till date
In August 2022, Honda announced it would set up a solid-state battery pilot line in Japan. The aim was to study solid-state batteries and ensure the brand was ready with the technology and production in time for the competition. The pilot line has now started production.
Livewire started with a bang with its operations out of Silicon Valley. Harley has its back. However, the solid financial backing, a tech-heavy platform, and heavy spending have not translated into sales numbers. It just had another bad quarter and is now pulling back from Silicon Valley
This may not be significant for the company. In the short term, there is very little cash that they get access to. However, the listing makes them more attractive to new investors and may eventually get the HyperSport into production.
Financials stay depressed, though we have a clean chit on the Taiwanese government's charges against the company that had led to Horace Luke resigning. Now, a bigger problem is on the horizon - the Nasdaq listing may not be maintained.
We look at the important electric launches from EICMA, an event where Honda finally showed seriousness to electric mobility and came with a mid-size electric sports motorcycle and some scooters. Also, unveilings from Zero, Silence, Can-Am, Kymco and many more.
Are EVs loaded with features that are really smart? Do they create a high-enough barrier to entry? Is there an exclusivity? How long can it stay? What happens after that?
Often what the E2W world calls technology is a smart integration of sensors and rider aids, controlled by software. The ICE world is more mechanical, more metallurgical, more fundamental. What happens when the ICE world figures out software? Can the E2W Technology edge be maintained?
What is common between Cake, Arcimoto, Arc, and Fuell? They created products that were special. Maybe too special as sales never took off. At times, passionate manufacturers go too deep into their product passion and take their eyes off the reason why the product has to be created - the customer.
Electric traction and large lifestyle motorcycles don't play well together. The tech hasn't reached the point yet. So, it was unsurprising that Energica filed for bankruptcy last week. It's not the first and would not be the last electric lifestyle brand to do so.
With Ola Electric now publicly traded and Ather Energy soon to follow, Indian E2W startups are raising funds with urgency. The two-wheeler market is divided amongst less than 10 major brands, and the country has space for more high-quality E2W manufacturers.
Ather Energy, another electric two-wheeler manufacturer, files for an IPO. Ather follows Ola Electric which had hit the Indian bourses in August 2024. These are not small SPACs; these are multi-billion market cap IPOs
Vmoto has been an impressive and intriguing company. On the one hand, they have the broadest and most impressive range of products; on the other hand, they have disappointing sales volumes. The situation has been dismal over the last two years. Is it a long-term vulnerability?
