Husqvarna working on an electric ‘pilen

Pierer Mobility, the parent company of KTM, Husqvarna, and GasGas motorcycles, sprung a surprise in its latest investor’s presentation, held towards the end of August 2020. Here, the brand showed off a range of electrically powered two-wheelers under the ‘Performance and Urban E-Mobility’ section, which also includes an electric trials bike under the GasGas umbrella, and a pair of GasGas and Husqvarna e-bicycles. What’s new there, you ask. Well, the brand also showed off an electric Husqvarna-branded motorcycle, with a clear timeframe of its production reality!

A small perspective is in order here...

As shown in the presentation, electric two-wheelers are not entirely new in Pierer’s stable. Both KTM and Husqvarna already have experience with electrically powered two-wheelers which are sold overseas, with KTM currently producing the 16kW Freeride dirt bike as well as 5kW SX-E mini-bike, while Husqvarna also has a similarly small sized 5kW electric bike called the EE-5. In fact, the SX-E is touted as the training ground for young and fledgling motocross/supercross aspirants.

Now, while the electric offerings so far have been off-road focussed, the Husqvarna E-Pilen will be a full-fledged street-based motorcycle, becoming Pierer Mobility’s first such offering, trumping KTM, the group’s go-to brand.

More about the E-Pilen

Going by the information shared in the presentation, the electric bike will visually resemble the Svartpilen and Vitpilen duo currently on sale in India. Further, it is slated to come in two variants, sporting 4kW (5.4bhp) and 10kW (13.4bhp) outputs, from a 48V electric system, with a chain- or belt-operated final drive. Next, it will also boast a modular battery system, though it’s unclear whether the batteries will be swappable, or offer a choice of capacities aimed at increasing range or output. Finally, the ‘in development’ tag and March 2022 market launch means the E-Pilen may be rapidly becoming a reality in India, as part of the joint development project with Bajaj at its Chakan plant.

Additionally, there was also talk of ‘extension of the electric product range’ (subtly hinted to with the words ‘platform utilisation’) not least with the presence of a Husqvarna electric scooter. This product, currently also in development, will sport the aforementioned 5.4bhp/48V system, and is slated for a March 2021 release, though chances of it being launched here are remote.

It can’t be stressed enough how the first electric streetbike from the Pierer group being a Husqvarna and not a KTM upsets the established conventions. Nevertheless, with the amount of crossover between the KTM and Husqvarna product lines, we can’t at all rule out a potential E-Duke rearing its head up somewhere down the line.

A ‘Ready to Race’ electric bike...now who wouldn’t love that?