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Energica Experia with luggage set (112 liters storage space), cruise control, heated grips and four USB ports.
Price in Germany: 30,452 euros.
The base model will later cost 28,203 euros.
Photo: Energica
The first impression:
I know them?
The new Energica is visually reminiscent of a mix of Ducati Multistrada V4 and BMW S 1000 XR.
Short front beak, jagged fairing, low-cut travel seat - these are classic adventure touring ingredients.
Only the exhaust is missing.
But is he really missing?
That's what the manufacturer says
: Energica describes the Experia as a »Green Tourer«.
The first zero-emission motorcycle for bikers with a green conscience who suffer from wanderlust.
“We have combined high-tech electromobility with the motorcyclist's desire to travel.
The intention was to develop the first electric motorcycle specifically for lovers of long-distance motorcycles," says Giampiero Testoni, Chief Development Officer (CTO) of Energica Motor Company.
The Italians promise a range of up to 420 kilometers, including a good portion of Citytempo.
According to the WMTC cycle - the motorcycle counterpart to the WLTP specification for cars - the Experia officially covers 222 kilometers on one charge.
In the technical data sheet, Energica states a combined distance of 256 kilometers and 208 km outside of town.
How realistic these numbers are depends of course on the topography, temperature and driving behavior.
Unfortunately, it was not possible to find out exactly where the real value lies on the first test drive: Energica invited to the switchback hunt in the Dolomites.
The approximately 60-kilometer test route rarely went more than 200 meters in a straight line.
After all, the mountain and valley spectacle showed how efficiently the Experia's braking energy recovery works.
The engineers have programmed four levels of recuperation – strong, medium, light, off.
On the highest (B3) there is no need to use the brake: If you turn the power handle, the Experia immediately decelerates violently.
The effect then gradually decreases over the other two settings.
When recuperation is switched off, only the (excellently controllable) Brembo brake system noticeably slows down the 17-inch aluminum wheels.
We noticed that
the Experia is a tame bike compared to its Energica siblings.
Upright sitting position, relaxed knee angle, easy handling - you don't see that in the extremely sporty E-models Ego+, Eva Ribelle and Esseesse9+.
Up to 240 km/h top speed, up to 215 Nm, 3.0 to 2.8 seconds to 100 – Energica has so far stood for e-superbikes and uncompromising racing machines with battery.
Since 2018, the Italians have provided the fleet for MotoE, the purely electric counterpart to MotoGP, Formula 1 for motorcycles.
Ducati will take over as sole supplier from 2023.
Energica focuses on selling its machines to customers.
The message was clear: the high-legged tourer should be the driving force.
The largest market for high-speed e-smiths is traditionally America, followed by Great Britain.
Germany ranks fifth.
"By the end of 2022, the number of global dealers and sales points should increase from 95 to 115, and by the end of 2023 it should be 140," says Marketing Director Giacomo Leone.
Then there are the US dealers.
There are currently eleven, and there should be 25 in the next two years.
The beacon of hope delivers a maximum of 102 hp (75 kW) and develops an easily controllable 115 Nm of torque.
The top speed is electronically limited to 180 km/h so as not to squander battery power and range.
The sprint to 100 km/h succeeds in 3.5 seconds.
This is befitting of a high-priced touring bike.
The launch edition costs 25,590 euros plus VAT.
That makes 30,452 euros in Germany.
A lot of money for a motorcycle.
Technically, the Experia is state-of-the-art.
The cornering ABS from Bosch is coupled with a six-stage traction control.
There are a total of seven driving programs.
Four of them are preset, three are freely configurable.
They regulate how the electric motor responds and how sensitively the assistance systems operate.
The driving modes curb the temperament in the rain, increase the electric boost in sport mode or increase the range in eco mode - similar to conventional touring motorcycles.
What you should know:
With a maximum of 22.5 kWh (nominal 19.6 kWh), the Experia has the most powerful battery of all currently available electric motorcycles on board.
Like the permanent magnet synchronous motor, the drive battery is completely new and »Made in Modena«.
The new battery generation can be charged for the first time at Energica using all three common charging connector systems including CHAdeMO for the Asian market (from the end of 2022).
On the DC fast charger (Level 3 Mode 4), the battery has a range of 6.7 km per minute, making a record-breaking 400 km city range in one hour.
At the socket (Level 2 Mode 2 or 3), the charging speed drops to 63.5 km per hour.
For comparison: The LiveWire (15.5 kWh) developed by Harley-Davidson charges a range of 21 km per hour or 309 km on the fast charger.
During our test drive, the electricity was sufficient for (extrapolated) a good 300 kilometers.
Most touring machines can't get any further without stopping for fuel.
Which is then completed much faster than a loading session.
We will not forget that:
the encounters with strenuous pedaling cyclists in the mountains.
These are often visibly annoyed by the noise and stench of the petrol-burning fire chairs.
If electric motorcycles like the Experia slide past them, they give it a thumbs-up.
Ralf Bielefeldt is a freelance author and was supported in his research by Energica. Reporting is independent of this.
