Hello dear readers and riders! Can you believe we’re less than 10 days away from Memorial Day weekend? It seems like January was only two weeks ago. Another thing that seems to be zipping by at a lightning-fast pace is EV technology and designs. Need proof? This week’s roundup is full of it. From an electric Bentley packed with 1,400 ponies – you heard us correctly – to a 1930s board tracker-inspired e-Motorcycle, this week’s EV news will definitely get your motor running. As always, send your tips, feedback, and questions to stephanie@thevintagent.com. Let’s roll.
Wyld’s E-Tracker is a Testament to Enduring Elegance
The Wyld board track-inspired eBike includes a ‘flat tank’ between upper frame rails, a rigid rear frame, and girder forks to evoke the feel of a 1920s board track racer. [Wyld]If you know anything about the machines built to race around the murderdromes – er, motordromes – of the 1920s and 30s, then you’re well aware that most of those old board tracker bikes are virtually unrideable on modern roadways. However, that hasn’t stopped Scottsdale-based Wyld Garage Co. from building a real showstopper. Dubbed the Urban Tracker Electric, Wyld’s e-Motorcycle is a nod to the stripped-down board track racers of yesteryear. This ground-up creation promises 60 miles worth of range and 18hp. While it’s not fast, this bike certainly is pretty.
Plan B Motorcycle’s New EV Design is a Real Stunner
Best seen in person, the paintwork on the Zero-based Plan B ‘Blackbird’ is a transparent deep noir. [Plan B]Based in Italy, Plan B Motorcycles is a “neo-café” workshop that specializes in distinct designs and bespoke bikes. Owner Christian Moretti’s stunning redesign of a Zero e-motorcycle, fittingly called the Blackbird, will be on display at the Bike Shed Motorcycle Show in London from May 27-29. Under the right lighting conditions, the rich chrome-black ink-coating reveals the intricate aluminum bodywork beneath. This bike is absolutely gorgeous.
Bentley’s First EV Packs 1,400 Ponies
The horsepower wars have moved into EVs, which will always win over internal combustion motors, as they are simply more powerful, and each wheel can have its own motor. [Bentley]Luxury automaker Bentley is entering the EV arena with the debut of its brutal 1,400hp all-electric car. Arriving in 2025, the new car boasts Bugatti-like specs and can go from 0 to 60mph in 1.5 seconds. All that power comes with a hefty price tag. The electric Bentley will cost more than $262,000.
One of North America’s Oldest Off-Road Races Gets Electrified
The Corduroy includes many vintage racers as well as modern machines for professional men and women riders. The new e-bike class will be fascinating, with the widening selection of off-road racers from CAKE and KTM, etc. [Corduroy]The folks over at the Corduroy Enduro – ‘Canada’s toughest race’ – in Gooderham Ontario, recently announced that they will be adding an electric racing class to their lineup this year. The Cord, which runs September 22-25, has amateur and pro classes for contemporary bikes, plus many vintage classes. The new EV class will feature a special, shorter course designed for electric machines. We’re excited to see how things play out on the track.
Honda Teases First Electric SUV
Taking their sweet time entering the EV space on two and four wheels, Honda is teasing a new design, which means they’ve already built and are testing it! [Honda]Earlier this week, Honda dropped a teaser image of its new electric SUV that is slated to arrive in 2024. The Prologue will be the automaker’s first battery-electric vehicle to be sold in the United States and one of two that Honda is co-developing with GM. The SUV will be built on GM’s Ultium platform, while future Honda EVs will be built on the Honda E architecture, arriving in 2026. The new release will initiate Big Red’s goal of having 100% of its sales be comprised of fuel-cell or electric vehicles by 2040.
EV Battery Costs Predicted to Surge 22% By 2026
The cost to make EVs is primed to skyrocket over the next four years due to a scarcity of essential raw materials needed to produce electric battery cells, like Lithium, as we noted in The Current Newson on May 5. Prices are expected to peak at $138 per kWh. This will also cause a spike in the price of EVs sold in 2026 by as much as $3,000 per vehicle for a car. The shortage of Lithium has already increased the price of a new Tesla by $1000, according to Elon Musk.
McLaren to Race in Formula E
McLaren’s bid to secure a spot in the new Formula E race series is a boost of confidence in the future of racing. [McLaren]Earlier this week, McLaren Racing confirmed that it will be competing in the Formula E World Championship. The new team will be formed through the acquisition of the Mercedes-EQ Formula E team.
Stephanie Weaver is the EV Editor at The Vintagent, and a Philadelphia-based freelance writer. When she’s not locked to her laptop, she can be found riding horses and motorcycles.
Ohhhh … goodie … fun time again !
1) The Wylde … my oh my how original … an electric motor stuffed into a bicycle frame . And when was that first done ? … oh .. ‘ round about the late 1800’s if memory serves
2) Plan B .. an electric motor stuffed into an ICE M/C frame … errr .. best be coming up with plan C .. cause plan B’s a been there done that a hundred times WTF cares !
3) The Audi/VW/Porsche/Lamborghini/Bentley Vaporware Special . Yeah right … and the range is all of what … 10 miles when you unleash that hyper exaggerated 1400 Shetland Ponies ? And in todays traffic … just WTF are you supposed to unleash this thing ?
Not to mention this thing is the polar opposite of anything even so much as resembling environmentally consciousness
4) The ‘ Cord ‘ For Being CDN’s supposed hardest race … Aint nobody of any worth ever heard of it .. aint nobody of any consequence ever raced in it … aint nobody in the media so much as mentioned it ( except now y’all ) … never mind covered it . And we’re supposed to be impressed that they added an EV class in order to garner some attention ? Errr … nope !
Sigh … oh dear … them Canahoodians … always trying … always failing .. but hey … they’s really nice folks … ( got family in Montreal and Toronto ) .. and should a certain someone regain the oval office … guess I’ll be becoming one of them
5) According to NPR – WSJ – Bloomberg – etc – et al – ad nauseam .. Li battery prices have already surged 20-45% .. with another 20-35% predicted on the horizon … IF … IF !!!! you can get one . Which right now … you probably cannot !
[ all the major ingredients for an Li battery are at present Unobtanium ! Due in part to the war in Ukraine and China’s blatant hoarding ]
6) Mclaren jumping into the Formula EV fray . In light of their tumultuous downfall over that past few decades … and the lack of upward motion at present in F1 etc … I guess they’re hoping going Boring ( watching Formula E is like watching slot cars when you’re not operating one ) will finally bring back some of their success of old .
Damn its hard to watch an ole fav become a current irrelevant has been
PS; On Number Five … if some little genius could come up with an alternative to Li’s … now that … in the strictest definition of the word … would be a ‘ revolutionary ‘
Now pardon me while I enjoy the impending snow & cold .. in May … on the Front Range …
😎
if it is a rigid why not use a hub motor?? because it NEEDS a chain??