Reload Land Electrifies Berlin

Maximilian Funk is as cool as his name sounds. A designer, writer, and editor [Max was my editor at Gestalten! – Pd’O], Max is also the co-founder of Craftwerk Berlin, a cultural hub for two-wheel enthusiasts and Cake’s first test ride center in Berlin. Among his moto-centric creative endeavors, Max launched Reload Land, Europe’s first all-electric motorcycle festival, last summer. The two-day event created a space for “like-minded futurists” to come together and celebrate a more sustainable future on two wheels.

Reload Land returned to Berlin earlier this month, drawing over 1,200 attendees and numerous big-name exhibitors, including BMW Motorrad, LiveWire, Zero Motorcycles, RGNT, Black Tea, Hookie, and STILRIDE. The festival featured test rides, panel talks, live music, and 14 exhibition pieces. “One of the highlights from this year’s event was that Hookie’s Tardigrade was shown to the public in Europe for the first time. Another standout was the sprint racer from Bizarro Corp. from Spain. The bike has a bespoke steel chassis housing Zero’s technology and fairings painted by mural artist Felipe Pantone,” Funk said.

The second edition of Reload Land showcased custom LiveWire bikes and RGNT’s Aurora, which beat the world speed record for electric motorcycles on ice in March. Additionally, STILRIDE revealed its stunning bike to the public for the first time at the festival. “We had a wide variety of bikes, including scramblers, race bikes, sprint racers, and mini bikes. I think we surprised people with just how many electric custom bikes there actually are,” said Funk. Reload Land also hosted a “silent ride,” which included more than 70 e-Motorcycles traveling through the streets of Berlin. “It’s one of the best experiences for visitors. When you ride through the city on motorcycles together, it’s extraordinary when it’s all silent, and you hear the laughs,” Funk stated.

Reload Land goes far beyond riding and entertainment. The festival is also a valuable networking opportunity for B2C and B2C brands and a platform for EV education. Max and his team have big plans for upcoming Reload Land events and eventually want to add electric cars to the mix. “We’ll stay in the same location next year for sure. The space is an old baking factory from 1904. I think people really enjoy the positive and laid-back vibe here. It’s not about pushing the commercial success, but staying true to the authenticity of our mission,” Funk said.

“The Reload Land crew’s goal is to present electric bikes in a very different way and create a new lifestyle around them, which was not really well maintained since we’re mixing both worlds. We’re all petrol-heads. I drive an old ‘60s Dodge wagon and still race flat track. It’s not about taking something away from traditional riders but offering something new and creating a futuristic lifestyle around it, which, I think, is very much needed,” Funk explained. “It’s still tough to sell electric bikes to diehard petrol enthusiasts. But when you create a new community in that niche, it allows people to connect and ride together.”