FUELL
The new urban mobility brand that brings back the pleasure of city riding
FUELL’s “urban mobility” positioning led to the creation of several machines to cover all the needs and styles of those who choose two-wheeled electric mobility. FUELL’s offer is centered around two products:
• FLOW – an electric motorcycle available in 11kW (125cc equivalent) or 35kW (motorcycle license) versions, combining practical aspects for the urban journey (integrated 50 liter/13 gallon internal storage), technological innovations (proprietary wheel-motor, connected dashboard) and unparalleled driving pleasure thanks to its acceleration and low center of gravity.
• FLUID – a robust and elegant electric bike, with exceptional range (up to 125 miles thanks to its 2 removable batteries with a total of 1,000Wh) and generous torque (100Nm), virtually maintenance-free with its carbon belt and internal hub gears. Fluid is offered as a Pedelec (max 20mph) or S-Pedelec (max 28mph, requiring helmet and insurance in most States).
Every step from design to manufacture had accessibility in mind: competitive prices (starting from $3,295 for Fluid and $10,995 for Flow), financing options that favor usage over ownership (credit, leasing, battery leasing), and a clear emphasis on easy handling and riding.
These e-vehicles are upgradeable (battery, wheel-motor, charger,…) and are among the best performing on the market. They have a great autonomy (125 city miles for Flow), and recharge easily (at home for Fluid, in less than 30 minutes on a public charger for Flow). They also offer connectivity and security options, and are infinitely customizable.
I like these guys, but I am skeptical. There are no shortage of serious players way ahead of them in the eBike game. And as far as urban electric motorcycling… they’re right, it’s the perfect venue! However, in the city, the machine should have a gorgeous retro scooter look with storage and carrying capacity. And as for styling, people want less ‘Night Rider’ and more Steve McQueen. If you can’t appeal and be affordable to youth, you have no future. Motorcycle industry… stop building for people who already have money and motorcycles, we’re old (who is a 1200 Scrambler for anyway?). Less tech, less gloss, more air cooled singles and coolness, ie cheaper, easier, lighter. Custom shops are building what I’m talking about. But as one-offs, they are too pricey for noobs. That’s your job Big MC manufactures. Otherwise you are numbering your own days. And my advice for Fuell: as you wouldn’t let an artist calculate the integrity of a structure, don’t let engineers design. Elastigirl’s Elasticycle in Pixar’s Incredibles 2 is way cooler than anything I have seen from any electric motorcycle manufacture. Although it is futuristic in tech, the artist who designed it had the presence of mind to include such classic motorcycling imperatives as chrome accents and controls, spoke wheels, black ribbed leather saddle and Ducati racing red paint. Omitted is the bulky battery (it is a cartoon), but the space is actually available. Quite literally, build this bike and underhang a big battery pack and voila, coolest urban electric motorcycle out there! Are you listening eBuell?
I love what Buell has done in the past, but the bigger one here looks like a Krups coffee machine made love to a hot air popcorn popper. Or perhaps they saw the prototype Harley ADV and thought, “that’s cool!” (?). Or maybe, Daft Punk just needed rides to match their helmets. Style boys, style! We are motorcyclists – black leather and chrome! Unless ‘Sterile Suburban Bavarian’ is the largest motorcycle purchasing demographic…no sale!