KTM’s mission to make saving the planet fun, as well as virtuous, has now reached the marketplace. The company recently launched a trio of production versions of the Freeride E electric prototype that it has been working on since 2008. Indeed, such is the Austrian company’s commitment to going green, that it kept on devoting precious R&D resources to its E-biking project even as sales slumped and losses mounted during its annus horribilis in 2008. Now, after recovering spectacularly well from that low point to become Europe’s largest-selling manufacturer in unit numbers, KTM has begun to harvest the fruits of that commitment via sales of the first two E-models already in dealer showrooms: the E-SX motocross bike and E-XC enduro, the latter also available in street-legal form at extra cost.
But there was a third, in some ways an even more significant electric Freeride variant. It won’t see production in KTM’s Mattighofen plant until April 2015, so it can’t reach European dealerships until mid-2015, followed by other countries like the USA and Australia in 2016. This third model is the E-SM Supermoto, the first dedicated electric KTM street bike to reach the marketplace, leapfrogging the E-SPEED urban mobility device launched at the Tokyo Show in March 2012, which is the closest thing you’re ever likely see to a KTM scooter.
“We at KTM are completely convinced of electric mobility as a perfect complement to conventional powertrains,” says KTM CEO Stefan Pierer. “In the long term, electric drive will come out on top for short distances—particularly in areas which are highly sensitive from an environmental perspective, like open nature and densely populated metropolitan areas. So we must be present in this sector, but in entering it we must be true to our sporty traditions. So the E-SPEED concept may advance to series production only after the Freeride E-SM—this must be our first Urban Streetfighter wearing a green cloak! Vehicles like the E-SPEED and Freeride E models will help power two-wheelers to win more acceptance in society, not just because of their environmental credits, but because they are easy to use, quick, and simply great fun.”
The chance to be the first person outside KTM to take to the streets on this politically correct green E-Duke came when I was let loose on a pre-production version of the Freeride E-SM to cope with the Mattighofen mayhem that constitutes the evening rush hour in KTM’s home town. An hour-long silent scoot through the streets of the town, fighting for tarmac space with assorted trucks, taxis, delivery vans and cars, coupled with a longer, faster ride out into the surrounding countryside, where I could max out its 56 mph top speed according to the little speedo, clearly demonstrated KTM’s intent on turning the bitter lemons of political correctness into refreshing lemonade that’s enjoyable to sample. For while other manufacturers of electric bikes or scooters focus on E-biking’s environmental benefits in providing personal transportation—either established bike builders going green, or apostles of alternative energy worshipping at the zero emissions altar—KTM has a different agenda: green may be good, but it must also be fun!
The Freeride E-SM is tall but also extremely skinny. Slinging a leg over the 34.3 inch high seat (1.6 inches lower than the off-road bikes) delivers a comfortable, mega-controllable riding stance that doesn’t seem excessively high, and with reasonably low footpegs, the E-SM’s stance should suit most statures, giving a sense of confidence to beginner riders to whom E-power is well suited, and there is no clutch or gearshift to worry about. To obtain forward motion, you must first flick on the kill switch on the right handlebar. Next, turn the ignition key, which is mounted to the right of the headlight, and then wait while the system boots up, as monitored via the battery interface module located behind the headstock. This module basically acts as an information center. This has a row of LEDs around the central display, which light up when you press the kill switch. If all the green ones are lit, the battery is fully charged, then as the charge diminishes those lights do too, until the yellow one illuminates with 20 percent charge remaining, and the red at 10 percent. There’s also a diagnostic function in case there are any problems with the power supply.
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