Harley-Davidson Buys Into Alta Motors & Teams Up To Design An Electric Motorcycle

March 2nd, 2018 by Nicolas Zart

Harley-Davidson (HD) is investing into Alta Motors and teaming up to design an electric motorcycle (e-motorcycle), which is definitely welcome news. But will the two cultures mesh?

What Happens When A Loud Gas Motorcycle Maker Meets A Quiet Efficient Electric One?

Your guess is as good as ours, but an electric HD has been in the news for a few years with little to show for it. Suddenly, HD produces two quick-paced releases, one with more specs and the other announcing that it is teaming up with a legendary e-motorcycle champion, Alta Motors.

Little did we realize all we had to do was ask when we questioned whether will we ever see the electric HD LimeWire project come true. A few days later, HD and Alta Motors announced an e-motorcycle partnership answering some of the many questions we had, but not all.

HD is finally serious about investing into its future when it became a stakeholder in the Brisbane, California e-motorcycle maker and champion company Alta Motors. Both confirmed their commitment to e-motorcycles in general and more specifically publicly announced they are teaming up for a new e-motorcycle.

As you might recall, Alta Motors has gone on an impressive expansion this past year reaching out to more states in the US, hiring more officers, and ultimately shaming today’s best gasoline Supercross motorcycle with a client’s last year Redshift motorcycle that beat today’s very best. Talk about the ultimate slap in the face for that internal combustion engine (ICE) technology during competition!

In the end, it’s difficult to predict how two such radically different cultures will come together to design an electric motorcycle. We do wonder if it will have that certain and specific audio signature so dear to some of HD’s clientele or if it will usher in a new quieter era for the company and its clientele.

According to Harley-Davidson President and CEO Matt Levatich: “Earlier this year, as part of our 10-year strategy, we reiterated our commitment to building the next generation of Harley-Davidson riders, in part, by aggressively investing in electric vehicle (EV) technology… Alta has demonstrated innovation and expertise in EV and their objectives align closely with ours. We each have strengths and capabilities that will be mutually beneficial as we work together to develop cutting-edge electric motorcycles.”

Our previous conversations also confirmed Alta Motors is a company in full expansion. According to Alta Motors Co-Founder Marc Fenigstein, whom we had the pleasure of interviewing a few times already and who is also Chief Product Officer: “Riders are just beginning to understand the combined benefits of EV today, and our technology continues to progress… We believe electric motorcycles are the future, and that American companies have an opportunity to lead that future. It’s incredibly exciting that Harley-Davidson, synonymous with motorcycle leadership, shares that vision and we’re thrilled to collaborate with them.”

Harley Is Going Forward With Electricity

Who would have believed we’d see the day Harley-Davidson talks about an electric motorcycle and partners with an electric motorcycle champion company. If ever there was a moment to signify that yesterday’s propulsion world is gone and that tomorrow’s mobility world is already here today, then HD committing to Alta Motors is one of the biggest highlights for 2018.









Appreciate CleanTechnica’s originality? Consider becoming a CleanTechnica member, supporter, or ambassador — or a patron on Patreon.

Sign up for our free daily newsletter or weekly newsletter to never miss a story.

Have a tip for CleanTechnica, want to advertise, or want to suggest a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast? Contact us here.

Latest Cleantech Talk Episode