When Kawasaki introduced the Ninja e-1 and Z e-1 last month, the electric naysayers honed in on four figures: 7 rated horsepower (12 maximum horsepower), a 51-mph top speed (59 mph with e-boost), a 41-mile range, and a 7.5-hour recharge time. OK, maybe that’s more like six figures, but the collective reaction may not have been so critical had one figure been lower — price.
Then there's the pricing: the all-electric Ninja goes for $7,599 and the e-powered Z starts at $7,299. That's lower than street-legal electric motorcycles from the established competition in the United States, such as Zero, but of course more expensive than comparable or even more capable internal-combustion models. In parts of the world with tiered licensing, the electric Kawasakis may be an easier sale, but can the company succeed in the U.S. market with a motorcycle that's mainly limited to duty within city limits?
Kawasaki is about to find out as it's now taking pre-orders and pitching its first-ever electric motorcycles to urban commuters.
Drumming up demand
According to Kawasaki’s latest release, “Early adopters have until December 31 to seize the opportunity to order the Ninja e-1 or Z e-1.” The brand’s website leans into similar scarcity tactics, noting that customer order requests will be accepted “now through November 30, 2023, or until production of this model is sold out.”
n the United States, the e-1s are already on the back foot. Even most commuters require a motorcycle capable of highway speeds, a feat that the e-Ninja and e-Z don’t meet.
In all fairness, Kawasaki does, in fact, bring several innovations to the budding electric motorcycle market. Its e-boost feature enhances motor performance for 15 seconds, enabling riders to escape danger or power up inclines. The removable lithium-ion battery packs ease the charging process for apartment dwellers while Walk mode helps maneuver the bikes in and out of tight spaces. A Bluetooth-connected 4.3-inch TFT color display and all-around LED lighting only sweeten the pot.
Yet, that still begs the question: are the Ninja e-1 and Z e-1 worth the money? Only the sales figures of the two go-green machines will determine the answer to that question. After all, that’s the only figure that really matters.
Source: www.revzilla.com


Comments
Post a Comment