Fuell Electric Motorcycle First Look

Just when you thought the electric motorcycle market was set in stone, a new player has emerged. Erik Buell is back as part of an innovative team of engineers and designers who just revealed their new electric motorcycle, the Fuell Flow. While electric bikes have been popping up all around the world, this particular e-moto is poised to shock them all with an affordable price point of just $11,995. If that MSRP holds true, then Fuell has an opportunity to influence the balance of power within the electric motorcycle market.

Let’s take a quick look at this electric motorcycle. Technical specifications are impressive if they pan out as advertised. Fuell claims 48 hp (35 kW) and 553 pound-feet of torque from the Flow with a range of 150 miles and a top speed of 85 mph. It weighs in at a claimed 400 pounds and has a 53.9-inch wheelbase and rider-friendly 30.1-inch seat height, so it has potential to be fun while zipping around town or touring nearby back roads. Charging time will be 30 minutes using a Supercharger/CCS (Combined Charging System) but still will take a while (10 hours) using the home charging system, according to Fuell.

At the core of the Flow is a 10-kWh motor housed in the rear wheel hub, powered by a 400-volt "Li-ion cylindrical cell array housed in structural magnesium housing." That configuration should provide plenty of pep to keep the bike ahead of traffic within the urban sprawl. The Flow spec sheet boasts a 0–60 time of 2.7 seconds, which would be slightly faster than its competitor, the Harley-Davidson LiveWire. Keep in mind the H-D carries an MSRP of nearly $30,000 and has been teasing an actual release date for what seems like an eternity.

Just looking at the images reveals the obvious Buell/EBR influence in the design of the Flow. The large magnesium monocoque frame, single-sided swingarm, and hub-center motor combine with the curvy Buell-esque bodywork to create the familiar look of this e-brawler. A 40mm inverted fork and preload-adjustable rear shock appear underwhelming at first glance, but are likely a couple of the inexpensive components that help keep the overall cost down. Time will tell where the other corners have been cut but it looks like Fuell has come up with a nice overall package that ticks all the boxes.

As it is stated on its website, the Fuell philosophy is: “To offer a unique selection of innovative, attractive electric two-wheeled vehicles.” And as they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so we will let the public make its own opinion on the aesthetics of the Fuell Flow. But there is no denying the potential value of the Flow compared to other electric motorcycles.

The Flow incorporates onboard safety technology including blind spot detection, anti-collision, ABS with regenerative braking, plus a rear-facing camera, e-traction control, and an array of high-tech gadgets including what appears to be a large TFT-type dash that is the size of an iPad.

Check out the Fuell website at fuell.us for more details, and if you are interested in getting on board the Fuell e-mobility express in the early stages, the company is offering a $500 discount if you preorder your Flow now.