Production of the Harley-Davidson electric LiveWire motorcycle has started again after being stalled a few days this week over a problem with one home charger.
The company says it was only a “single occurrence”. There was no problem with the motorcycle, only the charger.
“We take pride in our rigorous quality assurance measures and our drive to deliver the world’s best motorcycles,” their press statement says.
They had asked owners only to charge their bikes with the DC fast charger supplied at some HD dealerships. However, they say it is now safe to use any method to charge them.
LiveWires on DC fast chargersEven though it doesn’t arrive in Australia until late next year, Harley-Davidson Australia had issued this statement:
As we lead in the electrification of motorcycles, we have delivered our first LiveWire motorcycles to authorized LiveWire dealers. We recently discovered a non-standard condition during a final quality check; stopped production and deliveries; and began additional testing and analysis, which is progressing well. We are in close contact with our LiveWire dealers and customers and have assured them they can continue to ride LiveWire motorcycles. As usual, we’re keeping high quality as our top priority.
We also asked how many Aussie orders they had and how many dealers were installing the DC fast charger:
We are not in a position to share any specific details and we are currently working closely with our dealer network as we get ready to welcome what will be a very exciting product for Australian and New Zealand customers.
Phone and other electrical devices can have issues with chargers overheating and causing a fire.
In March, the entire fleet of 18 Energica electric motorcycles for the MotoE series were destroyed in a blaze that was blamed on a short circuit in one of the charging units.
Energica garage explodes in flameElectric fires
Electric vehicle and charger fires can be caused by short-circuits, power surges, impact, excessive discharge or overheating.
They also cause special concerns for fire fighters.
Lithium batteries are obviously made with lithium which is highly flammable and stored in mineral oil.
Tesla goes up in flamesWhile it is not toxic, it can cause nausea, diarrhoea, dizziness, muscle weakness, fatigue and a dazed feeling.
Electric vehicle and battery fires can also release sulphuric acid, carbon monoxide, copper and cobalt.
Fire fighters can’t douse the flames with water as the high voltage can cause an electric shock or electrocution.
Instead, they have to disconnect the power supply (usually an orange plug) and contain the fire to let it burn itself out.
LiveWire short circuit
Riding the LiveWire in OrgeonThis temporary hiccup with Harley’s electric motorcycle program follows a month delay in deliveries to US dealerships where it has created a lot of interest, but not a lot of sales.
Buyers are apparently baulking at the $US29,990 price (about $A44,000).
Some dealers are even rejecting the expensive DC fast-charger installation which is a requirement of being able to sell the bike.
PR exercise
So Harley has two major PR exercises going at the moment to rescue the LiveWire.
Charley Boorman and Ewan McGregor are currently shooting Long Way Up from the bottom to the top of the Americas, riding LiveWire motorcycles.
Ewan and Charley pack their LiveWire bikes for the tripAnd now HD has brought in Hollywood action star Jason Momoa who plays Aquaman and Khal Drogo to test ride the bike.
“Harley wanted me to test one of the new LiveWires, I was kind of like ehhh. I like the idea of it but I wanted to hear it,” says Jason who is more at home on pushrod fuel burners.
While filming on the Gold Coast in 2017, he took delivery of a Softail.
Now he says he is stoked by the electric bike.
“I have never been on anything this fast, it kind of blew my mind,” he says.
“I am in love with it, it’s amazing and I look forward to the future of many more of these bikes.
“It’s so fast, faster than I need, it’s amazing. It’s good for the planet, beautiful, we’re moving with the times.
“Best part is, it’s the future. You can have this and your old one. It’s amazing.”
Harley is going to need a lot of star power to help the LiveWire over this current short circuit!