A Steve McQueen inspired Smart Desert from Californian company Fly Free is the latest in a long list of electric motorcycles about to hit the showrooms.
Next year will be a pivotal year for electric bikes when Harley-Davidson make their electric LiveWire available for sale in North America and Europe with the rest of the world to follow.
LiveWire unveiled in Milwaukee this monthThe electric sports bike from a major motorcycle manufacturer is considered the litmus test for mainstream acceptance of electric motorcycles.
Other electric bike manufacturers such as Zero, Alta and Lightning are relatively new to the motorcycle industry.
Fly Free Smart Desert
One of the newest is Fly Free who have released prototype images and a video of their Smart Desert.
The retro scrambler-esque bike only has range of up to 100 miles (160km) and a top speed of 50mph (80km/h), but it shows the different designs that are available with electric motorcycles.
It seems inspired by McQueen’s Triumph “Desert Sled” that he used to race in the Californian desert.
McQueen’s Desert SledSmart Desert tech specs
There really is little point in detailing the tech specs as the company has not yet put its bike into production and specs may change if and when they do.
Like most other electrics, it will have smartphone integration to monitor battery charge and lead you to the next charging station.
At 160km range that’s vital!
It has a removable battery, so they may be looking at a battery swap solution as suggested by Taiwanese scooter company Kymco.
Kymco proposes battery swap vending machinesPricing has not been announced and pre-orders being later this year.