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Tag: electric motorcycles

  • Revolt Motors Wins Order for 1,100 Electric Motorcycles from Bihar Police

    Revolt Motors Wins Order for 1,100 Electric Motorcycles from Bihar Police

    Revolt Motors won a contract to supply 1,100 electric motorcycles to the police department of Bihar for patrol operations across the eastern Indian state.

    The agreement specifies delivery to the state capital of Patna by January 2027, though Revolt Motors plans to hand over the entire batch by the end of this month.

    Contract Terms and Bike Specifications

    Bihar Police selected the BlazeX, a commuter model priced at 134,990 rupees (€1,268) ex-showroom, sitting near the top of the manufacturer’s six-bike catalogue. The broader retail lineup spans from 99,999 rupees (€940) to 144,950 rupees (€1,362), before statutory registration charges and vehicle insurance.

    The BlazeX runs on an IP67-rated mid-mounted motor supplied by domestic auto component maker Sona Comstar, generating 4.1 kW of power and 37.4 Nm of torque. That powertrain pulls energy from an IP67-rated 3.24 kWh battery pack containing CATL NMC cells. The motorcycle clocks zero to 40 km/h in 5.1 seconds and reaches a top speed of 150 km/h.

    A full charge from zero takes 4 hours and 45 minutes from a standard wall outlet. Where dedicated charging infrastructure is absent on patrol beats, officers can unclip the battery pack and recharge it indoors, drawing on a certified Indian Driving Cycle range of 150 kilometres per cycle.

    Fleet Demand Tests Commercial Viability

    Institutional contracts give electric two-wheeler makers a predictable volume buffer against erratic retail showroom footfall. While consumer buyers often delay electric motorbike purchases over charging friction and upfront price differentials, public agency contracts lock in recurring revenue and bulk parts supply.

    The operational risk sits squarely on duty cycle endurance. Police patrol work strains drivetrains through continuous idling, stop-start urban runs, and rough road surfaces far beyond typical civilian commuter patterns, testing both the Sona Comstar mid-drive motor and CATL cell chemistry under sustained heat.

    Institutional Strategy for RattanIndia Unit

    Revolt Motors entered commercial sales in August 2019 and has put more than 60,000 electric motorcycles on Indian roads to date. Parent company RattanIndia Enterprises now relies on public fleet deployments to establish operational reliability records that private retail marketing cannot replicate.

    “Securing an order for 1,100 electric bikes from Bihar Police is a significant step for Revolt. Institutional mobility presents a different set of requirements from individual ownership, and engagements of this scale give us an opportunity to take our products into real-world operating environments. We see institutional adoption as an important avenue for expanding the role of electric bikes in India.”

    Execution turns on whether Revolt Motors clears the 1,100-unit distribution to Patna depot facilities before the end of this month, well ahead of the official January 2027 contract cutoff.

  • LiveWire Warns of Going-Concern Risk as Cash Falls to $39.9 Million

    LiveWire Warns of Going-Concern Risk as Cash Falls to $39.9 Million

    LiveWire has issued a going-concern warning alongside its third-quarter 2026 results, stating there are substantial doubts about whether it can continue operating over the next twelve months without intervention. The Harley-Davidson spin-off saw liquid assets drop to $39.9 million as of 30 September, down from $82.8 million at the end of 2025.

    Management cited recurring operating losses, negative cash flows, limited liquidity, and ongoing funding needs for the warning. While insolvency has not been declared, the company has pulled its previous annual forecast of a $70 million to $80 million operating loss and is weighing options including debt and equity financing, partnerships, restructuring, recapitalisation, or a sale.

    The board of directors established a restructuring committee on 22 October to negotiate potential transactions and appointed Roy Gallagher as Chief Restructuring Officer. Beyond current liquidity strains, LiveWire faces a debt maturity due in December 2027.

    Motorcycle sales grow from a low base

    Operationally, LiveWire did see growth in the third quarter. Group revenue increased by 38 per cent to $7.9 million, while the net loss narrowed slightly from $19.4 million to $18.6 million. Adjusted EBITDA stood at minus $14.7 million.

    In terms of electric motorcycles, LiveWire sold 241 units, up from 184 in the same quarter last year, a 31 per cent increase. Revenue in the motorcycle segment rose from $1.0 million to $2.7 million, though the operating loss remained significantly higher at $17.0 million. The majority of the 7,233 total units sold were not motorcycles but part of the STACYC business, which includes electric balance bikes and e-bikes for children, with 6,992 units sold in the quarter.

    However, liquidity is the decisive factor in the current situation. As of 30 September, LiveWire had $39.9 million in cash and cash equivalents, down from $82.8 million at the end of 2025. In the first nine months of 2026, $38.3 million was used in operating activities, with free cash flow at minus $40.5 million. While both figures represent a 16 per cent improvement year-on-year, the outflow of funds remains high.

    As a result, LiveWire has withdrawn its previous annual forecast. The company had most recently expected an operating loss of $70 to $80 million for 2026.

    LiveWire targets new buyers with the S4 Honcho

    The financial challenges come as LiveWire is launching its new S4 Honcho range, which the company is using to significantly expand its offering into the lower price segment. In Europe, the S4 Honcho Trail starts at €5,299, while the road version, the S4 Honcho Street, is priced at €5,699. Previous LiveWire models, such as the S2 Mulholland, have typically been priced around the €20,000 mark.

    Production of the two lightweight electric motorcycles has already begun at Kymco. According to LiveWire, the first S4 Honcho Trail units were delivered in the US in August, with the Street version following in October at dealerships. For Europe, the first Trail deliveries were announced for October, with the Street version expected in November.

    With these more affordable models, LiveWire is targeting a significantly broader customer base than before. In parallel, the company is working on additional S2 derivatives and an electric maxi-scooter developed jointly with Kymco.

    Whether this expansion of the model range can have a rapid enough financial impact remains uncertain. The going-concern warning suggests that LiveWire first needs additional financing or another strategic solution to continue executing its business plan as intended.

    LiveWire was spun off from Harley-Davidson in 2022 and listed separately on the stock exchange. Harley-Davidson remains the majority shareholder of the electric motorcycle manufacturer.