Electric Harley-Davidson "Livewire" to Debut Tomorrow

Harley-Davidson has just posted a video to its YouTube, which teases a new model coming tomorrow, June 19th, 2014. The video itself is devoid of any information, with a sole blurred motorcycle jetting past a Route 66 sign. The only hint we have on what to expect is the unmistakable sound of an electric drivetrain at full-tilt.

We first broke the news about Harley’s electric motorcycle two years ago, and we have already caught the electric Harley-Davidson on the Avengers: Age of Ultron film set, looking pretty much ready for production, including DOT reflectors, so this revelation isn’t completely out of left field.

A quick stroll through Harley-Davidson’s trademark filings shows the “Livewire” name being registered with the USPTO back in November 2012. The name can also be spotted on the side of the motorcycle that was seen on the Avengers set.

After our story broke last week, our spies reported that a launch of that machine was said to be coming later this week. With this announcement, all the pieces of the puzzle now seem to fit.

Whether Harley-Davidson will debut the new machine as a concept or a production machine remains to be seen (though we’re expecting the latter), but for the Bar & Shield brand to venture out of the land of “potato-potato” with an electric vehicle is a huge shift for the iconic American company.

After releasing the Street 750 for the US market, and the Street 500 for India and other emerging markets, Harley-Davidson showed the first signs that it was willing to change its Baby Boomer mentality. Releasing an electric cruiser though, puts the whole operation on its head.

We still remember clearly the debut of the Porsche-designed V-Rod, and the exclamation/question “it still sounds like a Harley, right?” Held hostage by its sacred cows, there seemed to be little hope for the Bar & Shield brand, until recently.

We have seen generally favorable comments to the new machine on our pages, which kept its cruiser lines while integrating a massive battery pack, controller, and motor casing. It will be interesting to see what specs Harley-Davidson releases on its electric, especially when it comes to price and range.

We suspect Harley’s pitch will focus on the massive torque of the machine, and how this is the ultimate Harley-Davidson for stop light racing. As always, time will tell…but expect this to be the biggest news to come out of Milwaukee in the past 50 years.