Read the complete report in April PowerTALK™ News
EDITOR’S NOTE. Power Systems Research tracks the global trend of electrification of industrial equipment. This is one of a series of reports on these trends.
Polaris INDUSTRIES, Minneapolis, is planning to debut a new electric Ranger utility side-by-side in December 2021. The Ranger will be the first electric vehicle Polaris has developed through their partnership with Zero Motorcycles.
The electric Ranger is the first product in Polaris’s long-term plan to accelerate its leadership in powersports electrification. Production will take place in Polaris’s Huntsville, AL facility.
Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP), which owns popular brands such as Can-Am, Rotax, Sea-Doo and Ski-Doo, plans to offer electric models in each of its product lines by the end of 2026. The company is investing $300 million in product development and production facilities.
“We have always said electrification was not a question of ‘if’ but a question of ‘when,’” says José Boisjoli, President and CEO of BRP. “We are leveraging our engineering know-how and innovation capabilities to define the best strategy for developing electric-powered products”.
After developing and evaluating several concepts, BRP has decided to develop its Rotax modular electric powerpack technology, which will be leveraged across all product lines. As part of its strategic plan, BRP is expanding its Rotax electric power unit development infrastructure in Gunskirchen, Austria
Yamaha Motor, Honda Motor, KTM AG and Piaggio have signed a Letter of Intent to set up a Swappable Batteries Consortium for Motorcycles and light Electric Vehicles. Members of the Consortium believe that the availability of a standardized swappable battery system would promote the widespread use of light electric vehicles and contribute to more sustainable life cycle management of batteries used in the transport sector.
By extending the range, shortening the charging time, and lowering vehicle and infrastructure costs, the manufacturers will try to answer customers main concerns regarding the future of electromobility. The aim of the Consortium will be to define the standardized technical specifications of the swappable battery system for vehicles belonging to the L-category, mopeds, motorcycles, tricycles, and quadricycles. By working closely with interested stakeholders and national, European, and international standardization bodies, the founding members of the Consortium will be involved in the creation of international technical standards.
National Marine Manufacturers Associations (NMMA). The most recent statistics from the NMMA report a 13-year high for boat and watercraft sales in 2020. Data indicated that sales of new powerboats in the U.S. increased last year by an estimated 12% compared to 2019, with more than 310,000 new powerboats sold.
“2020 was an extraordinary year for new powerboat sales as more Americans took to the water to escape pandemic stress and enjoy the outdoors safely,” said Frank Hugelmeyer, NMMA president. “For the first time in more than a decade, we saw an increase in first-time boat buyers, who helped spur growth of versatile, smaller boats — less than 26 feet — that are often towed to local waterways and provide a variety of boating experiences, from fishing to watersports.”
In PWC sales alone, 2020 sales are estimated to be up 8% to 82,000 units. In terms of who’s buying PWC, customers range across everything from first-time buyers to long term veterans and from all different ages. Several dealers have seen a much larger influx of first-time buyers over the last year and into 2021. They have also seen demand across all segments of the PWC industry, from recreational through performance.
Harley-Davidson has announced its 2021-2025 strategic plan. The key Highlights:
- Target increased profitability and low double-digit EPS growth through 2025
- Invest in core segments of Touring, large Cruiser and Trike
- Expand into Adventure Touring and within the Cruiser segment
- Launch Harley-Davidson Certified™, a pre-owned motorcycle program
- Creation of a dedicated division focused exclusively on electric motorcycles
- Boost Harley-Davidson as a global lifestyle brand through reinvigoration of parts, accessories and riding gear and global expansion of financial services
- Extend employee ownership to all employees by offering an equity grant to approximately 4,500 employees. PSR
Michael Aistrup is Senior Analyst at Power Systems Research
