Honda Unveils EV Outlier Concept Electric Motorcycle in Milan
Japanese manufacturer Honda has shown its EV Outlier Concept electric motorcycle, with motors in both wheels, at the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan. The design looks beyond 2030 and is unlikely to reach series production in this form.
Japanese motorcycle maker Honda has presented an electric motorcycle concept called the EV Outlier Concept at the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan. The model reflects the company's vision of electric motorcycles beyond 2030 and shows Honda paying increasing attention to the electric two-wheeler segment.
The concept was first displayed last year at a mobility show in Japan. With it, the manufacturer is trying to build an electric vehicle that is more than an ordinary motorcycle with a battery in place of a combustion engine.
Motors in the wheel hubs
Instead of a central electric motor driving the rear wheel, the EV Outlier has motors built into the hubs of both wheels. This gives the bike all-wheel drive and let engineers fully rethink its geometry. The large battery pack sits in a massive central body, while the rider's seat is placed very low, directly behind it.
Design idea
Honda describes the design philosophy with three words: gliding, ecstasy and low profile. The first two refer to quiet running, instant acceleration and the large torque delivered by independently controlled motors. The low seating position, together with a special back support, creates a new riding feel and lets the rider sense turns with the hips.
Cameras replace traditional mirrors. At the front is a wide digital panel that shows lean angle, riding modes and the distribution of power between the motors in real time.
What it means
The source notes that the EV Outlier is unlikely to enter series production in this exact form, but it shows Honda's intentions. Without the constraints of an engine, transmission and fuel tank, designers gain more freedom, and future electric motorcycles could be bolder than today's models.
