E-News From General Motors

ALTA BIDS ADIEU

Despite some improving sales figures in 2018, the pioneering e-moto brand Alta Motors has closed their factory doors of the Redshift electric motocross bike. The shutdown came after a hoped-for partnership with Harley-Davidson fell through when the Milwaukee motorcycle company decided against making the investment. Losing the potential infusion of cash was a blow too big for Alta to withstand, so they shuttered production.

It was somewhat ironic timing that Harley decided against making the deal with a proven e-moto entity at about the same time they simultaneously claimed to be resuscitating their seemingly moribund LiveWire electric street bike.

The loss of Alta leaves the first-in-brand Zero Motorcycles as the sole survivor of a handful of American e-moto startups that have all come and gone.

DETROIT JUMPS IN

From the sounds we hear in the Motor City, General Motors has announced plans to sell two e-bike models next year. Citing a reliance on a proprietary drive system that’s the “result of the revolutionary, flexible electrification technologies that enable the General Motors team to dream beyond the traditional vehicle and give consumers freedom of movement in dense urban commuting environments,” the renowned car brand said they plan to offer both a folding and a compact model that will give a host of conveniences, like rechargeable front and rear lights and connected features derived from their OnStar system.

THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS TO GET ELECTRIC BIKE ACTION