Bikes

Electric KTM Freeride E-XC Enduro Debuts for 2018

Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr

KTM just doubled-down on its electric motorcycle offering, debuting today the 2018 KTM Freeride EXC – an electric enduro model that builds out further the current Freeride E platform.

This isn’t just the old KTM Freeride E with a few extra enduro parts added to it though, instead the KTM Freeride E-XC launches the next iteration of the Austrian brand’s electric motorcycle lineup, coming with significant changes.

For starters, KTM has beefed up its electric package, with a more powerful motor and a larger capacity battery pack, not to mention more of the off-road prowess that you would expect from the “Ready to Race” brand.

As such, the 218 KTM Freeride E-XC boasts roughly 50% more energy on-board, with its lithium-ion battery pack (cells provided by Sony) rated at 3.9 kWh and expected to retain 70% of its capacity after 700 cycles.

The liquid cooled engine has also been update, and while it makes 12hp rated and is compliant with the A1 licensing scheme, KTM says that its peak power is close to 24hp (18 kW). More impressively, peak torque is rated at 31 lbs•ft (42 Nm) – putting it inline with other gas-powered 250cc machines.

Suspension is handled by WP Xplor 43 forks, with split cartridges for rebound and compression, while the rear shock is the new WP PDS Xplor unit.

KTM plans to offer the charger and battery via a leasing program, and yes the new battery pack is backwards compatible with the previous generation machine, which means current owners Freeride E owners can get an upgrade as well.

US readers will be happy to know that the 2018 KTM Freeride E-XC will come to the United States (in limited quantities), though it will not be street legal, like it will be in European markets.

Today’s announcement is an obvious shot across the bow to the other electric vehicle manufacturers, namely Alta Motors, which debuted its own electric enduro model just a few weeks ago.

While there are obvious differences in spec between the two machines, it will be interesting to see how KTM competes on price.

So far in the United States, KTM has been very aggressive on the pricing of its electric motorcycles. Hopefully that continues with the KTM Freeride EXC.

Source: KTM

Comments