KTM’s Pit Better: Batteries not the ‘near future’ of motorcycles, against hybrid engines in MotoGP | MotoGP

While the car industry seems to have already committed to an electric future, the weight and range of current battery technology means KTM only views it as viable for scooters and minibikes.KTM has first-hand experience of electric capabilities through its ‘Freeride’ off-road bike, but the limited range of current battery technology means it remains a novelty rather than a challenger to combustion power.“We don’t see that the technology is on the table at the moment to transfer mass production bikes into something like battery [powered] motorcycles,” Beirer said.“We have a clear commitment to replace smaller engines, like 65cc kids bikes or less than 100cc for urban mobility or around cities with scooters – we see all of this segment as making sense to do it with a battery.“Everything else, and for what we call a full-size motorcycle from 125cc upwards, we see still the…

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