The future may be electric, but currently the technology has one major drawback: charging times.
Now, however, Spanish startup BBM Motorcycles claims to have solved this problem, launching its inaugural model with the assertion that it can fill its 12.96 kWh battery (at least to 80%) in just 15 minutes.
Named Hiro, the bike generates a claimed 93.9bhp and 110lb.ft of torque, and offers a range of around 220km between charges, being capable of ultra-fast charging thanks to the use of DC fast charging, making it one of the few motorcycles on the market with this compatibility.
At the fastest charging stations, riders are told they will be able to add 100km of range in just nine minutes. In a home setup, the same 80% charge takes 78 minutes from an AC Type 2 charger (the type of EV charger most homes have), or 2h40 from a 220V plug.
The other side of the coin
On the other hand, while DC fast charging is becoming more widely available, there are still limited service stations that offer it, and if you do manage to find one, expect to pay a good deal for the privilege.
Nevertheless, BBM founders, French brothers Guillaume and Benoit Barras, claim their design marks a turning point where electric motorcycles can now move beyond urban commuting limitations to become real-world usable machines. And thanks to a modular design, the platform can spawn multiple different design types with minimal re-engineering.
The Barras brothers previously ran a custom shop called Angry Lane, founded in 2012. The pair pivoted to electric motorcycles after noticing a gap in the market.
Benoit stated: "People started to ask us for an electric motorcycle. At that time, when we researched it, they were covered in plastic, they were very heavy, with poor range and long charging times of around five hours. So we decided to make our own."
Collaboration with Belgian specialists
To help with development, BBM teamed up with Belgian EV specialists Saroléa, who have previously built race hardware for the Isle of Man TT Zero event.
Guillaume added: "For electric bikes to go beyond simply being suitable for commuting, they need to offer more of an experience, and fast charging is crucial for that.
Two or three years ago, big brands could have done it already, but fast-charging stations were not common enough for it to be worthwhile. Today Europe has more than 160,000 DC points and growing, so the feature is finally useful every day."
High voltage architecture
BBM uses a very high voltage architecture for the battery system. "Higher voltage means you can push the same power with lower current, [which means] less heat [which means] cells can accept power much faster," Guillaume explained.
"Most current electric motorcycles run around 100-150V; we use 360V nominal," he continued. "We use high-performance 21700 cylindrical cells specifically rated for very high charge rates. In the end, it’s really a balance between the battery pack size, bike weight, range, cells and charging time. We simply refused to compromise the latter."
The firm also uses a battery monitoring system that can not only monitor each cell in real time, but adjust (or momentarily reduce) incoming current to keep temperatures in the safe zone.
Production and commercialization plans
The company plans to have five prototypes in final homologation form by June of next year, followed by ABS calibration for three months. Production will then properly ramp up in early 2027, with the first bikes rolling off the line within three months of that date.
UK sales are planned, with the company "already in contact with a couple of potential dealers", and the expected price is £17,690 including VAT.
Our opinion
While this could be the breakthrough some riders need to make the leap to electric motorcycles, it is entirely dependent on a strong availability of DC fast charging stations. A nine-minute charge time for a claimed 100km range will still mean a lot of trips to plugs to keep things topped up. Without adequate stations available, recharging will still be a slow process for riders.
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