Why do you ride motorcycles? Well, chances are there are tons of different reasons why you do. Perhaps some of you ride because it’s the practical choice. Or maybe some of you ride just for the thrill and freedom it gives you. Heck, maybe some of you ride simply because you think it’s cool and badass.
Regardless of your reasons for choosing to ride, it’s always in manufacturers’ best interest to give us consumers what we want. However, it seems that this hasn’t been the case, particularly in the electric motorcycle industry. I mean, sure, a lot of the new electric motorcycles we see on social media and on the internet are totally badass, oozing with tech, and looking like they came straight off the set of some steampunk movie. But let’s be real—does anyone even actually want them?
Perhaps even more importantly, does anyone have the disposable income to risk on one these machines, especially considering a lot of startups raise funds through massive pre-order campaigns?
Case in point just has to be New York-based startup Infinite Machine. We’ve talked about this company before, and how it wanted to change the perception of scooters from dorky, utility-focused machines to badass, futuristic vehicles that’ll turn heads anywhere you go. And in concept, this all makes sense. But here’s the kicker—selling a $10,000 USD electric scooter that leans in pretty much solely on tech and style just won’t cut it. Not now. And not in this economy where people are trying to get the most out of each and every dollar.
But Infinite Machine is adamant about pushing forward. You see, the company recently raised $9 million USD through an investment by a16z, a venture capital firm that invests in a variety of tech companies. Plus, Infinite Machine aims to begin deliveries of its P1 Launch Edition scooter by 2025, an electric scooter that will set you back a sweet $10,000. That's a heck of a lot for what this is. Take note, you can get a tried and tested commuter scooter like a Honda ADV 160 for less than half that money. Oh, and you can get an actual, real motorcycle—like a Kawasaki Z900RS, perhaps?
Listen, I get it. The Infinite Machine e-scooter is a highly specialized, extremely niche machine that will appeal to people who know exactly what it is they want. But when it comes to running a business, having a very narrow client base isn't exactly the best thing, especially when you're pretty much starting from scratch.
Nevertheless, Infinite Machine is confident that, amidst the closure of electric mobility startups left and right, it has what it takes to brave the storm. In fact, the company’s founders believe that now is a way better time to convince people to make the shift to electric two-wheelers than before.
And to a certain extent, it’s true. Mobility has evolved so much in recent years, and EV two-wheelers are gradually becoming part of the mainstream transport network. But if the goings on in the industry are anything to go by, affordable and accessible are way more important than techie and flashy.
But what do you think? Could Infinite Machine just be the EV startup that breaks the mold? Or will it fall into obscurity like so many before it?
Sources: TechCrunch, Infinite Machine
