Electric FTR Inbound

Indian Files EFTR Trademark For An Electric Motorcycle
Dennis Chung
June 10, 2020

The Harley-Davidson LiveWire may soon have a direct competitor as Indian Motorcycle has filed a trademark application for “EFTR” for use on a future electric motorcycle.

The application, filed with both the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the European Union Intellectual Property Office and IP Australia, specifies the EFTR name is intended for “Electric motorcycles and structural parts therefor”, leaving little doubt that Indian is working on an electric version of the FTR 1200.


An EFTR would be the first electric motorcycle from Indian, but also the first from Polaris Industries since the 2016 Victory Empulse TT. The Empulse was shelved alongside the Victory brand in 2017, leaving the future of Polaris’ electric two-wheelers (and the technology it acquired from Brammo) in doubt. The new trademark suggests Polaris is preparing for an electric Indian, but it’s not clear whether it will share any technology with the Empulse TT.


Four years is a long time in the electric vehicle space, and the specs for the Empulse (which claimed 54 hp, 61 lb-ft. and a range of 140 miles) do not stand up against the competition today. The LiveWire claims an output of 105 hp and 86 lb-ft. with a range of 146 miles of city riding while the Zero SR/F claims 110 hp, 140 lb-ft. and 161 miles. Polaris must surely have made progress in the last four years, but the EFTR will need to claim comparable numbers to be competitive.

Unlike most electric motorcycles, the Empulse TT used a six-speed manual transmission. It’ll be interesting to see if the Indian EFTR will have a manual transmission as well.

We know from patent filings that the FTR was designed to be modular, and the new EFTR trademark suggests it will share some elements with the flat track-inspired roadster, though it will likely be more complicated than plopping an electric motor in the FTR 1200’s frame.

As with most trademark applications, there’s no indication on when we might expect to see the Indian EFTR. We’ll have more information here on Motorcycle.com as it becomes available.

 

Remember the background of the new Prez.

 

That was my reaction. We mustn't lose focus. Dabble in electrification if you must, but don't lose focus on creating great motorcycles. The new Prez worries me.

 

Indian EFTR trademark points to new electric motorcycle
We expect it will go head-to-head with the Harley-Davidson LiveWire

Jeremy Korzeniewski


Indian Motorcycle's recent trademark for EFTR suggests that the company is working on an electric version of its well-received Flat Track Racer model line. Such a machine would likely go up against the Harley-Davidson LiveWire, pitting the two historic American motorcycle manufacturers against each other in a fresh new segment. According to Motorcycle.com, the trademark was filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the European Union Intellectual Property Office and IP Australia, indicating that the EFTR would be a global offering.

This would be the first electric motorcycle from Indian, but parent company Polaris dabbled in the market with the Victory Empulse TT, itself developed from the Brammo Empulse R after Polaris bought the motorcycle assets of that company in 2015. The Empulse was unique in the electric motorcycle segment in using a six-speed manual gearbox instead of a single-speed direct-drive to power the rear wheel. We look forward to more information on the up-and-coming EFTR, especially to see if Indian keeps the enthusiast-friendly clutch and shift lever.



We're certain the Indian EFTR's battery will feature greater capacity than the old Empulse's 10.4 kilowatt hours, along with an electric motor with more than that initial bike's 54 horsepower and 61 pound-feet of torque. For reference, Harley-Davidson's LiveWire boasts a battery with 15.5 kWh to power an electric motor with 105 horses and 86 lb-ft. The LiveWire's combined city and highway range is pegged at 95 miles. The Zero SR/F, America's other high-powered naked electric bike, gets 123 miles from its 14.4-kWh battery pack and electric motor with 110 horsepower and 140 lb-ft.

 

I can't find any evidence to support this. Can you show me where you read/saw it?

 

No worries @muz! I said I heard the rumor and I believe @Bobby Jesus commented on it. But it really was just a rumor I was passing along. I heard it amongst the dealership "rabble". I continue to have no confirmation.