Everyone wants a shiny new EV, but electric motorcycles get far less attention. Verge Motorcycles’ upgraded TS Pro EV bike could change all that. The fast-charging speeds of its new solid-state batteries are noteworthy, even if the promised 600km range doesn’t quite pan out as advertised.
The basic stats for the EV motorcycle are only slightly terrifying. All versions of the two-wheeled death machine are capped at a top speed of 200km/h, but most will reach half that speed in just 3.5 seconds. We reckon Verge could do it faster, but riding a bike kinda requires that drivers can stay in the seat long enough to hit the brakes.
Test the TS Pro
There’s a massive 1,000Nm of torque in both the TS Pro and California versions of Verge’s bikes. The TS Ultra variant ups this to 1,200Nm, with a blistering 2.5-second time to 100km/h being the result. Presumably, if you can afford nearly nine hundred grand for one of these, your medical aid is also good enough to handle the consequences.
But it’s the new battery tech that goes along with the Finnish company’s hubless electric motor design, a partnership with a company called Donut Labs, that may impress most. The company says it is the first EV bike manufacturer to switch to an all-solid-state system, which ramps up range for the bike series to 600km (you’ll have to opt for the upgraded battery) on a charge. Charging speeds are juiced too, with a ten-minute session sticking a solid 300km back on the clock.
Verge Motorcycles’ new tech is currently available for pre-order, though there’s no local outlet for the EVs just yet. Pricing starts at R575,00 for the ‘stock’ TS Pro, while the California and Ultra Editions will run prospective riders R595,000 and R862,000 respectively. The extra money you’ll drop for the TS Ultra nets Verge’s Starmatter Vision & Dash upgrade in addition to the standard Starmatter platform that each of the bikes features as standard.
Mostly, this involves “six cameras and advanced front and rear radars with high resolution capabilities,” for additional safety and onboard risk analysis. This is just what you want from an EV bike that’ll hit the hundred market in less time than it takes you to read this sentence.
