If you want to look to the future of design around almost any industry, just look at the iF Product Design Award winners each year. These prestigious design awards have been going on for 71 years, and recognize excellence in product design across various disciplines. But what we're interested in today are the winners of the iF Design Award in the two-wheel electric vehicles (EV) market.
This year, Can-Am's Pulse and Origin received their first iF Design Award, and if you've ever seen either of these bikes in the flesh, it's not hard to understand why. Last year, I was fortunate enough to ride both machines and it wasn't just the performance on offer that left me with a grin, but how the bikes made me feel thanks to their futuristic design.
In my Origin review, I said, "Between the pulsing of the liquid-cooled battery system, the fact this will be arguably the most futuristic-looking production motorcycle, and that you feel like you’re on a platform due to its tall, narrow stature the Origin feeds the sci-fi geek inside a lot of us... I felt like I was living in the future or testing a concept bike that would never get made."
Thankfully, Can-Am took a risk and made these bikes, which, let's face it, were bound to divide opinions. But if you're on the fence and ever get the chance to hop on either a Pulse or an Origin, the way you'll turn heads will leave you feeling like a rock star.
“We are incredibly honored to receive this recognition from the iF Design Award. I want to acknowledge the work of the passionate team who designed these motorcycles, reaffirming once again BRP’s commitment to developing products that shift the paradigm,” said Denys Lapointe, Chief Design Officer at BRP. “The Can-Am Pulse and Can-Am Origin redefine electric motorcycle riding. They have distinct personalities, but have one major thing in common: they blend iconic style with forward-thinking technology, providing people with unparalleled riding experiences.”
Did the Pulse and Origin grow on you or were you enamored from the start?
