There's a time and a place for electric motorcycles. At least at present. But this one, well, this one wasn't something I thought of, but now that I'm staring at the finished product, it makes a lot of sense. Let me introduce you to LiveWire's S2 Patrol.
Now, we've talked a lot about how the current crop of electric motorcycle powertrains make a lot of sense if you're using them for dirt bikes, as you don't need a lot of staying power when you're shredding the trails. You fail before the bikes generally do, and having around 80 to 100 miles of range makes it easy to get back to the truck.
LiveWire, however, saw that same issue and asked, "Where else is this a problem?" and came up with supplying law enforcement and security companies. Why didn't I think about that?
See, those outfits are sitting idle most of the day. And if you're on a gasoline-powered motorcycle, you're just wasting gas and spewing pollution. Likewise, when you do get the call for something, you want to zip through a city's streets or across a parking lot to get to your intended scene. And that's perfect for something like LiveWire's S2 platform.
So what makes the S2 Patrol different than the other S2s? Let's talk about it.
LiveWire will make two Patrol models, one based off the Alpinista and one off the Del Mar, both of which use the company's S2 platform. According to the brand, the Patrols "offer a multitude of benefits for patrol officers, security forces, and motorcade duty, in scenarios that allow the motorcycles to demonstrate the very best of EV technology with simple twist-and-go operation (no clutch, no shifting), low heat signature, minimal vibration, excellent low speed maneuverability which lend to lower levels of rider fatigue and enhanced focus and concentration. Additionally, the quiet operation and zero emissions offer benefits not only on the street but also indoors where the S2 Patrol models have been identified as ideal for conventions, summits, and stadium use."
And police departments, as well as private security companies, will have a host of accessories to chose from—as you'd expect from a company whose parent has an 800-page accessories catalog. Those accessories will include standard tip-over protection, both top case and side cases, a 120dB siren, 12 SpeedTech LED lights, AUX power supply, hand guards, and the "requisite controls" for said accessories. Basically, everything you'd need from a patrol motorcycle just wrapped in an EV wrapper.
As for price, LiveWire states the S2 Patrols will start between $15,999 and $16,249, depending on which one you choose. But the company has already secured its first customer with the St. Cloud, Florida police department. And I could very easily see these becoming more common across the country, and the world as more cities reduce their reliance on gasoline-powered machines, as well as continue reducing machines in general in city centers.
Likewise, stealth and quiet make a whole heck of a lot of sense in terms of security.
