Photo: indianautosblog.com
Remember the electric tuk-tuk the Japanese maker Terra Motors developed for the South-East Asian markets? Well, it looks like the fellows are taking a bold step in the sport e-bikes, too, but there's always a "but", isn't it?
According to autoblog whose editors are really fond of Zero's electric motorcycles, Kiwami, the latest bike Terra Motors showed at the Auto Expo 2014 in India is a very, very iffy affair. Putting it bluntly, the bike is a Zero S, with a new bodywork, even though it is advertised as an original Terra Motors creation.
Autblog got in touch with Zero VP of global marketing Scot Harden and he was not exactly amused to recognize parts of Zero bikes under the Kiwami fairing. The Zero Motorcycles official mentions that the company did actually send Terra some powertrains, but that they were allegedly to be used for prototype development only. And that's about all there was between Zero and Terra Motors.
However, the present situation expands the liaison between the American and the Japanese companies, but the new relationship is expressed by a cease-and-desist letter and plans for seeking legal remedies.
And the weird fun does not stop here, as Terra Motors says the Kiwami has a 10kW (13.4 hp) power rating, yet it provides an acceleration comparable to that of a liter-class gas-powered superbike.
Read more about this crazy affair on autoblog
Autblog got in touch with Zero VP of global marketing Scot Harden and he was not exactly amused to recognize parts of Zero bikes under the Kiwami fairing. The Zero Motorcycles official mentions that the company did actually send Terra some powertrains, but that they were allegedly to be used for prototype development only. And that's about all there was between Zero and Terra Motors.
However, the present situation expands the liaison between the American and the Japanese companies, but the new relationship is expressed by a cease-and-desist letter and plans for seeking legal remedies.
And the weird fun does not stop here, as Terra Motors says the Kiwami has a 10kW (13.4 hp) power rating, yet it provides an acceleration comparable to that of a liter-class gas-powered superbike.
Read more about this crazy affair on autoblog
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