With a sleek and minimalist design to start with.
Good things come in “smol” packages and this also applies to electric motorcycles.
J2R Dynamics, a French electric motorcycle startup, is about to unveil its first product, the Smol. As the call suggests, it’s a small-form thing that packs a big battery into its minimalist frame. While it’s not designed for big trips like electric motorcycles with a range of 450 miles, the Smol is ideal for getting around town.
This is the first time we’ve seen a simple electric motorcycle, with other brands like Zero offering their attractive premium designs. Unlike other city dwellers we’ve seen from big brands like BMW or Harley-Davidson, J2R Dynamics has brought out its Smol offers a lightweight motorcycle that still has a decent range.
The Smol will have a signature headlight with the J2R Dynamics logo.
The motorcycle is still being designed, but so far, J2R Dynamics expects the Smol to be powered by an 8 kW engine that will result in a top speed of 110 km/h, or about 68 mph. The company expects the Smol to be available in both Road and Scrambler trims, where it looks like the main difference will be the knobby tires. The Smol is yet to reveal any suspension details, however, it looks like there’s at least one option at the rear.
The Smol will be powered by a replaceable battery that will provide 150 km, or about 93 miles, with two batteries. J2R Dynamics explains that having a battery in the Smol reduces its overall weight, while providing enough battery life to do the most things. When you want extra range, you can temporarily transfer to a spare battery and start charging the depleted one.
The traditional lighthouse of the Smol will stand out.
J2R Dynamics plans to offer the Smol to the user at the Albi Eco Race in France later this month. After that, the startup will launch a crowdfunding campaign for the electric motorcycle where 50 “Pioneer Editon” models will be manufactured. This first batch of Smol electric motorcycles will be numbered and limited edition, according to J2R Dynamics.
On the J2R Dynamics website, the Smol is presented with a starting price of €9,450, or about $10,000. This seems like a hefty price tag for an electric motorcycle with less than a hundred miles of range, but it makes sense when you think about it. The company is looking to source as many Smol elements from Europe. While this maximum will likely lead to higher production costs, the company says it means increased repairability and replaceable parts for its electric motorcycle.