Erik Buell's long-anticipated electric motorcycle, the Fuell Fllow, hit the market Thursday.
The initial price is set at $10,495.
Buell is the chief technical officer of Fuell Inc., an enterprise he co-founded and disclosed to the public in 2019. Other key team members include co-founder and CEO Francois-Xavier Terny, Dan Hurda, engineering and manufacturing expert, Belarusian-trained designer Artem Smirnov and engineering and sourcing lead Ed Laben. Each senior engineer has a history with Buell and his enterprises.
"Fllow is truly a testament to Fuell’s commitment to the exciting and sustainable future of e-mobility," said Buell in a promotional video for the motorcycle.
Rumblings of Buell's intention to release a fully electric motorcycle have circulated for years. The former Harley-Davidson Inc. engineer and recognized inventor also created and released an electric bicycle, the Flluid.
Fuell's corporate offices are in New York City, and the advanced engineering and design is based in the Milwaukee area. The bikes were initially introduced in the city in 2019.
The 400-pound, non-polluting motorcycle is silent and can run for up to 150 miles in city environments. Quick charges are meant to mimic the time it takes to fill up at a gas station. The Fuell can plug into a wall outlet or a home charger. The motor is within the rear wheel, and the motorcycle is designed to integrate newer, more efficient elements as the technology advances.
With over 130,000 bikes manufactured with his name, Buell has been an innovator in the motorcycle industry. Buell started out as an engineer with Harley-Davidson (NYSE: HOG) before establishing Buell Motorcycle Co. in East Troy. Harley-Davidson bought a controlling interest in 1998 but closed manufacturing in 2009. Buell went on to found Erik Buell Racing LLC in November 2009, working out of his former East Troy location.
Fuell, Buell's newest enterprise, is meant to play a part in redesigning the future of urban transportation.
“When I look to the future, there is one compelling solution for urban/suburban transportation. Well, two actually, two wheels ... two wheels in a single track with green power," said Buell in a press release. "Whether it’s a human-pedaled bicycle, a pedal-assisted electric bicycle, or an electric motor, two wheels are the clear solutions for urban mobility.”
As Buell's brand continues to expand, the initial targets include wealthier, smart cities in the U.S., Europe and Asia. According to Buell, public transit is costly and fails to deliver passengers to their end destination. With time, Buell hopes to sell the Fllow at lower prices to enable the global uptake of the product.
