BRP or Bombardier Group-owned Can-Am initially made its name in the motorcycle market in the 1970s, winning motocross races and championships against reputable companies thanks to their powerful and purposeful bikes. Following a corporate restructuring in 1997, the business shifted its focus to manufacturing ATVs/UTVs and three-wheelers, which to date, the brand continues to be a leading manufacturer of.

In 2022, the brand revealed its intention to release “a family of electric two-wheel motorcycles” with the first of these bikes set to be released before the end of 2024. Can-Am has since continued to reveal interesting details about the first pair of electric motorcycles, a dual sport bike dubbed Origin and a street-oriented model called Pulse. Now, as part of a series of teasers before the bike is officially launched, Can-Am has dropped two new videos that show the rigorous testing these bikes have undergone and also take a look at some of the bike’s features.

Can-Am Teases Key Components

Can-Am’s 4-part series showcases the developmental stages of its electric range with the latest video focusing on the motor and other key components of the bike. To start with, both motorcycles will use the Rotax E-Power technology. As Gereon Pusch, Manager, E-motor Development at Can-Am states, the powertrain for the all-new electric motorcycle is designed to maximize the power and torque, all the while keeping the weight of the bike as low as possible. 

The new video also reveals finer details about the setup at the heart of the motorcycle. The battery sits at the center surrounded by the inverter and VCU on either side. The charger conveniently sits on the top. As for the motor, it is inserted into the swingarm as expected.

Looking closely at BRP’s patents, the battery is a load bearing structure in the chassis and is suspected to be made up of a total of 490 cells. Featuring a liquid-cooled power storage, the battery is expected to have a range of over 100 kilometers (~62 miles). We’ll see if Can-Am has a surprise in store though.

The Origin and Pulse e-motorcycles have their own distinct design, ergonomics and capabilities to satisfy different needs. Both models are also said to showcase state-of-the-art technology, and share features like a high-performance LED headlight, a single-sided swingarm, a large TFT display, and level 2 charging.

The Origin is a dual-sport motorcycle that is expected to come with a 21” front/18” rear spoked wheel setup and long travel suspension. Meanwhile the Pulse is a naked bike meant for urban commuting, built on shorter front and rear sections and 17-inch cast wheels.

Stress Test

A sneak peek into the testing process shows the Origin being put on a dyno to gauge the power outputs as well as real-world testing where the bike is ridden on a variety of surfaces both on and off-road. But what catches the eye is the testing of the Origin’s suspension setup which is put through a stress-test on a machine that simulates real-world abuse. It seems like Can-Am’s team does not want to leave any stone unturned before their motorcycles are released to the public. Talking about the project team, it seems reassuring that many of the core members are people with a passion for motorcycles. That factor can be ever-so-instrumental when a company is developing a new product from the ground up.

“Our goal is always to make sure that the testing is representative of real-life use, but we need to make sure that we test it in a more severe way than the end customer will do. We ask our test riders to be the worst possible riders. So, hit every bump, every pothole. Make sure that the bike gets beaten while we test it,” says Philip Maltais, Can-Am’s Simulation Engineer for electric vehicles.

When Can You Expect The Electric Motorcycles To Arrive?

In late 2022, Can-Am began building a new electric motorbike facility in Querétaro, Mexico where it is said the Origin and Pulse will be produced. Back then Can-Am stated they would release the models in the US mid-2024. We’ve already been invited to the US launch of the Can-Am Origin this September, where we’ll get our first chance with other journalists to throw a leg over the new machine. When test units are already in the country, we typically see them shipping to dealers during the same time period so we expect the new models will be shipping to dealers sometime in the fall. Look for more details to drop in the coming months.