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NEWS
BRIEFS
BMW appears set to build on the success of its September 2021 Pure & Crafted event in Berlin by adding its BMW Motorrad Days formula to a hybrid three-day combo BMW fest in Berlin in 2022 . July 1st will be a one-day Pure & Crafted event , followed by two days of ' Motorrad Tage ' on July 2nd & 3rd , 2022 .
Organisers of the UK Motorcycle Trade Expo ( British Dealer News ) have confirmed the decision to postpone the show that was due to be held near Coventry in the English Midlands in October 2021 . Expo director Andy Mayo said : " The risk involved still outweighs the investment required to stage Expo in the successful format exhibitors and visitors have come to expect . It ' s the second year in a row we have had to postpone , but with so much interest being shown by exhibitors , Expo 2022 is set to be a bumper show ."
Young people all over Germany can now get their class AM moped driving licence at the age of 15 following a national driving licence regulation by the Federal Government in Germany . Many states had already adopted the protocol ( only Berlin , Hamburg and Bremen had been hold-outs ). The better theoretical and practical training of young riders in this age group has proven to benefit road safety according to Dekra . For eastern German states , the nationwide regulation now means a return to the legal situation that existed before reunification .
Swappable Batteries Motorcycle Consortium in Europe
By Ben Purvis
Having signed a letter of intent to work together earlier in the year , Honda , Yamaha , Piaggio and KTM have now officially signed up to create the Swappable Batteries Motorcycle Consortium ( SBMC ) in Europe , with the aim of standardising the battery packs used by future electric motorcycles and scooters . The SBMC in Europe comes on the heels of a similar consortium between the four Japanese manufacturers , which has now established a 48V standard for electric bike batteries in Japan and Asia . Although future electric bikes don ' t have to use the standardised battery , those that do will be able to swap their battery packs with others - creating a viable market for filling stations or other shops to stock and recharge the packs . Once such infrastructure is in place , it eliminates the prospect of long recharge times and the range anxiety that comes with electric bikes , as refilling them becomes a simple , fast and clean job of switching the spent battery packs for readily available fresh ones . It ' s arguably easier and quicker than filling a fuel tank . Swappable batteries and a solid infrastructure ease the pressure on manufacturers to create longer-range electric bikes , allowing them to make smaller , lighter and cheaper machines with shorter ranges in the knowledge that customers won ' t be left stranded . The idea also opens the door to riders effectively leasing their batteries rather than buying them , potentially reducing the up-front cost of electric motorcycles . Both KTM and Piaggio already have electric motorcycle projects well underway . The Italian company sells the Vespa Elettrica and recently launched the Piaggio 1 electric scooter , while KTM is on the verge of launching the Duke-based E-Pilen under its Husqvarna subsidiary brand , as well as a matching scooter , using a platform developed with its partners Bajaj in India . Notably , both companies , like Honda and Yamaha , have already settled on the idea of using 48V battery packs - and multiple packs when more performance and range is needed - with swappable technology , so standardising the batteries makes a lot of sense . The SBMC is specifically setting out to develop , make and promote a standardised battery specification in Europe , meeting regulations and standards here , and then to expand to a global level . Whether the specifications will be shared with the Japanese standard remains to be seen , but it would be a logical step , as it would effectively bring Suzuki and Kawasaki into line as well . The SBMC ' s founding members are also actively encouraging other interested stakeholders , whether they ' re motorcycle manufacturers or battery companies , to join the cooperation , so the group may yet grow .