Kawasaki reveals specs for electric Ninja and Z motorcycles, but they’re embarrassing
Kawasaki has officially announced several key specs for its upcoming electric motorcycles, as well as expected release dates. The only problem for these two highly anticipated models is that the new Kawasaki Ninja e-1 and Z e-1 aren’t going to knock anyone’s riding socks off.
We’ve already had a few hints regarding the entry-level performance of the two bikes thanks to classification documents that we reported on last month.
But now we’ve got the official numbers straight from Team Green, and they aren’t pretty.
The Kawasaki Ninja e-1 (faired sport bike) and the Z e-1 (naked bike) will both share the same 5 kW electric motor. That chain-driving motor is rated for 9 kW of peak power, but only in bursts.
It’s meant to crank out a top speed of up to 99 km/h (61 mph), though it’s not yet clear if that is the sustained speed or rather a burst speed.
Some electric motorcycles include a boost mode that allows riders to access the motor’s peak power for several seconds, often useful when overtaking a slower vehicle. Though at these top speeds, overtaking may not be an issue with which riders will need to concern themselves.
The bikes feature two removable batteries that can be charged either on-board or separately with a docking station, allowing street-level parkers to charge in their apartments or elsewhere away from the bike itself.
Kawasaki tellingly hasn’t revealed info about the battery capacity or range on a single charge, but neither are expected to be very high. Removable batteries limit the capacity to something that can be carried, which means no one should expect these to be long-distance batteries.
The largest removable batteries I’ve seen so far were in my NIU NQiGT Long Range, which had a couple 2.1 kWh batteries, each weighing around 12 kg (26.5 lb.). Carrying the pair up to my apartment was doable, but barely. So the Kawasaki Ninja e-1 or Z e-1 landing with much more than 4.2 kWh of battery capacity is not likely.
Kawasaki is also part of a battery consortium pushing for adoption of Honda’s swappable batteries to become an industry standard. It’s not clear if Kawasaki adopted Honda’s 1.475 kWh battery packs, but if it did, then we’d be looking at a bike with a meager 2.95 kWh of battery capacity. There are electric bicycles with that much battery.
For comparison, the SONDORS Metacycle electric motorcycle has a 4 kWh battery pack and despite advertising a range of between 60-80 miles (96-130 km), most owners have indicated that mixed riding nets closer to half of the claimed range.
So these are obviously very much commuter-level electric motorcycles, to say the least.
But don’t for a minute think these aren’t full-featured bikes. As the company explained itself, “Kawasaki Z e-1 and Ninja e-1 riders can also amaze their friends with a walk mode that allows these machines to maneuver at walking pace in both forward AND reverse – particularly useful for tight parking spots or moving backwards up an incline.” So sure, they don’t go very fast. But they can move… slowly!
To be fair, reverse is a useful feature on motorcycles, one that is easy to include on electrics but rarely seen on combustion engine motorcycles. But let’s not bend over backwards patting ourselves on the back when electric bicycles have the same features.
Both models are expected to debut in the UK next month, but the estimated price is as elusive as the battery specs. Kawasaki has remained mum on both, and so we’ll have to wait just a bit longer to find out how much the bikes will cost.
Electrek’s Take
I don’t mean to be overly harsh here, because the specs alone aren’t bad for a basic, simple commuter e-motorcycle. And the bikes look great, in true Ninja fashion.
The problem is that this is the Kawasaki Ninja we’re talking about here. It’s not a commuter motorcycle, or at least it wasn’t meant to be. Even the underpowered Ninja 125cc released a few years ago can hit nearly 75 mph (121 km/h), making it highway capable. But the Ninja e-1 sounds like it will struggle to slowly hit 60 mph (96 km/h), making it arguably dangerous to take on highways.
But again, these are obviously meant to be urban bikes, so maybe they will appeal to an urban crowd.
The real decider here though is going to be the price. Considering you can get truly highway-capable commuter e-motorcycles like the Ryvid Anthem and CSC RX1E for below US $8,000, the Kawasaki Ninja e-1 and Z e-1 will need to be considerably cheaper to achieve any market penetration. I mean, you can buy an electric scooter with similar specs for US $6K, for crying out loud.
What we’re looking at are basically SONDORS Metacycle-level specs, though at least from a company that has been around for longer and may continue to be around long after SONDORS.
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After its electric vehicle sales more than doubled in the first quarter, GM claims it’s now the “#1 EV seller” in Canada. With a full lineup of 13 all-electric vehicles, GM sold more EVs than Tesla in Canada.
GM tops Tesla to become the #1 EV seller in Canada in Q1
GM’s electric vehicle sales in Canada surged by 252% in the first three months of 2025, with new Chevy and Cadillac models driving growth.
The Chevy Equinox EV led the way with 1,892 units sold, followed by the Silverado EV with 894 units. Cadillac’s new entry-level OPTIQ had a strong showing, with 615 models sold, nearly matching the 720 units sold of its first EV, the LYRIQ.
Even the GMC Hummer EV Pickup and SUV saw more demand, with sales up 232% (186) and 88% (252), respectively.
Combined, the automaker sold a total of 5,750 EVs in Q1. According to GM, this was enough to top Tesla to become “the #1 EV seller in Canada.”
GM Canada recently posted on social media, saying, “We claimed the top spot as Canada’s #1 EV seller!” The news comes as registration data show that Tesla registered just 524 vehicles in Quebec in Q1, down 87% from the same period last year.
The steep decline in sales comes after the Quebec government paused federal EV incentives from February to April 1st. Canada also paused its iZEV rebate program in January, which offered up to $5,000 on the purchase or lease of an EV. Like the US federal EV Tax credit, it was designed to be used at the point of sale to help lower prices.
GM also registered significantly fewer Equinox and Blazer EVs in Quebec during the quarter. Despite higher year-over-year (YOY) sales, GM’s electric vehicle (EV) sales were down considerably from the over 15,000 in Q4 2024.
The American automaker will continue to expand its lineup with the launch of the new Cadillac Escalade IQL, Lyriq-V, and Visiq.
By the end of the year, we also expect to get our first look at the next-gen Chevy Bolt EV with deliveries starting in 2026.
Electrek’s Take
GM is building momentum with new models rolling out, which now cover nearly every segment. In the US, GM surpassed Ford and Hyundai Motor, including Kia, to become the second-largest seller of EVs last year.
Chevy is now the fastest-growing EV brand in the US. The new electric Equinox, or “America’s most affordable 315+ miles range EV,” as GM calls it, is quickly becoming a top seller. The Blazer and Silverado EVs are also gaining traction.
Cadillac reported its best first quarter since 2008, with retail sales increasing by 21%. After delivering the first models in Q1, the entry-level OPTIQ is off to an impressive start with 1,716 units sold.
GM will top off its US electric vehicle lineup with the next-gen 2026 Chevy Bolt EV due out later this year or in early 2026.
Source: GM Authority, GM Canada
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Environment
ComEd extends electrification plan in Illinois, committing a fresh $168M toward EV charger and purchase incentives
ComEd confirmed that the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) has approved its second Beneficial Electrification Plan. This plan builds upon an existing investment and will commit an additional $168 million over three years to support its Illinois ComEd customers who purchase or lease an EV or install a charger.
Commonwealth Edison, known more commonly as “ComEd,” is a 118-year-old company that currently operates as a subsidiary of Exelon. ComEd is hands-down the largest energy provider in Illinois and has made considerable contributions to EV adoption in the Land of Lincoln.
In 2023, ComEd proposed its first Beneficial Electrification (BE) Plan, which was approved under the guidance of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) signed by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker in 2021. ComEd’s first BE Plan comprised a $231 million investment between 2023 and 2025.
Since February 2024, the energy company has used those funds to help Illinois residents purchase and install nearly 5,000 public and private EV charging ports (Level 2 and DCFC) and incentivize the purchases or leases of almost 1,000 new and pre-owned electric fleet vehicles. During this period, Illinois said it saw EV registrations grow nearly four times faster than the US as a whole.
ComEd has committed another $168 million with BE Plan 2 to keep the momentum in Illinois EV adoption going, offering incentives through 2028.
ComEd commits to EV incentives in Illinois through 2028
According to a release from ComEd, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) has approved its second BE Plan, enabling the energy company to invest approximately $168 million more in EV incentives in Illinois from 2026 to 2028.
As mentioned above, BE Plan 2 builds upon ComEd’s original $268 million investment, which expires at the end of the year. It will help residential and commercial customers transition to EVs. Per ComEd president and CEO, Gil C. Quiniones:
The shift to EVs is a major milestone on the road to Illinois’ clean energy future, and it is part of a broader effort to electrify more of our region’s energy system. Through the expansion of our Beneficial Electrification programs, ComEd is helping to reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality, and enable all communities to enjoy the benefits and opportunities that flow from the global energy transformation.
Per ComEd, here’s how the $168 million in fresh funding will be broken down across EV incentive programs for Illinois customers:
- $11 million toward the Residential EV Charger and Installation Program: Offers rebates of up to $2,500 per household to support the purchase and installation of residential Level 2 electric vehicle chargers.
- $82 million toward the Business and Public Sector EV Purchase Program: Offers rebates for the purchase or lease of new or pre-owned fleet EVs of all weight classes.
- $44 million toward the Business and Public Sector Make-Ready Program: Rebates for costs associated with making sites ready for public or private Level 2 of DC Fast Charging equipment.
- $11 million toward a Customer Education and Awareness Program: Fund multiple efforts to empower customers to make informed decisions about vehicle electrification and charging infrastructure deployment. Includes free access to ComEd support tools including Fleet Electrification Assessments, EV Toolkits, and training programs for municipalities interested in achieving “EV Ready” status, plus free Fleet Electrification Assessments.
- $11 million toward ComEd’s Research and Development Program: Will evaluate and demonstrate the impact of new transportation and electrification technologies.
- $9 million toward a Portfolio Program: Funds a variety of initiatives spanning across multiple programs, to support a successful deployment of BE Plan 2 as a whole.
ComEd also stated that future EV-centric projects from 2026 onward located in, or primarily serving, low-income or Equity Investment Eligible Communities (EIECs) in Illinois, will be eligible for higher rebate amounts and receive more than 50% of the BE Plan 2 budget. So far in its BE Plan, over 70% of its awarded rebates have gone to low-income customers, businesses, and public sector organizations in low-income and EIECs.
As an Illinois native, this investment news makes me happy and proud. You can learn more about ComEd’s EV program here, or see if you qualify for any EV tax incentives at the state level (in any state) by checking out this detailed breakdown.
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Ben & Jerry’s organic waste is now creating clean energy for the Vermont grid, thanks to a new PurposeEnergy plant in St. Albans.
PurposeEnergy, which specializes in converting organic food waste into energy, has officially opened a high-tech anaerobic digestion facility that began exporting power to the Vermont grid in December 2024. The project broke ground in May 2023 and marks PurposeEnergy’s first big move since being acquired by Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners in April 2023. Quinbrook fully funded the St. Albans facility.
A key player in this project is Ben & Jerry’s. The Vermont ice cream giant signed a long-term feedstock deal with PurposeEnergy in 2021. Now, all of Ben & Jerry’s high-strength organic waste and out-of-spec food products are sent straight from its factory to the new facility through a dedicated pipeline. The waste is then transformed into clean electricity and clean water.
Other regional food producers are also contributing their waste to PurposeEnergy’s new site. Casella, Wind River Environmental, Evergreen Services, and Carmichael Trucking haul additional feedstocks to help centralize food waste disposal across the region.
“This project strengthens Ben & Jerry’s commitment to environmental sustainability by providing a long-term solution for organic waste,” said Jenna Evans, the company’s global sustainability manager. “It will reduce Vermont’s road traffic, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and decrease phosphorus pollution.”
The plant sits on land purchased from the Franklin County Industrial Development Corporation and is expected to produce 8.75 million kWh of renewable electricity annually. That clean power is sent to the Vermont grid through the state’s Standard Offer program, which supports the deployment of small-scale renewable energy projects.
The plant also recovers up to 45,000 million Btu of renewable thermal energy annually, which helps heat the digester and run operations.
“It’s a model of industrial symbiosis – turning food production waste into clean energy, reducing emissions, and supporting local economies,” said Erik Lallum, PurposeEnergy’s chief development officer.
PurposeEnergy says the new facility could help attract more food manufacturing businesses to the St. Albans Industrial Park by offering a sustainable, onsite waste management solution that doubles as a clean energy source.
Read more: Vermont sees an explosive 41% rise in EV adoption in just a year
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