Royal Enfield unveils new electric motorcycle – and its the perfect type
Royal Enfield’s biggest announcement at EICMA 2024 – the Milan Motorcycle Show – was undoubtedly the drop of its new electric motorcycle, the Flying Flea C6 and S6.
“Flying Flea” turned out to be the name of not just the new bike but the entire electric sub-brand launched by Royal Enfield, designed to encompass a range of light to middleweight urban electric motorcycles.
The first two models, the classicly-styled Flying Flea C6 and scrambler-styled Flying Flea S6, set the direction for the brand while positioning the type of rider and the type of ride that Royal Enfield has envisioned for its electric future.
One look at the new bike shows that it fits with Royal Enfield’s design heritage, borrowing several design cues and mixing them with the modern opportunities afforded by electric motorcycle design work freed from the traditional bounds of conventional frames and engines.
At the same time, a nod to history in the design mimics several now vestigial features, including an electric motor case that looks like a crankcase and bodywork that mimics a fuel tank.
We can see the obvious inspiration from the original Royal Enfield Flying Flea motorcycle of the 1940s, famously airdropped into WWII alongside paratroopers to provide lightweight and speedy battlefield mobility. From the girder fork to the vintage-style saddle, it’s a slick-looking ride. But appearances, however eye-catching, can only take Royal Enfield so far. For the new Flying Flea to become a commercial success, it will have to be backed up by the right specs at the right price.
And the team at Royal Enfield has an answer for that too. They just aren’t telling us yet.
While the unveiling was big on pomp and highlighted the brand’s focus on bringing accessibility to the commuter electric motorcycle market, the company isn’t quite ready to spill the details on specifics. Nearly the entirety of the bike’s spec sheet remains shrouded in mystery. The company doesn’t expect the bike to go on sale until Q1 2026, so we’ve got some time to get there.
However, we can still glean a lot from looks alone. The battery itself is rather small, physically, meaning it is unlikely to offer a terribly long range on a single charge. The narrow battery case likely implies a single row of cylindrical battery cells, limiting its total capacity. Perhaps two rows of cells could fit, but it’d be a tight squeeze. Either way you slice it, there’s just not a ton of space in between your knees for batteries. And that’s ok, as long as Royal Enfield has positioned the bike properly for its role. The company has repeatedly referred to the Flying Flea C6’s role as “city+”, meaning it’s designed primarily for urban commuting, with occasional excursions further out and onto faster roads.
This isn’t going to be a long-range highway commuter, but it will likely be sufficient for hopping on local highways for an exit or two. That’s peak commuter bike, right there.
Secondly, the motor isn’t all that large either. Physical size isn’t the only indication of power in an electric motor, but it’s usually a good corollary. This isn’t going to be laying down LiveWire-like 0-60 mph times of 3.0 seconds, which again, isn’t something a commuter bike is meant to do. If I were a betting man, I’d put the battery capacity at between 4-5 kWh and the peak motor power at under 15 kW (20 hp). I imagine the battery will be slightly smaller than most of us would want, but the power level is likely perfectly adequate for commuter-level requirements. With small batteries comes limited peak power, that’s just physics.
To put it simply, the specs are likely to be fine, but not breathtaking. And that’s ok. In fact, it’s what the market needs right now.
We’ve all watched as high-performance electric motorcycle companies have struggled, even gone bankrupt, trying to chase high speed and long range. That pursuit of performance is often a nearly impossible balancing act without seeing the price skyrocket. The current size and expense of batteries simply make it nearly impossible to shoehorn enough of them into a motorcycle-sized package and have something that looks good, let alone remains affordable.
So instead of racing for the top, Royal Enfield has chosen the path less traveled these days: comfortably nestling into the sensible section of the market. With modest power and range figures comes modest pricing, and that’s Royal Enfield’s key to success. The company has long prided itself on building bikes that are accessible. And as many other companies have seen their sales stagnate or shrink, Royal Enfield has continued to grow in the last few years, reaching nearly a million units sold last year alone.
That combination of an eye for design mixed with sensible accessibility hasn’t just kept Royal Enfield afloat; it has helped the company prosper. And it just so happens that that’s exactly what the electric motorcycle market needs right now.
Fortunately – or more likely by design – this comes at a time when Royal Enfield is ready to take the risk. In candid discussions we had throughout the launch, it was underscored multiple times that Royal Enfield isn’t betting the farm on this. The company waited until they thought the time was right, but if the Flying Flea isn’t an immediate commercial success, we were assured that it wouldn’t drag the company down. That doesn’t mean the Royal Enfield team isn’t expecting success, but only that they’re not watching the world go by through rose-colored riding goggles either.
How much will the Flying Flea electric motorcycle cost?
This is the big question. More than “how fast?” and more than “how far?”, people want to know how much the Flying Flea C6 and S6 will cost.
And just like the performance specs, Royal Enfield isn’t ready to tell us. Depending on who I asked, they either know and aren’t saying yet, or they don’t even know it themselves.
But one thing is for sure, every member of Royal Enfield I questioned seemed to understand that pricing was going to be the critical factor here. They can see which machines have succeed and which have failed over the last few years. People went gangbusters over a $5,000 Metacycle (even if that bike proved too good to be true) and laughed in Can-Am’s face at their $14,000 commuter electric motorcycles.
If I had to guess, I can see Royal Enfield bringing the Flying Flea to market at between US $6,500 to $8,000. Discussions with leaders at Royal Enfield seemed to imply that the company is targeting multiple battery capacities and power levels to create various options for riders, meaning the entry-level model could be quite attractively priced, even if it must give up some range and top end to get there.
Ultimately, we don’t have much substance to judge the Flying Flea on yet. The bike looks great, at least in this journalist’s opinion. But once we can learn what’s going on under the hood and how many paychecks it will set us back, we can get a better idea of how well Royal Enfield can do on its first electric shot.
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Alexander Vlaskamp, the outspoken CEO of MAN Trucks, claims that an electric semi truck can pay for itself in less than three years – but there are a few asterisks in that statement. We’ll try to unpack them all for you here.
MAN began series production of its eTruck electric semi in July on a flexible line capable of building up to 100 trucks per day with either diesel or battery-electric power. With production underway, the challenge now is selling the things. That means proving that the higher upfront cost pays off with a lower total cost of ownership (TCO), and the first stop on that train is incentives.
The good news is that, in the EU, incentives are plentiful. MAN says those programs, together with Europe’s much higher diesel prices compared to the US (about $6.80/gal compared to $3.70, as I type this), can help the eTruck pay for itself in as little as two and a half years.
And, if you’re not familiar with European incentives for electric semi trucks, hold on to your hats because they are wild:
- up to 80% of vehicle purchase price subsidy in Austria (ENIN)
- in Belgium, there’s a subsidy for up to 32% of the price of the truck (up to 2 trucks per company)
- in Ireland, government incentives cover 30–60% of the up-front cost difference versus a comparable diesel truck
- Norway offers a similar 60% diesel cost difference incentive
- etc., etc., ad nauseam
MAN’s customers can do that math easily enough – the company says it already has 700 orders on the books already, and expects to hit 1,000 by year’s end. But that math only maths if those customers can actually access the electrons to replace all that diesel … and the charging infrastructure they’re going to need for all those trucks? That’s still a ways off.
“It’s all about the charging infrastructure, that’s the problem,” Vlaskamp told Börsen-Zeitung. “When it comes to investment in charging stations, Europe is lagging far behind … what’s needed now is the political will to reverse this trend,” adding, “We need to act quickly.”
Charging is key
Spanish-language site Motorpasión notes that red tape isn’t the only reason charging lags. Driving investment into new charging infrastructure is lagging, too – but MAN’s CEO thinks there’s a simple fix: take half of annual toll revenues generated by commercial trucks (around €7 billion in Germany, alone) and funnel it directly into DC fast charging.
In addition to the still deficient charging network, another obstacle is the cost of electricity for charging. Vlaskamp proposes a reduced price for commercial truckers, as has traditionally been the case with diesel. Currently, the average price is 45 to 50 cents per kWh, but says the ideal would be, “between €0.20 and €0.30/kWh.”
TL;DR: if charging was cheaper and easier to access and the government was willing to subsidize EVs as much as they’ve subsidized oil with the creating and ongoing support of a globalized military industrial complex, MAN Trucks’ CEO thinks plug-in semis would be a no-brainer.
Head on down to the comments and let us know if you agree.
SOURCE | IMAGES: MAN, via Börsen-Zeitung, Motorpasión.
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It’s Labor Day weekend, which means big deals on car lots across America – especially if you’re shopping for a new electric vehicle to help with your labor. We’ve rounded up the best offers on electric pickups, vans, and even a great option for ride share drivers!
Sure, there’s a bit of irony in pitching “work vehicles” on a holiday meant for not working – but for many small business owners, work is part of who they are. And with the $7,500 federal EV tax credit set to expire, plus a wave of great Labor Day deals on work-ready EVs, now might be the best time yet to plug into a new electric ride.
Here are some of the standout electric vehicles offers we found this Labor Day weekend (2025), organized by vehicle type.
Electric pickup | F-150 Lightning
The “Ford for America,” summer sales event continues through Labor Day with interest-free 0% financing, $0 down payment, and zero payments for up to 90 days for retail customers. Ford is also throwing in $0 maintenance for 24 months.
But wait, there’s more! Ford Authority is reporting that a complimentary home charger and standard installation might also be included as part of the Ford Power Promise promotion happening at participating dealers in select markets with the purchase of a new F-150 Lightning pickup through the end of September.
Lease customers aren’t being left out, either. You can lease a 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning XLT 4P 311A pickup at $399 per month for 36 months, with “just” $399 due at signing (basically your first month’s payment).
Electric van | Chevy Brightdrop
The best electric vehicle deal in the business keeps on truckin’ into Labor Day weekend, with new 2025 Brightdrop models currently eligible for up to $21,500 in manufacturer rebates before any Federal, state, local utility, or even Costco membership incentives kick in.
For your money, you get a capable, Ultium-based electric cargo van with more room than your college dorm and a nationwide dealer network to keep it up and running when you need it most.
Electric van (hon. mention) | Mercedes eSprinter
Despite being based on the company’s existing diesel platform, Mercedes’ eSprinter has proven itself a capable urban hauler in the hands of Amazon, DHL, and countless European tradespeople. Despite that, there are still a handful of leftover 2024 models hanging around dealer lots – enough that Mercedes is offering up to $30,000 (!) Customer Cash on any new ’24MY eSprinter purchased from dealer stock.
That discount is enough to bring the price of this 2024 eSprinter in Chicago from $87,823 all the way down to $57,823 this Labor Day weekend – and that’s before you factor in state and local utility incentives that can bring the price down even further.
As you can imagine, there’s some fine print on that Customer Cash deal. It can’t be combined with Special APR programs through Mercedes-Benz Financial Services (MBFS), but it can be combined with the Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicles Medium Fleet Program.
Ride share ride | VW ID.4
Ride share drivers looking for comfortable seats, room for five adults and their luggage, proven battery life, and lickety-quick charging speeds can stop looking. Volkswagen is offering a sweet ID.4 lease at nearly half the cost of an entry-level Jetta with payments starting at just $129/mo. – that’s despite the ID.4 carrying a significantly higher MSRP.
And, while we’re at it, it’s probably worth noting that serious road warriors will probably save more than $129/mo. in fuel alone.
If you prefer to own your vehicles after making payments on them for a few years, you can also get 0% interest financing on select ID.4s for up to 72 months. It’s important to note here that Volkswagen’s deals can vary wildly by region. That $129/mo. offer is available in California and a few other West Coast states, for example, but the electric crossover’s listed at $329 for 24 months with $4,499 due at signing in others.
Disclaimer: the vehicle models and financing deals above were sourced from CarsDirect, CarEdge, and (where mentioned) the OEM websites – and were current as of 29AUG2025. These deals may not be available in every market, with every discount, or for every buyer (the standard “with approved credit” fine print should be considered implied). Check with your local dealer(s) for more information.
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Sustainable construction experts McKinstry have teamed up with leading BESS developers Viridi and the Denver Public Library to deploy a first-of-its-kind solar and battery storage system that sets a new standard for fire safety.
The Denver Public Library sought a battery energy storage system (BESS) that could deliver cost savings without compromising safety for staff, visitors, or the architecturally significant, Michael Graves–designed structure itself. That required a battery backup solution that not only met the city’s fire safety standards, but also addressed public fears about the risk of lithium-ion battery fires.
That unique set of project priorities led the library to Viridi, makers of the RPSLinkEX battery solution that’s equipped with a unique, “passive Fail-Safe thermal management and anti-propagation technology” designed to prevent the sort of thermal runaway that leads to li-ion battery fires.
“Public facilities like the Denver Public Library are at the forefront of demonstrating that energy resilience and safety can go hand in hand,” said Jon M. Williams, CEO at Viridi. “This installation highlights how fail-safe battery storage can empower communities to maximize renewable energy, reduce costs, and maintain reliability – all without compromise.”
Keeping it safe
Viridi doesn’t talk too much about how its passive Fail-Safe thermal management system works, but if you’re picturing heat-dissipating layers, fire-resistant insulation, and strategically-placed phase change materials (or PCMs) limiting the transfer of heat from one cell to another if it begins to overheat, you’ve probably cracked it.
These passive safety features enable safer deployment scenarios in occupied buildings or near critical infrastructure by reducing dependence on active fire suppression systems like sprinklers or fire extinguishers, and convinced the City of Denver to move forward with the project, which is the city’s first-ever solar + battery storage system.
“The entire McKinstry team is very excited about developing and constructing the first Solar + BESS project for the City and County of Denver,” said Jon Ensley, Sr. Construction Project Engineer at McKinstry. “We are appreciative of all our partners and stakeholders who helped to achieve this goal. We value Viridi’s expertise in deploying this technology and the whole team has been great to work with.”
McKinstry says this latest solar project sets, “a new benchmark for how cities can combine renewable energy and battery storage without compromising safety.” And, with solutions like the RPSLinkEX building systems that meet city planners and politicians where they are, instead of trying to educated them about the objective, proven safety of li-ion batteries, Viridi is helping communities adopt cleaner, more resilient clean energy solutions sooner rather than later.
READ MORE
SOURCE | IMAGES: Viridi, via PV Magazine; Michael Graves.
If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
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