In recent years, the number of electric two-wheeler projects has simply jumped, with projects and concepts appearing almost every week. Ultra-technological or innovative in terms of design, many have never passed the sketching stage. But now, the German brand SOL Motors (which stands for “Speed Of Light”) is preparing to get down to business three years after the presentation of its first prototype.
The Stuttgart-based company has opened pre-orders for its Pocket Rocket, an eye-catching two-wheeled electric motorbike. This small, light electric two-wheeler was designed to meet the mobility needs of city dwellers and stands out first and foremost with its original aesthetic, to say the least. The Pocket Rocket also relies on a design that pushes minimalism to the extreme with a chassis reduced to its simplest expression: a cylinder containing the battery and the wiring terminated at each end by headlights and with a downward V-tube on which the swingarm and the shock absorber are fixed.
The basic model, equipped with a nominal power 3 kW motor delivering 120 Nm of torque, can reach up to 45 km/h (28 mph), with an autonomy of up to 80 km (50 miles). The second model, rather more powerful, the Pocket Rocket S, opts for a 4 kW engine delivering 160 Nm of torque and being able to reach a maximum speed of 80 km/h (50 mph) but with the same autonomy. Both Pocket Rocket models measure 172 cm in length, have a ground clearance of 15 cm, and the single-seater saddle atop the main tube is set at 82 cm. It also shines with its featherweight of 55 kg, without the battery.
Both versions have strictly identical dimensions and a similar weight. The Li-ion battery enclosed in the upper tube is the same at 58V – 2.5 kWh, which can be removed and recharged at home or in the office – a full charge, with a standard charger, takes about five hours. With a fast-charging device, however, the charging time is reduced to two hours.
Both models move on 16-inch wheels, equipped with Heidenau tires. The brakes are hydraulic discs, installed both on the front and on the rear wheel. The Pocket Rocket is also equipped with technological systems dedicated to tracking and connectivity. The package includes tracking/location, anti-theft alarm, and a smartphone app, but riders can also subscribe to a Connect package with extras like remote battery status info, remote maintenance, and emergency contact setup.
Available in the black or silver version, Sol’s Pocket Rocket is now available for pre-order at the moment only for customers of some European countries – Austria, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, and Spain. The first deliveries are scheduled for the spring of 2022. The price starts from 5,980 euros (about $6,90) for the base model and 6,980 euros ($8,095) for the S version.
