Source: press release Famel – Portugal | Famel, the historic Portuguese brand of motorcycles, makes its return to the roads with the launch of pre-orders for the new E-XF. With a design inspired by the mythical XF-17, the new E-XF adopts electric propulsion as the turning point and revival of the brand.
This new period of Famel, more technological and environmentally friendly, aims to contribute to a more sustainable individual mobility, creating awareness on the importance of the energy transition, required to achieve the goals of decarbonization of cities, using 0% emissions vehicles and adding the advantage that two-wheeled vehicles bring through their versatility and agility in cities, which lead to significant gains in travel times and quality of life in cities. “The return as a Portuguese Electric Motorcycle brand was a tough decision because of the heritage and culture established, but we embraced this mission for a cleaner future and stand for our coming generations that will also be our riders.” states Joel Sousa, responsible for the brand.
Famel goes back to the end of the 70s, when the XF-17 was initially conceived; its slender design, but sporty appearance and performances, made it one of the most wanted models and crowned it as the queen of Portuguese motorcycles. Invoking all the heritage of this iconic model, the new E-XF promises to bring the Famel brand back to the roads with a classic but electrified design, using an electric hub-motor with a maximum power of 5kW, and a maximum speed of 70km / h (legal limit 45km/h) that promise to bring some fun to the daily commutes. “The idea of electrifying came up during the restoration of an old XF-17 that I own; nowadays new parts are still on sale to restore the classis ones, which allows a significant share of components” explains Joel Sousa.
The new E-XF also features a front and rear disc brake, with the inclusion of the CBS (Combined Brake System) system, providing a significant safety improvement in the braking system compared to the old model. The 72V and 40Ah battery, with a single charge of about 4 hours, allows an estimated range of 70km (depending on conditions). The opening of pre-reservations offers access to a limited edition of the model with deliveries starting in 2022 in Portugal, the date from which it is expected to start marketing with an estimated PVP of 4100€.
Regarding the future of the brand, Joel Sousa is confident “we could have gone the obvious way of putting a gasoline engine. Perhaps for Portugal it would make more sense, but we have to be more ambitious and project the brand abroad, starting immediately to establish the business on Europe. This can only be achieved with an innovative product and with enormous potential to scale on markets like the electric mopeds and motorcycles, that are still open and growing fast.”
The long-awaited return of Famel is close, but for Joel Sousa there is still a long way to go, “We are now entering a second phase that will be the most critical to rebuild the brand: industrialization and commercialization; there will be huge challenges, but we are convinced that pre-reservations will give us very positive indications. Also we will need to bring strategic investors and partners on board that share the same vision for the brand by making it known worldwide”.
