The Chinese manufacturer could soon be launching this model in its home market.
In recent years, the minibike industry has flourished, with the Honda Grom and Kawasaki Z125 leading the way in many areas. The CFMoto Papio, a lesser-known but equally competent minibike, may be getting an all-electric version soon. A recent article by motorcycling publication Cycle World shows us the details about the upcoming all-electric two-wheeler from the Chinese manufacturer.
The CFMoto Papio is essentially the Chinese manufacturer’s version of the Honda Grom. The internal-combustion version of this bike, which is sold in a variety of markets, has a 126cc, air-cooled, single-cylinder, four-stroke engine that produces 9.3 horsepower. The Honda Grom, for comparison, has 9.7 horsepower.
Standard gasoline-powered CFMoto Papio 125.
All that being said, CFMoto looks to be on the brink of delivering a mass-market electric minibike if an electric Papio is released very soon. On top of this, CFMoto has entirely revamped the Papio with a specific electric architecture, so it’s not a simple case of just slapping an electric motor onto an existing chassis. While the new electric Papio, or e-Papio, or whatever CFMoto plans to call it has a new frame and powertrain, its proportions are still akin to that of a traditional mini-bike. The prototype’s look is also quite similar to the current Papio model.
The electric Papio is 69.7 x 31.1 x 41.1 inches in size, while the gas-powered counterpart is 68 x 30 x 39 inches in size. What’s even better is that the suspension and braking system on the electric Papio have been greatly enhanced, as the prototype showcases inverted front forks and a Brembo front brake caliper. That said, the wheel size remains at 12 inches, allowing the bike to retai its diminutive proportions.
A traditional tubular steel frame with a cast aluminum swingarm will likely makeup this bike’s underpinnings so as to keep it priced within a budget. As is the case with most electric motorcycles, the battery is housed where the fuel tank on a conventional motorcycle would be located. This makes it easy to charge the battery, and could even mean that a swappable unit is in the mix. Blue Stone New Power’s 5kW electric motor provides peak power of 19 horsepower and torque of 27 ft-lbs.
According to reports, the electric CFMoto Papio will be available in China soon. When it does, it will undoubtedly be a welcome addition to the electric motorbike category, and considering CFMoto’s global reach, it will only be a matter of time until the bike is accessible in other regions of the globe.
Keyword: CFMoto Is Working On An Electric Mini-Bike Based On The Papio