Sandy Scullion, BRP’s Powersports and Marine group president, tells Electric Autonomy about this week’s launch of two new electric motorcycles and the strategic significance of BRP’s return to the two-wheeled market

Sandy Scullion is having an exciting week. Usually, he can be found in his home province of Quebec, when he runs Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP) Inc.’s Powersports and Marine division. But this week, Scullion is in California, hosting a dealer meeting for the launch of several BRP products, including the new 2025 Can-Am all-electric motorcycle lineup.

The new motorcycle launch, which took place Aug. 20, is particularly significant because it marks not only the debut of BRP’s first electric motorcycles, the Can-Am Pulse and Can-Am Origin, but it also signals the company’s return to the two-wheeled market.

BRP stopped producing two-wheeled vehicles more than 30 years ago, in 1987, shifting its focus to other segments within recreational power sports. Over the years, the company has become better known for producing three-wheeled vehicles, side-by-sides, as well as its Ski-Doo brand snowmobiles, Sea-Doo personal watercraft, and Alumacraft boats.

“Internally, we couldn’t wait to get back into the two-wheeled business, but we needed to define how we would do it,” says Scullion, in an interview with Electric Autonomy. “The decision to return to two wheels was not a question of if, but when, and how do we do it right.”

Building electric motorcycles

How is BRP ensuring it builds its electric motorcycle the “right way?”

To start, Scullion says the company’s approach began with a focus on learning from past experiences and applying meticulous development strategies.

BRP’s journey into electrification started with manufacturing electric snowmobiles in 2023 — a product chosen not because it was an ideal candidate for electrification, but because the harsh demands of winter provided an excellent testing ground, says Scullion.

Once it turned its attention to two-wheeled electric motorcycles, the primary challenge the company faced, says Scullion, was creating a modular design that could leverage the technology developed for the two-wheel motorcycle across other BRP power sports products in the future, without compromising the qualities and dynamics of what a motorcycle should be.

The solution for BRP was to take a hands-on approach, manufacturing every component of the electric motorcycles in-house.

BRP handles the battery packs and charger development at its headquarters in Valcourt, Que., while it develops motors and inverters in Gunskirchen, Austria. The company then assembles the vehicles and batteries at its plant in Querétaro, Mexico.

“Whether it’s the battery, the charger, the inverter, or the motor, it is all designed so that the same technologies can be applied to other products in our lineup,” says Scullion. “This makes us much more competitive.”

Dealer network training

Production of the Can-Am Pulse and Origin will begin in December. North American customers can preorder now and will receive the first units in early 2025. Pricing starts at $18,299 for the Pulse and $18,999 for the Origin. (Quebec, British Columbia and Yukon offer purchase rebates for electric motorcycles.)

BRP plans to be selective about which dealers will be able to sell the electric motorcycles. In North America alone, BRP has around 1,200 dealers in the power sports segment. However, BRP will select only 300 dealers it deems to be the right partners.

“Network strategy is a science,” explains Scullion. “We measure the opportunity and we make sure that whomever we assign the product lines, they’re going to be successful. The last thing we want to have are dealers that are not successful, then we need to close them down.”

To ensure success, BRP has made dealer training a crucial element of its launch strategy. Fortunately, the automotive industry has already established the groundwork for training with existing curriculums that cover safety and technical aspects, says Scullion.

BRP is expanding on this foundation by introducing its own resources, including “BRP University,” a virtual platform with training modules. Additionally, BRP will conduct hands-on training sessions to prepare the selected dealers.

“Now, at the convention here in Anaheim [California] we have over 2,000 people from dealerships around the world. We have until December and January to train these dealers in the right way — not just in technical and safety, but also in how to sell and position the product,” says Scullion.

Key features and riding experience

BRP’s new Can-Am Pulse and Can-Am Origin models both feature the same BRP Rotax E-Power drivetrain but are tailored for different riding experiences.

The Can-Am Pulse is designed for city riding, offering an estimated range of up to 160 km. The Can-Am Origin is built for off-road adventures, with a range of up to 145 km. Both models come with a 8.9 kWh battery.

One of the standout features of these BRP electric motorcycles is their ability to accelerate rapidly and go from zero to top speed quickly.

“That’s a feeling that you cannot have with an ICE [Internal combustion engine] motor because you need to rev much higher,” says Scullion. “Instead of having fun only half the time, [on an electric motorcycle] you’re having fun 100 per cent of the time.”

The ease of use of an electric bike is another major advantage, especially for riders who may not be keen on clutching, upshifting, downshifting, and braking simultaneously, adds Scullion.

The Can-Am models also feature a regenerative braking function, controlled by twisting the right-hand throttle that allows riders to brake and recharge the battery.

Scullion recognizes the presence of strong competitors in the market, but he remains confident in what BRP has to offer.

“The recipe for success is not only about the technology, but it’s also about manufacturing, industrialization and commercial capabilities,” he explains. “We believe we’re well-positioned to compete with everything that’s out there.”

Future EV visions

Looking ahead to the next few years, BRP plans to electrify other categories in its vehicle lineup and follow the pace of investment and market reactions.

However, in the near term, the company will focus on two parallel strategies: geographic expansion and product diversification.

BRP will start selling its Can-Am motorcycle in North America and Europe first and then move to Asia and the rest of the world. Scullion also hints that there are more electric motorcycle models in the works.

“This is our first shot that you are seeing in the motorcycle world — it’s just the beginning. That’s all I can say for now,” says Scullion.