We’ve been featuring a lot of electric motorcycles lately. A number of them have been motorcycles that you’ll hopefully be able to buy in the future. Others are motorcycles that you probably won’t be able to buy but are still pretty amazing. Today, we have something a little different. Back in 2020, electric motorcycle brand Cake joined forces with Polestar on electric mobility solutions. A year later, the pair announced that they were creating what they call the first-ever “electric mobility bundle.” This bundle combined a Polestar 2 with a Cake Makka moped. And the concept was more than just a moped hanging off of the back of a Polestar, as it used a cable to connect and charge the Makka using the car. Automakers are willing to sell you little kickscooters to beat around your city with, but this goes an extra step further, giving you a deployable moped charged by your car. Though, it doesn’t have the polish that Honda had back in the 1980s with its Honda City and Motocompo moped. At the same time that Polestar and Cake announced the concept, it also launched a Cake Makka Polestar edition, which was painted in Polestar’s Snow white with Polestar graphics on it (above). That little moped–which wasn’t available in the United States–apparently sold out instantly. Now, the pair are releasing another Makka Polestar edition, and this time Americans can buy one. For those not familiar with what a Cake is, I’ll give you a rundown. The company was founded in Stockholm, Sweden in 2016. Founded by Stefan Ytterborn, Cake’s goal is to drive towards a zero-emissions future while keeping things fun. Cake’s site says that the design team’s mantra is “light, quiet and clean,” and you can see it in the motorcycles and mopeds created by the company. The company’s first motorcycle made its debut in 2018. The Kalk is an electric off-road motorcycle with a minimalist design, lightweight, and a torquey motor. It was followed up in 2019 with the Ösa, a utility motorcycle that looks like a small girder with wheels. The idea behind that one is to allow its rider to carry their gear by simply attaching it to the motorcycle. And when the motorcycle gets to its destination, its battery could be used as a power station. Then came the Makka, and this one’s Cake’s city moped. The $4,170 base Makka Range is closer to an ebike in function than a moped. It has a range of about 41 miles but tops out at just 15 mph with a 1.34 HP peak motor (0.87 HP nominal). Step up to the $4,470 Makka Flex and you get a range of about 34 miles, but a top speed of 28 mph and peak power of 3.75 HP (2.07 HP nominal). Next is the Makka Flex :Work. This $5,680 version still goes 28 mph, but you get more of everything else. The battery doubles to 3kWh, bumping the range up to 62 miles. Power is 4.4 HP peak (2.07 HP nominal) and you get thick racks front and rear to carry whatever you can fit on them. Or for $5,300 you can get the Makka Polestar edition. This one is the same moped as the $4,470 Makka Flex, but you get your moped in the same lovely blue color as the Polestar 6. I smashed two press images together for a rough look at the two of them together: And in Polestar fashion, you get Polestar script on the side. You’re getting the same 1.5kWh battery and the same up to 3.75 HP motor, but you do get a rear rack standard. Granted, that rack isn’t exclusive to the Polestar edition, as you can buy it for $98 for a regular Makka. But that’s actually really neat. Cake will sell you all kinds of utility racks so that you could carry packages with your Makka. Heck, you can even get a surfboard carrier and hooks to hang stuff! So if you really wanted, you could use a Makka Polestar edition like a little two-wheeled pickup. It reminds me of the Honda CT50 Motra, but for the modern day. I will admit that the price of $5,300 is on the steep end for something that can go only 28 mph. I’ve written about faster electric motorcycles with a similar price. Cake is positioning itself more towards the luxury end of the moped spectrum, which makes sense. These are pretty smart, too, featuring regenerative braking, removable batteries, and drive modes. This is a pretty moped that Cake wants you to pair with a pretty Polestar. And unlike some of those cheaper electric motorcycles I’ve written about, these are super customizable right out of the box. If you’re a Polestar fan and want a matching moped, the Cake Makka Polestar edition is available starting today and you can get in line on Cake’s website. If you’re interested in the Makka but don’t need the Polestar colors, you can get one from Cake’s website, too, but be prepared to wait 10-12 weeks. This is another one that I’d love to ride for myself. If you live in a city, this could be a cool little tool to get around on.
Support our mission of championing car culture by becoming an Official Autopian Member. • A Startup Is Launching A Practical Electric Motorcycle That Costs Just $1,500 • An Electric Motorcycle Startup Has A Brilliant Solution To The Seat-Height Problem Many Motorcyclists Face • Erik Buell’s Awesome Electric Motorcycle Concept Might Become A Reality In 2024 Where I live in Ontario, Canada IIRC it can’t be a moped unless it has pedals, this would qualify as a limited speed motorcycle, both require a specific operators license unless driven on private property, therefore I can’t see a market for this here. There is a no license thing for electric bikes and scooters, but they must have pedals too, otherwise the base model would probably fit in. https://www.ontario.ca/page/riding-e-bike. I don’t think the problem is Chinese bikes or batteries. The problem is a lack of regulation. Right now ebikes are in a wild west state where people just seem to trust Panasonic or Samsung batteries over Chinese batteries for whatever reason. But that brand recognition isn’t the same thing as an acutal guarantee of safety. We need some solid safety standards for ebikes and ebike batteries in particular. They are a huge part of reducing dependence on fossil fuels after all. “Look! If I lean this way, the pitch of my fart gets higher!” Also, there’s a company called Jetson (no relation to George and Jane, sadly) that produces an e-bike with similar specs and sells it for FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS. Explain why this thing costs 15x more. I keep telling myself that I don’t need a SECMA Qpod and so far I keep listening: https://bellingham.craigslist.org/snw/7560108442.html In this case, I just went with what the manufacturer called the vehicle. Anyway, I think personally I’d rather have an electric bicycle. You can get a pretty damn good ebike for that money, with comparable performance figures, plus you can pedal it. (Some ebikes won’t go unless you are pedaling, but some will let you ride on electric power alone.) The wheels will be bigger which means a smoother ride, and most importantly to me, bicycles are standardized. Accessories and replacement parts are widely available from hundreds of different brands, which gives you limitless potential to customize the machine for your needs, and makes most repairs simple and able to be performed in the driveway or your neighborhood bike shop. Less so for the electric drivetrain, but all the “bicycle” stuff—wheels, chains, handlebars, shocks, sprockets, brakes, etc. is mix-and-match. That’s huge, in my opinion. tl;dr If you want something with the performance of a bicycle, get a bicycle. That being said, while they aren’t apples to apples comparisons since Cake has their own weird styling and they tout utility that I doubt many consumers will actually use, a PCX150 is 60% of the price and twice as capable. An XMax is similar in price, highway capable, and probably a better daily vehicle. I’m almost ready to jump into BEV cars, but I just don’t think BEV scooters/motorcycles are there yet. Some of their ebikes are pretty sweet tho Here is the video: Honda Collection Hall 収蔵車両走行ビデオ MOTRA（1982年 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnA4PpLIqDQ Where they drive the Motra around the front of the museum. I like them, but the price is an easier sell in Western Europe for sure. How does it afford its rock and roll lifestyle? Can it be ridden in a short skirt and a looooong jacket?
