Electric motorcycles and scooters are set to enjoy booming sales in the coming years, with 55 million examples sold over the next decade, a new report by Navigant Research has concluded. So far more than nine out of 10 electric two-wheelers are sold in China, with US sales limited to premium brand offerings such as the Zero SR and Brammo Enertia. This balance will soon begin to shift, however, as Europe and North America acquires a taste for carbon-free riding. The charm of such machines is apparent. They are cheap to run, easy to repair, and quiet; the last of which will certainly boost their appeal in urban areas. The drawbacks of using electric bikes are also minimal, with performance often equal to or better than oil-burning counterparts and handling characteristics largely unaffected by heavy battery packs. Like electric cars, cost and electric range still inhibit the market, although the former is consistently falling while the latter is less of an issue for most motorcycle riders. “Although high component costs and sluggish demand currently hamper the sales of electric two-wheel vehicles today, this market is poised for growth as consumer markets continue to expand and new high-profile competitors such as Harley Davidson enter the market,” says John Gartner, research director with Navigant Research. “In many areas, the use of e-motorcycles and e-scooters is permitted on roads and on paths designated for bicycles and scooters, broadening their appeal for younger motorists.” While electric motorcycles and scooters will increase in popularity among consumers, large numbers of them are also expected find homes in small cargo delivery and law enforcement. Zero Motorcycles already offers a modified version of its Zero S model for police patrol fleets, which allows officers to inconspicuously ride through crowds and retain the element of surprise. BMW has recently entered the e-scooter market Harley Davidson, arguably the most conservative mainstream motorcycle brand, recently unveiled the Livewire prototype, which is currently touring US dealers in search of feedback from existing owners. The company’s willingness to evolve its technology is indicative of the suitability of two-wheeled machines for electric propulsion. Harley Davidson’s decision may also help in changing attitudes more quickly than was previously thought possible, with Navigant Research predicting that the move could single-handedly boost North America and US sales. Other brands such as Mission Motorcycles and Lightning Motorcycles are furthering the cause by building machines capable of going wheel-to-wheel with the top echelon of conventional superbikes from Ducati and Suzuki. Events like the Isle of Man TT Zero have helped draw the public’s gaze towards the raw speed and technical ability of these machines. The majority of zero-emission bikes won’t be superbikes or Harley Davidsons, of course. They will be small affordable mopeds that are suited to inner city routes and have removable lithium-ion battery packs that can be taken inside and charged conveniently. Less developed countries where car ownership is unusual are ripe for a revolution in electromobility. Vietnam, for example, has more than 37 million registered motorcycle on its crowded roads compared to just two million cars. China, India, and Indonesia all boast more bikes than Vietnam, and as the price of gasoline rises the proposition of cheap, readily available electricity will seem increasingly attractive. Yamaha is one company with a strong foothold in each of these countries with a vision in place for future electric products. Expect Suzuki and Honda to follow suit. “Consumers are seeking refuge from higher gasoline prices, electric two-wheel vehicles are growing more mature, and cities are becoming increasingly congested with traffic,” says Gartner. “All of these factors will contribute to growing demand for power two-wheel vehicles — particularly high-powered e-motorcycles.” Navigant expects 1.2 million electric motorcycle sales and 4.1 million electric scooter sales this year. Those numbers are set to increase to 1.4 million and 4.6 million vehicles respectively. Report from ecomento/2014/09/01/harley-davidson-to-herald-electric-motorcycle-boom/
Posted on: Wed, 03 Sep 2014 09:23:55 +0000
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