Electric Motorcycles Avantages and Disadvantages

With electric cars slowly showing up in the market, it would be nice to know a little about what is happening in the electric motorcycle market. Although we haven’t seen much in the world of electric motorcycles, there are a few manufactures releasing models as well as various websites dedicated to building your own electric motorcycle in the garage.to U.S.

Currently, the big companies like Harley and Honda don’t appear to have much in the works, although that might change in the future.  Austrian manufacturer KTM has announced that they are planning to build an electric dirt bike. Current mass market electric motorcycles are being built by startup companies such as Zero Motorsports, Electric Motorsport, Brammo Powercycles, and Vectrix, who offers an electric scooter.

 

Benefits of Electric Motorcycles

The main benefit to riding an electric motorcycle, of course, is not burning gasoline. Electric motorcycles require a charge, tires and electronics checks, and not much else in regards to maintenance. The cost savings of not having to spend money on gas, oil, and other maintenance items could provide a real savings over the long term.

In many states it is possible to get a tax rebate for electric vehicles, including electric motorcycles. For example, Californians are currently eligible for a $1,400 rebate through the California Air Resource Board. Also the federal government currently offers a tax credit for the purchase of an electric vehicle. The cost of an electric motorcycle is comparable to a gas powered motorcycle, and in some cases might even be better when taking into consideration the rebates.

 

Additionally, a morning commute can be improved by riding a motorcycle. It is possible to use the carpool and HOV lanes in most states. California allows lane-splitting (driving in between cars) for motorcycles, and other states are considering similar laws to improve the overall flow of traffic. Once arriving at a location it might be easier to find parking, or there may be designated motorcycle parking. Not to mention that some parking garages provide discounted rates to motorcycles.

Downside of Electric Motorcycles

The biggest strike against electric motorcycles right now is the range. Currently the average range is about 70 to 80 miles on a charge. The Zero S for example, will get 70 miles on a charge in average, in-town traffic. However the Brammo,Empulse 10.0 is expected to have a 100 mile range when released, and the Zero ZF9 is expected to have a 114 mile range. So we are seeing improvements quickly in the field.

Right now the easiest way to buy an electric motorcycle is via the manufacturer’s website, which of course makes it difficult to take for a test ride in advance. Zero has worked out a deal with some motorcycle retailers allowing customers to do test rides at those locations. Brammo has started selling its motorcycle at select Best Buy locations in California and Oregon. Electric Motorsports only has four retail locations total right now.

Build your Own

Depending on the amount of money spent on the bike and parts, it is possible to build an electric motorcycle for less than the cost of buying a new one. By building an electric motorcycle, the look, maximum speed, and many other things can be customized to suit.

Do an internet search and it’s possible to find multiple websites dedicated to building an electric motorcycle at home. One can also find books on the subject at many book stores. The basics usually involve taking a gas powered motorcycle, tearing it apart, and building a new bike out of it. The catch to building your own electric motorcycle is the need for space, tools and equipment, and a certain amount of tech savvy.

 

In Summary

It is possible we haven’t seen much on a market in electric motorcycles due to the limited range, the fact that most motorcycles already get decent gas mileage, or just the lack of mass-market appeal of those being manufactured now.

As with some new technologies, it might just be a factor of time before we start witnessing electric motorcycles and scooters riding down the road. Until that happens, there are a few small manufactures to choose from, but they are out there and they are making fantastic advances in technology and styling that will hopefully begin to appeal to the environmentally conscious and the mass market consumers.

Notes:

• Updated 01/19/2012
• Select the images above to be taken directly to the manufacturer website