Riding
ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLES
HIGH Could improvements in battery technology
combined with stricter emissions restrictions
and increasing demand for cheaper personal
transport see the rise of the electric motorcycle?
WORDS: LEON POULTNEY
www.electrichybridvehicletechnology.com // July 2019 // 69
Arecent Global Market Insights
study stated that the electric
motorcycles and scooters market
will see a compound annual
growth rate of more than 10% in
the coming years, with global shipments
projected to surpass 60 million units by 2024.
Although not typically associated with
battery power and electric motors, an increase
in demand for small, aff ordable commuter and
delivery scooters in the world’s largest cities
will likely make up a large bulk of this
predicted growth, but that’s not to say the
motorcycle community in general isn’t looking
toward electrifi cation for answers.
Just like their four-wheeled counterparts,
motorcycles face the same strict emissions
regulations when it comes to inner-city air
quality, while changing customer attitudes
towards the fi nancial benefi ts of running
an electric vehicle means there is now
su cient demand.
Harley-Davidson, one of the world’s most
famous makers of loud and powerful
machines, opened up its Project LiveWire
to customers last year in order to gauge
reaction to a near-silent all-electric Hog.
Feedback has been largely positive and the
motorcycle itself, with a lithium-ion battery
pack and permanent magnet motor that
delivers a 0-100km/h sprint in under three
seconds and a realistic city range of 225km (140
miles), is now on sale with deliveries expected
later this year.
Regardless, there are still many hurdles that
face the motorcycle manufacturing
community. Firstly, packaging is a big issue, as
fi tting the larger battery packs and powerful
electric motors that off er both performance
and range is di cult.
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