Electric motorcycles are part of the whole initiative to bring all sorts of electric vehicles into the mainstream. This article discusses some of the bigger issues, while focusing on a few American companies that are leading the way. Look for more coverage to come as we continue to get further plugged in…
Native, Brammo and Zero are three U.S. electric motorcycle manufacturers that within the past three years have begun offering road-legal models for under $10,000, a price considered attainable by average consumers.
Alongside their move into a world long dominated by gasoline power, questions persist: Will they merely carve a small niche and go no further? Will they have what it takes to earn increasing respect? Could there even come a day when they take preeminence over traditional motorcycles?
According to a study publicized mid-February by Boulder Colo.-based Pike Research, 466 million new electric-powered two wheelers will be sold between now and 2016.
"China is already switching at a rapid rate to small electric bikes..."
However, 95% of these sales are predicted to be in China. Of them, 56% will be electric scooters, 43% will be electric “motorcycles” – defined as any powered two-wheeler that can exceed 12 mph – and less than 1% will be electric bicycles.
In a country still dominated by foot and pedal-powered traffic, China is already switching at a rapid rate to small electric bikes, and is seen as having nowhere to go but toward greater acceptance of electric vehicles (EVs).
But what is “made in China” has a way of finding its way everywhere else. And besides this, the U.S., Europe and other nations have their own economic, political and technological motivations that together could jump start the electric motorcycle’s future.
A lot of money, innovation, and desire are already pushing to make it so.
Although the fledgling industry has yet to prove itself to some, its potential has already been bought by others, as evidenced in part by funding from private investment firms and government subsidies.
Electric vehicles are also gaining traction among those wanting to reduce dependence on foreign oil, cut global emissions, or just save a buck on their daily drive.
Advocates are dogmatic that electric motorcycles are ready – enough – to begin the road toward their goals, and some do predict a day when most people will no longer need or want gasoline-powered transportation.
Motorcycles are seen as a natural place to begin advancing the frontier because they can be built and sold for less money than cars, while delivering greater efficiency and performance.
And whether new electric cars such as Chevy’s Volt, Nissan’s Leaf, and others could be seen as additional votes of confidence, it’s at least clear that significant players in the global transportation industry agree that electric power is ready to be invested in.
What is more, intense research and development toward hybrid and all-electric powertrains is advancing in the face of otherwise depressing economic conditions.
Yes, despite a recession that led Suzuki this year to save money by importing essentially zero streetbikes to its U.S. lineup, others are risking money to let startups like Zero Motorcycles launch its first two road-legal machines.
California-based Zero is largely backed by a private equity firm, Invus. And according to Brammo Inc’s founder, Craig Bramscher, in addition to his own money, his Oregon-based company receives significant support from Best Buy Capital.
On the other hand, Electric Motorsport which produces its Native Cycles brand, has been around longer, is self-funded, and even helps its potential competitors on their way.
The California-based company runs its own “open source” parts distributorship, and for around 10 years has provided educational tech info, wiring schematics, electric motors, controllers, batteries and more needed by do-it-yourselfers or larger concerns to build electric vehicles.
Electric Motorsport’s President, Todd Kollin, says the company currently sells to 10 other motorcycle manufacturers. It began offering its own streetbikes and scooters in 2007 before Zero or Brammo, and in the past year began distinguishing them with the “Native Cycles” name.
According to Harlan Flagg, co-owner and founder of Hollywood Electrics, the first all-electric bike dealership in L.A., Native’s GPR-S street bike can be configured to a few performance levels, and sells for around $5,000 to $10,000 depending on setup.
With KTM, Yamaha, and others talking about entering the electric motorcycle market – and Honda having just announced its scooter-like “EV-neo electric motorcycle” – in question is whether U.S. companies will remain competitive when the big boys show up.
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