Why don't I see more electric motorbikes and scooters?
Discussion
As above really, I was reflecting this morning as various motorbikes and scooters on the commute passed me. I see fewer bikes (like none!) than cars powered by electrons (like quite a lot!).
I get that for 'leisure' there is still a preference for noise and feel of a combustion engine, but I would have though that for commuting / functional there is a lot of advantage to a battery?
I get that for 'leisure' there is still a preference for noise and feel of a combustion engine, but I would have though that for commuting / functional there is a lot of advantage to a battery?
Still early days for proper leccy motorcycles I think and seem to be hugely expensive.
Dunno how they'll develop but I think there is room for scaling them like petrol bikes so there are 125/250/600/1000+ electric equivalents and they're priced in the same brackets as current petrol bikes.
Dunno how they'll develop but I think there is room for scaling them like petrol bikes so there are 125/250/600/1000+ electric equivalents and they're priced in the same brackets as current petrol bikes.
Commuters tend to ride motorcycles as either a time- or money-saving exercise.
A new electric motorcycle is far more expensive than its petrol-powered brethren to buy, and the secondhand market of electric bikes is tiny. They are also relatively expensive to insure.
Running cost savings aren't massive either. A 125cc motorbike will do up to 120mpg, even my 800cc machine managed to do more than 70mpg on a run yesterday. That means the payback time is far longer, and as motorbike tend to do lower mileages than cars, they may never reach the break-even point in the bikes lifetime.
A new electric motorcycle is far more expensive than its petrol-powered brethren to buy, and the secondhand market of electric bikes is tiny. They are also relatively expensive to insure.
Running cost savings aren't massive either. A 125cc motorbike will do up to 120mpg, even my 800cc machine managed to do more than 70mpg on a run yesterday. That means the payback time is far longer, and as motorbike tend to do lower mileages than cars, they may never reach the break-even point in the bikes lifetime.
Within a city Id say an electric cycle is more than enough for commuting on, tax and insurance free.
Outside a city, agree with other comments, there is no big tax benefit, most electric car sales are driven by company/lease cars, just as it was with the big move to diesel 20 years ago. So little financial benefit for being a guinea pig for something that will depreciate quickly as technology advances.
The govt is struggling to get people to buy electric cars, even when using tax payers money to subsidise the market demand seems to have stalled.....
Outside a city, agree with other comments, there is no big tax benefit, most electric car sales are driven by company/lease cars, just as it was with the big move to diesel 20 years ago. So little financial benefit for being a guinea pig for something that will depreciate quickly as technology advances.
The govt is struggling to get people to buy electric cars, even when using tax payers money to subsidise the market demand seems to have stalled.....
I think a lot of motorcycles are purchased, at least in part, because of the image, whether that's arse in the air sports bike riders, Ewan and Charlie ADV bike riders, hipster retro bike riders or Sons of Anarchy accountants on baggers and cruisers (or any other group you'd like to identify) and electric bikes just don't tick any of the image boxes.
They're also pretty heavy if you want anything like a decent range with decent performance with recharge times that put many people off
They're also pretty heavy if you want anything like a decent range with decent performance with recharge times that put many people off
boyse7en said:
.... even my 800cc machine managed to do more than 70mpg on a run yesterday. .....
You definitely need to try harder! Having recently driver right throught the spine of london at 20mph I fail to see why anyone would want a real car or motorcycle.
If they were sold as only capable of 20mph I would enjoy it more.
Inner city london motoring/biking may as well be something electric with really soft suspension.
Clueless manufacturers just churn out the same unsuitable rubbish like an oil tanker with a stuck rudder.
If they were sold as only capable of 20mph I would enjoy it more.
Inner city london motoring/biking may as well be something electric with really soft suspension.
Clueless manufacturers just churn out the same unsuitable rubbish like an oil tanker with a stuck rudder.
Biker9090 said:
I'd put money on it that a LOT of the electric cars you see are on a salary sacrifice scheme - not aware of any for bikes - which make them VASTLY cheaper than some of the ICE versions
100% this. Only reason we have a EV, think it costs us £320 a month (excluding the loss of pension contributions) to have a brand new Cupra Born, fully insured and maintained. And I've not even factored in the cost savings of actually running itMore and more of the fleet car schemes are available now than ever before and not just limited to seniors in organisations as part of their remuneration package, or indeed staff who actually need them to do their job.
My current workplace uses lovelectric.com as a "staff perk" (our car is with the Mrs' job via NHS fleet solutions) - which is also a organisation perk as they pay less pension contributions for staff that use it.
hondajack85 said:
Having recently driver right throught the spine of london at 20mph I fail to see why anyone would want a real car or motorcycle
I drive around London occasionally and whilst parts are walking pace, other parts I'm regularly seeing 60+If you're not getting above 20mph regularly on a motorcycle, no matter where, you're doing it wrong
Possibly lack of encouragement/coercion. When I went to China (already a few years back) I was surprised to see that all the scooters were electric. I am not sure if it was just specific to where I was. Presumably there had been an edict from the party (again I assume for air quality reasons).
If I were buying a scooter for getting around town and local journeys I would consider electric. Not for my fun bike of course.
If I were buying a scooter for getting around town and local journeys I would consider electric. Not for my fun bike of course.
KTMsm said:
hondajack85 said:
Having recently driver right throught the spine of london at 20mph I fail to see why anyone would want a real car or motorcycle
I drive around London occasionally and whilst parts are walking pace, other parts I'm regularly seeing 60+If you're not getting above 20mph regularly on a motorcycle, no matter where, you're doing it wrong
snagzie said:
the cueball said:
A new EV bike can't compete with the expense and running costs of my old Pan.
Simple really.
I've looked at them twice now... they just can't compete.
Colour me surprised that running an old vehicle could be cheaper than running a new vehicle!Simple really.
I've looked at them twice now... they just can't compete.
Sometimes you have to point out the obvious to people...
boyse7en said:
Running cost savings aren't massive either. A 125cc motorbike will do up to 120mpg, even my 800cc machine managed to do more than 70mpg on a run yesterday. That means the payback time is far longer, and as motorbike tend to do lower mileages than cars, they may never reach the break-even point in the bikes lifetime.
My Honda Grom has got as much as 177mpg before. At 270ish miles to around £10 to fill, you'd have to do an awful lot of miles to pay off even a £1000 price difference. That said, I think a lot of bikes are purchased as toys. Lots of bikers want their bikes to be loud, fast and desirable, unfortunately no one makes an electric motorbike that fulfills all those criteria! Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff