Misplaced Ions
Canadamotoguide.com recently reported that B.C.-based electric motorcycle manufacturer Damon sold out its stock in just four days.
“The Zero S is a Perfect Electric Motorcycle, Made Better,” wrote Bloomberg.com’s Hannah Elliott.
Indeed, “Electric motorcycle sales are up by 100/200/300 per cent” scream so many press releases. The intimation is always the same: gone are the days of the piston. Say hello to the high-performance anode. Electric motorcycles are taking over, here and now. So saith the soothsayers.
That’s all well and good, except for one little question: “Have you ever actually seen an electric motorcycle on the road?” An actual privately owned electric motorcycle being ridden by an actual owner?
I only ask because I – he who still stops at every parked bike to peruse its “history” – have never seen a battery-powered motorcycle in the wild. In fact, in researching this article, with 17-inch wheels, full-size ergonomics and, well, a motor – it’s no longer an engine! – capable of something more than 50 km/h.
