Electric car sales are increasing rapidly and the latest models’ large batteries and fast-charging abilities eliminate concerns about range anxiety, but we’ve yet to see anything comparable in the motorcycle market as manufacturers continue to wrestle to create EV two-wheelers that are better than the existing petrol-powered machines.
And that’s the key to success. The recent boom in electric car sales might be partially encouraged by tax breaks or the prospect of lower running costs, but the real tipping point that’s drawing customers in their direction is the fact they’re now better than combustion engine vehicles in many ways. Instant torque, plentiful power, unbeatable smoothness and increasingly affordable pricing means that for many drivers they’ve become the logical choice rather than the eco-friendly statement that they once represented.
But on two wheels the tipping point at which a battery-electric model becomes more tempting than a conventional ICE machine still seems far over the horizon. Sure, battery power makes sense for inner-city commuter bikes with no need for high-speed or long-distance ability, but as soon as must-haves like speed, range and handling are thrown into the mix the electric options diminish to the point of non-existence.
It comes down to a question of energy density. The lithium-ion battery pack needed to give a Tesla Model S a real-world range of around 500km weighs more than 500kg. In comparison, a similar-sized car achieving an unimpressive 10L/100km would need 50 litres of petrol – about 40kg-worth – to manage the same range.
In a car, the extra weight can be tucked
