The Rise of Electric Motorcycles

While they still seem like something straight out of the future, the origins of electric motorcycles actually trace back to the 1800s. That said, a modern history which directly connects to today’s market arguably began in earnest just over 15 years ago with the twin launches of Mission Motors and Zero Motorcycles, which were founded by former Tesla and NASA engineers, respectively.

Since then many other makes have joined (and oftentimes, as in the case of Mission Motors, subsequently exited) the market to jockey for position in this emerging sector.

Today’s electric motorcycle buyer is blessed with an expensive and vibrant range of selections across categories, with an abundance of products now available for purchase, both from dedicated electric motorcycle startups and legacy motorcycle manufacturers.

Bears and Bulls

As manufacturers new and traditional rush to join the party, the electric motorcycle market is one widely expected to boom long-term, with forecasts predicting exponential growth over the next decade.

However, that rosy outlook has been somewhat offset by a more recent stall – one that syncs with a similar trend with electric cars – now that early adopters have already adopted and the mainstream has yet to fully embrace the shift..

While it bears continued monitoring, the mid- and, especially, long-term outlook remains positive, as the technology continues to rapidly improve and riders at large become more and more comfortable with the idea of electric motorcycles.

Why Go Electric?

There are a multitude of reasons a rider might want to give an electric bike a go.

Compared with their internal combustion engine (ICE) counterparts, electric motorcycles boast extraordinarily simplicity of use. That goes from the actual act of riding – where single ratio transmissions allow you to simply twist and go sans clutch and shifter – as well as in terms of maintenance, with fewer moving parts, no gas, no oil, and no exhaust systems to worry about.

Electric motorcycles also offer specific performance advantages, including instantaneous torque along with smooth and predictable power delivery, combining to deliver remarkable acceleration. Ideal battery placement also helps provide a low center of mass and resultant sweet handling characteristics. 

Of course, there is also the lack of emissions and fuel savings to consider, helping both the environment and your wallet.

And finally, they are just different – novel, untraditional, and possessing that aforementioned and intrinsic connection with the future.

Why Not?

As we just said, electric motorcycles are different.

For many, the visceral nature of motorcycles is very much the allure… the sounds, the smells, and the feel of an intricately complex gas-powered motor rumbling beneath them.

Remove that and the experience is… well, again, different.

Additionally, the range of electric motorcycles is typically limited, which to date has effectively rendered the vast majority of electric motorcycles urban commuters and quick sprinters rather than cross-country highway roamers (yet another primary appeal for a not insignificant subset of riders).

I’m Still In. Do I Need a License?

The short answer is yet.

The short-ish answer is that while electric bicycles, seated scooters, and standing scooters can often be operated without a special license, electric motorcycles capable of speeds greater than 20 mph unassisted are generally regulated just like standard motorcycles and thus require a motorcycle license.

Who’s Who?

The electric motorcycle market is still very much one in flux – with new contenders eagerly jumping in and others are simultaneously forced out as the winners and losers slowly come into focus. 

Zero Motorcycles is still very much in play and a leader in the market, offering a wide range of bikes that include sport and standard street bikes, dual-sport machines, scooters, and offroad machines.

Energica is a high-end Italian manufacturer founded in 2014, however, its future is now in question despite offering products that challenge high-end ICE sport bikes.

And if Energica challenged them, Lightning Motorcycles humbled conventional supersport machines with the LS-218 – a bike named after its record-breaking top speed. Lightning is now boasting record-breaking charging times in an attempt to knock down that key hurdle slowing adoption.

In terms of legacy manufacturers, Harley-Davidson is one of the major players in the electric motorcycle market with its LiveWire line of bikes.

Also increasingly getting in on the action of the likes of BMW, Kawasaki, Honda, and Ducati – the latter which produce the racebikes utilized in the FIM Moto-E World Cup.

The Times Are A-Changin’

Whether you think electric motorcycles are for you or not, it’s best to pay attention. 

Reduced charging times, swappable batteries, and the widespread emergence of charging stations make electric motorcycles a more viable option by the day.

And further technological innovations will inevitably transform these already incredible performers into machines that are that much more capable.

The promise is clear. And the future? Well, the future is electric.