RIDE INVESTIGATES
Are RiDE readers ready to take the plunge? It’s a highly charged issue, as our investigation finds
Pictures Bauer Archive
THE MOTORCYCLE INDUSTRY is undergoing a technological revolution, as governments around the world strive for a greener future and less reliance on fossil fuels.
The internal combustion engine (ICE) has found itself under increasing scrutiny, with manufacturers now busy exploring alternative options – such as battery electric – for the next generation of bikes.
“Transport is one of the most important sectors for achieving net zero by 2050,” Transport secretary Mark Harper said in March. “We must accelerate our efforts to decarbonise how people get from A to B while growing our economy and supporting thousands of green jobs.”
Current plans are set to see the smallest-capacity bikes (L3e-A1; 125cc-sized petrol bikes) disappear from showrooms in 2030, with all other petrol motorcycles being banned by 2035.
While many manufacturers are keen to pursue other avenues of future propulsion, a steady stream of electrics have already emerged providing everything from last-mile delivery transport to high-end, plug-in superbikes and adventure tourers from the likes of Energica and Zero. However, while there’s plenty of choice, public reception has been mixed.
In a recent poll on RiDE’s ride5000miles Facebook group, just 16% of 460 respondents said they would consider an electric bike as their next motorcycle. This is backed up by the fact that year-to-date sales of electric bikes were down by 51.8% as of May, compared to the same period in 2022.
Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) figures also show that just five 47bhp-plus electric ‘big bikes’ were sold in May – a61.5% decline over last year. The best performer was the 125-equivalent category, with 222 bikes sold - still 14.9% down on last year.
The infrastructure
Many riders’ concerns surround charge times and poor charging infrastructure.
That said, by 2035 the government aims to have 6000 ultra-rapid, open-access charge points across England’s motorways and major A-roads, with more also promised in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It’s also estimated that, in eight years’ time, the UK will have 10 million vehicles on the road fitted with a plug.
Range worries
There’s also the issue of range, with many larger premium electric machines not yet able to match their ICE counterparts at a normal leisure riding pace.
Arc Motorcycles boss Mark Truman says brands need to showcase the performance capabilities of electric to get more people on side.
“If we c
