Why electric powered two-wheelers are charging ahead

The shift to electrification isn’t something that’s gripping passenger vehicles. Powered two-wheelers are also seeing a surge in uptake in electric motorcycles as customers begin to see the benefits of the technology – partly due to their lifestyles and partly due to the increasing cost of fuel.

April 2022 registration figures show a 68% increase for electric motorcycles over the previous year and the electric segment now represents 6.3% of the total market, with lower powered scooters plugging the transport gap for commuters, as employees return to work on a more regular basis and are looking for an economical, reliable, and convenient way to travel according to the MCIA.

“It is a real delight to see such a buoyant market for the sector overall. We are experiencing excellent growth across the board which includes larger capacity motorcycles predominantly used for leisure and sport. The sector is seeing a real growth spurt and long may it continue,” said Tony Campbell, CEO of MCIA.

The industry will hope that the uptake of electrified motorcycles and scooters – and their combustion counterparts – continues, especially as the increased consideration of powered two wheelers and other L-Category vehicles within Government transport and road planning continues.

It’s another piece to the mobility puzzle as the automotive industry continues to reduce its impact on the environment, part of which means tempting many drivers away from their single-occupancy cars, especially where walking, cycling and public transport are not viable alternatives.

It isn’t all about scooters

There are a plethora of electric scooters on the market, but until larger capacity motorcycles embrace electrification, it may seem that the industry isn’t completely embracing the technology.

But manufacturers are developing the vehicles that will come to dealerships, from Harley Davidson and Triumph, to smaller start-up firms such as Maeving.

Triumph’s latest project could be a window into how successful electric motorcycles can be.

The firm is collaborating with Williams Advanced Engineering, Integral Powertrain and WMG at the University of Warwick funded by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles through Innovate UK, to create something more exciting than 11kW urban bikes.

The TE-1 project is gaining traction and live testing of the motorcycle is starting. It’s worth keeping an eye on, because if Triumph and its partners can deliver an electrified motorcycle that is more than just an urban scooter, the industry will begin to catch up with developments in the passenger vehicle world. And as the recent registration data shows, there’s an appetite among customers for combustion alternatives.

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