The benefits of an electric motorcycle: why you need an electric motorbike

Posted in: Driving Tips, News.

Electric motorcycles might seem a new concept, but they are quickly becoming a popular option for bike riders across the UK. More electric bike options are becoming available on the market and more riders are converting to take advantage of the electric motorbike benefits. But that is the difference between ‘normal’ motorcycles and their electric motorbike and electric scooter counterparts?  Why should you convert? What exactly are the benefits of an electric motorcycle?

What is an electric motorcycle?

Simply put, an electric scooter or motorcycle is powered by electricity instead of petrol.  It does not have an engine like most motorcycles. Instead it is powered solely by a rechargeable battery and electric motors. Just like petrol bikes, electric bikes come in all shapes and sizes.  And just like petrol bikes, you still need to have the correct driving licence and valid tax, MOT and insurance, as well as suitable protective riding attire.

You will need to buy a hybrid or electric motorbike

The motoring world is moving towards a greener, more environmentally friendly, way of working. With climate change being a cause for concern and natural fuel resources running low, it makes sense to move into an electronic age. Which is why, by 2040, the sale of new petrol and diesel fueled motorcycles will be banned (with the exception of hybrids). This means that in about 20 years time, you will no longer be able to buy a petrol or diesel motorcycle. Only electric and hybrid bikes will be available.  So yes, eventually you will need to buy n electric motorbike. But, this is actually good news as there are lots of benefits of an electric motorcycle.

Electric Motorbike Benefits for you

There are lots of electric motorbike benefits for you. These include:

• Instant torque and power. Electric motorcycles have fantastic power and are very fast. With 100% instant torque, you get a rapid acceleration that a fuel powered bike cannot match.  The delivery of this torque is linear, which also means you won’t get the surge feeling you get with fuel powered bikes.  Some of you might miss this feeling, others, not so much.
• Less maintenance.  An electric bike has one moving part, just one.  It does not have oil, spark plugs, air filters or timing belts and some electric bikes won’t even have a gearbox or clutch.  So unlike with your fuel motorbike which has lots of moving parts, you won’t have to spend your time getting messy by cleaning and oiling things like the chain.  The only maintenance you’ll need to carry out is on the tyres, brake pads and  hydraulic fluid, which will all last longer as the electric motor does most of the braking.
• A quieter ride.  Electric bikes are naturally much quieter than fuel powered bikes. This is great for riders who like to talk or listen to music and it is much more gentle on the ears, so you won’t need ear protection. Fuel powered motorbikes are so loud that people often complain about their antisocial noise.  However, if you do think you’d miss the roar of your machine, some electric bike designers are adding an artificial noise.
• Perfect for city riding.  Most vehicles are not best suited to city riding, but electric bikes are.  This is because the regenerative braking that comes with city riding, actually recharges the battery, keeping the power in your machine for longer.
• Lightweight.  Electric bikes have less parts than a fuel powered one, which makes them more lightweight and agile.

Financial benefits of an electric motorbike

Yes, an electric bike might initially cost more than a fuel powered one, but in the long-run, you will make incredible savings.  A full charge to your motorcycle costs much less in energy bills than it would do in petrol or diesel.  On top of this there are lots of government incentives  on taxes and other motorbike related fees.  So while you might be paying more at the start, you will easily recover this money and go onto make massive savings each and every year.

And because electric motorcycles are easy to maintain and have just one moving part, you will also save money of services, repairs and maintenance.

Get a grant towards your new bike

If the above benefits weren’t enough to get your electric motor running, did you know you might also be eligible for a grant to pay towards your new bike?

The UK government has created a new incentive called ‘the plug-in motorcycle grant’.  This grant can entitle you to up to £1500 grant to put towards the cost of your new bike.  Designed to encourage more electric bike riders and help the environment, you could get up to 20% of the total purchase price of your bike, paid for by the government.  This is currently available on the following bike models:

• ALL Zero Motorcycles
• BMW C evolution
• Energica Ego and Eva models
• Scutum Silence S02
• Torrot Muvi
• Vmoto 100 and 120 models

Other benefits of an electric motorcycle

By using electric instead of petrol or diesel motorcycles, we not only benefit ourselves.  We also benefit the global community.  Electric motorcycles:

• Reduce our collective carbon footprint
• Lowers CO2 emissions caused by road traffic
• Reduces noise pollution (and allows you to ride your bike first thing in the morning without waking the neighbourhood).

Even though there are less motorcycles on the road, they still produce 16% more smog than cars (according to CARB’s mobile source emissions inventory).  This is because motorcycle engines are mostly unregulated. In fact, the last time there was an attempt to regulate motorbike engines was in 2008, when the recession hit.  While cars, over the last 25 years, have been heavily regulates and so, have become much cleaner.

Buying an electric motorcycle-your concerns 

At the moment, there isn’t a massive range of electronic motorbikes designs and styles available.  And what is available, can seem a little costly when compared to petrol/diesel bikes. On top of this there are worries over recharging.  Running out of power, having to find a place to recharge and having to wait hours for the bike to recharge are all concerns we have.

However, changes are coming that will eliminate all of these concerns.  There are more electric bikes, in different designs and styles, being created and scheduled for release.  As the number of electric motorbikes available for purchase continues to increase, the prices should begin to drop to a range we are more familiar with. So in the near future we should see a bigger range of electronic bikes, at a more affordable price.

Electric motorcycles at CMG

The Chelsea Motorcycles Group (CMG) stocks a wide range of electric bikes and scooters that are perfect for both new and veteran riders.  To test ride an electric motorbike and see these benefits for yourself, contact CMG now, or visit their Fulham based showroom.

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