The age of the electric vehicle is truly here. Electric cars have come a long way in recent years, but are electric motorcycles growing in popularity? What is the benefit of these? Is it really any better than buying a gas motorcycle in the long-run?
Some people claim that the cost of manufacture means any benefits are evened out, or even equal to being worse for the environment. This is a myth, and in this post, we weigh up the pros of electric motorcycles against traditional gasoline models.
What is an Electric Motorcycle?
At a glance, you wouldn’t know there was a difference between electric and gasoline motorcycles. Rather than a gas-powered engine, they have a battery.
The fact that they have a battery means they tend to be a little bigger than an electric scooter, and the battery is also designed to last for longer. This is called the “range”.
Some people confuse electric bicycles with electric motorbikes. These are bicycles that are supported by an electric motor and can be pedaled if you need to take over.
An electric motorcycle is designed to go at much higher speeds than scooters. In an ideal world, the only difference between electric and gasoline models is that the electric models are much quieter.
Eco Benefits of Electric Motorbikes
A lot of people want to know if an electric motorbike is better than a gasoline motorcycle over the course of its lifetime. Though it is undeniable that the economic benefits on a day-to-day basis are clear, vehicles come with a cost to the environment when they are manufactured.
It is estimated that small vehicles, like motorcycles, that have an electric motor, need to reach 70,000km in their life for the benefits to outweigh the manufacturing cost to the environment. If those are miles you are going to be doing anyway, then the electric motorbike justifies the initial manufacturing impact.
Another consideration is where the factories get their power. When you start to delve into these factors it can be hard to work out the specifics of the benefits, but it is pretty clear that over the lifetime of your bike, electric is probably the way to go.
The benefits you will experience on a daily basis when you are using your electric bike include:
- Instant torque and power. This is one of the top tips for motorcycle riders moving to electric – you will love the acceleration. The torque can’t be matched by a gasoline engine.
- Electric bikes only actually have a single moving part. The construction is way simpler. This means that you don’t have a gearbox, clutch, timing belt…all of these things are potential issues that can crop up or things that need to be fixed or replaced in the future. Electric bikes need much less maintenance.
- Electric motorcycles are quieter. Some people do enjoy the feel and roar of an engine, but in most scenarios, the quieter motorbike is far preferable. Some electric bikes even add this noise artificially.
- Electric motorbikes are great for use in the city. The range is perfect for this, and you can also use your electric bike to get around when traffic is heavy.
Electric vs Gas Motorcycles, Who Won?
It’s hard to compare the two side by side and say there is one clear winner. However, eventually, electric motorcycles will win.
Gas engines just can’t reach the same level of efficiency that an electric motor offers, and as technology improves, the one big downside of electric motorcycles will disappear. This disadvantage is the range. A good electric motorcycle might get you 100 miles of range. This is perfect for driving around a city, but for long distances it means regular stops to get your battery recharged.
Electric vehicles are becoming the norm, which means there will be more charging points, better engines, and more of a second-hand market for the vehicles making them cheaper in general.
For the moment, there are pros and cons, but the benefits of electric motorcycles seem likely to continue to grow, and gas vehicles will even start to be phased out as time goes on.
About the Author
David Martin is a marketing executive and paralegal assistant for Motorcyclelawyerla.com. He has established himself as a prominent author in personal injury matters. In his free time, you can find him playing golf in the public courses.
This piece was prepared online by Panuruji Kenta, Publisher, SEVENSEAS Media