With rising petrol prices and the release of plug-in
electric and hybrid cars, the auto industry (as well as this blog!) have given
the electric car revolution significant attention over the past two years.
However, with all of the attention on the electric cars, a smaller adaption of
the technology may have been overlooked – electric motorcycles.
electric and hybrid cars, the auto industry (as well as this blog!) have given
the electric car revolution significant attention over the past two years.
However, with all of the attention on the electric cars, a smaller adaption of
the technology may have been overlooked – electric motorcycles.
A new report by Pike Research, a clean technology
consulting firm, predicts that the worldwide number of electric motorcycles and
scooters will skyrocket from 17 million today to 138 million by 2017. The
report predicts that electric motorcycles, in particular, will be popular in
North America – not just in China.
consulting firm, predicts that the worldwide number of electric motorcycles and
scooters will skyrocket from 17 million today to 138 million by 2017. The
report predicts that electric motorcycles, in particular, will be popular in
North America – not just in China.
The benefits of electric motorcycles and scooters lie
in their (potentially) relatively low capital cost, they do not take a lot of
space and are easy to maintain, therefore making them attractive for city
dwellers. Unlike an electric car, one could conceivably charge an electric
scooter in one’s back yard.
in their (potentially) relatively low capital cost, they do not take a lot of
space and are easy to maintain, therefore making them attractive for city
dwellers. Unlike an electric car, one could conceivably charge an electric
scooter in one’s back yard.
Whilst the mainstream technology is still several
years away, there is already a product on the market for the early adopters – the
Sora, being developed by Lito Green Motion. However, at US$43,000, it’s
anything but ‘low cost’ for now!
years away, there is already a product on the market for the early adopters – the
Sora, being developed by Lito Green Motion. However, at US$43,000, it’s
anything but ‘low cost’ for now!