Mark D’Antonio, Zondits staff, 3/25/2022.
There’s a lot of buzz in the air about electric vehicles (EV), particularly cars, trucks and charging infrastructure. But another revolution is happening in the EV world, too – motorcycles. According to MarketResearchFuture.com, the electric motorcycles market is projected to be worth $58.4 billion by 2027, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12% during the forecast period (2021–2027). As an indicator of the market, Harley Davidson announced last year that it will spin out (pun intended) its electric motorcycle division LiveWire sometime in Q2 of 2022. Harley forecasts sales of over 100,000 electric bikes in 2026, and by 2030, roughly 190,000 bikes generating $3 billion in revenue. Compared with this year’s forecast of 186,000 traditional motorcycle shipments, that’s a rapid roll-out for Harley.
In addition to existing well-known manufacturers like Harley and KTM, numerous other companies have introduced a variety of electric motorcycle options. Companies such as Zero, Lightning, Energetica, Arc Vector, Damon, SurRon, and Segway all offer 2022 models. Road bikes, trail bikes, scooters, and larger e-bikes are all available on the market today, and growth in the segment is rapid. The performance and cost of ownership are becoming comparable for some bike options, and there is little debate that electric motorcycles are here to stay. An article from Monimoto.com on electric motorcycles for 2022 notes:
Recently, electric bikes have become a great option for many commuters as well as those who just want to have fun riding a battery-powered motorcycle. Recharge times are dropping as technology improves, and range is increasing at breakneck speed. So much so that the newest installation of LWR, the Long Way Up, featuring co-stars Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman, was done entirely on electric bikes. If those two switched to Harley-Davidson Livewires for their trip across the Americas, it’s clear where we’re all headed.
For reviews of performance, cost, range, and other considerations as well as guides, check out the links at the bottom of this article (Zondits does not endorse any products and receives no compensation for products featured in linked articles).
To share a personal experience, I recently purchased a small, lightweight dirt bike to use for maintaining trails and forest roads. Given that the model I wanted was only sold by one dealer several thousand miles away, I had to purchase it sight unseen. Even though all the online reviews were great, I still had a bit of trepidation and wasn’t quite sure if I would like the bike. When I received and assembled it, I was more than pleasantly surprised in all regards. No more gas, no more oil, no more noise – just an incredible power to weight ratio with simple operation. After one season in the woods, so far so good.
In closing, Monimoto.com gets it right when they state: Electric motorcycles are here to stay, and their production will only ramp up and get better. The options will increase, too. This is the future, and it’s time to jump on board! If you own or are planning to purchase an electric motorcycle, safety, range, power, and comfort are things you should look out for. Remember: To have a great riding experience for a long time, proper and regular maintenance is key. But so is the fun factor….
For more on electric motorcycles, check out these links: