Electric motorcycles and scooters are vehicles with two or three wheels that use electric motors to attain locomotion. Electric motorcycles, as distinguished from scooters, do not have a step-through frame.
Increasingly accepted as capable, even appealing, forms of transportation, particularly in densely populated urban areas, electric two-wheel vehicles is a category that includes electric bicycles, electric kick scooters, electric motorcycles, and electric scooters. According to a recent report from Pike Research, worldwide sales of electric two-wheel vehicles (E2WVs) are expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.4% through 2016
History of electric motorcycles and scooters
• Late 1860s: Earliest references to electric motorcycles can be found in patents.
• 1911: Electric motorcycle available according to early Popular Mechanics article.
• 1920s: Ransomes, current makers of forklifts, explored the use of an electric powered motorcycle. This and other developments helped pave the way for the company to use electric mining cars and lorreys.
• Early 1940s: Fuel rationing in United States caused Earle Williams to convert a motorcycle to electric power. This became the basis for the formation of the ParCar from the Marketeer Company.
• 1941: Fuel rationing in Occupied Europe encouraged an Austrian company by the name of Socovel to create a small electric motorcycle. Approximately 400 were manufactured.
• 1967: First Fuel Cell powered electric motorcycle created by Karl Kordesch at Union Carbide debuts. Demonstrated the feasibility of fuel cells as a power source. This particular fuel cell was an alkili fuel cell that operated with hydrazine, a rocket fuel propellant.
• 1967: "Papoose" moped sized electric motorcycle prototype is created by Indian Motocycle Company under the direction of Floyd Clymer.
• Early 1970s: Aurenthetic Charger moped sized mini bike (small motorcycle) sold.
• 1973: Mike Corbin sets first electric motorcycle land speed record of 101 mph.
• 1974: Corbin-Gentry Inc. begins sale of street legal electric motorcycles.
• Professor Charles E. MacArthur makes first electric vehicle ascent on Mt. Washington, NH using a Corbin Electric motorcycle. The event evolved into an annual rally called the "Mt Washington Alternative Vehicle Regatta".
• 1978: Electric Harley Davidson MK2 created by Transitron manufactured in Honolulu, Hawaii.
• 1988: Eyeball Engineering creates KawaSHOCKi electric dragbike and is featured in a major magazine.
• 1996: Peugeot Scoot'Elec was the first mass production of an electric motorbike.
• Late 1990s: EMB Lectra VR24 electric motorbike pioneered the use of variable reluctance motors (hence the VR) and was marketed as street legal.
• 2000: Killacycle made a record run of 152 mph (245 km/h) at 9.4 s quarter mile (400-metre) time at Woodburn Drags 2000, OR.
• 2000s The development of lithium-ion batteries and powerful electric motors (originally for military applications) made mainstream electric motorcycles more feasible.
• 2007: A123 Li-Ion cell-powered Killacycle set a new quarter mile (400-metre) record of 7.824 seconds and 168 mph (270 km/h) in Phoenix, AZ at AHDRA 2007.
• 2008: Electra Green made by Orlando Tony Parker in Omaha, Nebraska was the first electric motorcycle made in the state of Nebraska.
• 2009 "The 24 Hours of Electricross", the first all electric dirtbike race.
• 2009 The first Time Trial Xtreme Grand Prix (TTXGP) all electric street motorcycle race took place on the Isle of Man.
• 2010 ElectroCat was the first electric motorcycle to climb pikes peak and set a record time in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb[
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages of electric over gasoline power:
1. The fuel costs for electric power are approximately 25% the cost of gasoline power (US, mid-2008; see Electric car running costs for the calculation)
2. Nearly silent
3. Better acceleration characteristics than the conventional motorcycles in the same speed category
4. Some motorcycles have a removable lithium ion batteries that can be charged using any 120/230V outlet outside of the motorcycle
5. Environmental friendly (no exhausted gases at point of use)
6. Carbon tax and vehicle registration tax exemption in some countries
7. No parking/congestion charges in some countries
8. No road tax in some countries
9. Using grid power to charge batteries causes less pollution than gasoline scooters; (MIT wheel to well analysis of EVs) the amount of emissions and residues caused depends on the sources of the electricity used
10. No trips needed to a gas station—can be recharged at home or in charging stations. But charging or battery swapping in service stations, when needed, are faster
11. It can be used in a V2G system
12. Lower maintenance costs and fewer maintenance activities
13. Can be ridden indoors
14. More affordable than electric cars
15. Many models dispense with a transmission or the need to shift gears, simplifying operation
16. Instant on / no warm-up time
17. Much lower amount of heat given off by motor than is typical for some internal combustion motorcycle engines
Disadvantages:
1. Up front costs may be higher than for a comparable gasoline powered motorcycle or scooter depending of the battery type used.
2. Shorter range before recharging.
3. Longer "fill up" or recharge time.
4. Lower maximum speed at similar price points.
5. Electric power outlets are often not conveniently located near streets or driveways.
6. Battery capacity can be as low as 20% on a cold winter day with -20 °C. This disadvantage could be solved by using a lithium batteries which hold their capacity even in a cold weather.
7. As it is already difficult for motorcycles to be "noticed" by drivers of cars and trucks, the loss of characteristic engine noise might make riding these even more dangerous than their internal combustion engine powered counterparts.
8. The user has to take care of the batteries even when the motorcycle is not in use