If you're interested in electric motorcycles but haven't taken the plunge yet, you've probably, no, definitely heard of 'inconveniences' that come with EV ownership. Strangely, we rarely hear of all the great plus-sides, so to address this, we've compiled a list. I'm not talking about saving the planet, just a few reasons that EV ownership, especially with 2 wheels, can be so much easier than owning a petrol counterpart on a day-to-day basis.
But hey, we try to be impartial, so lets start with some of the top objections to convenience that we hear.
THE BAD - Range Anxiety: We've dealt with this in a previous post but to cut a long story short, its a genuine worry that potential e-motorcycle and e-scooter owners have. It can be solved however, in the short term by increased journey planning and ensuring you have the right bike for the type of runs you'll be doing. But in the long term, with faster and 'rapid' charging solutions. These are just around the corner and even our small company is working on a solution for our customers. It wont be long before all bikes have a standard on-board fast charger that can be used at any public or private power point. When this happens, range anxiety disappears and 'refuelling' becomes as quick as with petrol.
That's all the negatives we've got time for. Now, lets get more positive, using electricity to power a vehicle can be more convenient for several reasons:
THE GOOD - Maintenance: We've all been there. About to hit the power on your favourite route, not been out for a while so you're raring to go. But wait, somethings not sounding right on the bike! All stop! Time for the endless scroll of research, mechanics, part finding and just a boring wait until you can next be out on the road. Even worse if your heading on the commute, now you need another way to work. This kind of problem is only in the past when you buy an electric motorbike or scooter.
Electric vehicles have much fewer moving parts than traditional petrol-powered vehicles, meaning there are fewer components that can wear out or break down, reducing the need for maintenance and repair. Engines need oil, water, liquid fuel and various lubricants, all of which cost money, create mess and have the potential to leak. Not to mention clutch and drive-train problems. Whereas electric motors are pretty much maintenance free. Especially hub motors which are a sealed unit that only has 1 moving part (the axle) and years if reliability. No mess, no grease, no fuss, just good clean fun.
It's worth mentioning that e-motorcycles and e-scooters aren't 100% maintenance free. Brakes still need monitoring like you would with any vehicle, and tyres wear as always, keep the battery charged. But apart from that, you're good to go.
Availability of Charging: Electricity is widely available, and charging stations are becoming increasingly common, at some point making it equally, if not more, convenient to charge an electric vehicle than to find a fuel station. The UK isn't quite there yet but in the meantime you'll find this most important at home, where an electrical outlet is common but a privately owned petrol pump is obviously rare. Not denying it would be great to own your our fuel station, but we aren't all billionaires, unfortunately. With at-home re-fuelling you potentially never have to stop again. You can leave home and make a round trip or to a friends house for an overnight. Either way you can charge for pennies whilst you enjoy your own time.
Cost: The cost of electricity per mile driven is generally lower than the cost of petrol, making it more economical in the long run to drive an EV.
Emissions: EVs produce zero emissions, making them a cleaner and more environmentally friendly choice for transportation. This helps when you're not smoking up the yard and, thankfully, not poisoning yourself. Plus, no fuel to handle, no funnels, wipes, rags or bottles. No Chain. Just a charger.
There is an argument that mining lithium, used in the batteries, has a larger carbon footprint that the production of a petrol engine, (which also involves precious earth metals). This rumour is unfounded. Overall EV's are more environmentally sustainable than their petrol equivalents.
Noise Pollution: Electric motors are much quieter than gasoline engines, obviously, making for a more peaceful driving experience. This isn't what all bikers are looking for, some just cant let go of the exhaust roar, and we get it, there's nothing more awesome, right? Well, some argue there is, namely more power and always being first off the line. It takes a few rides to get used to a quieter bike, but it's great having access to all the torque you could need at the twist of a wrist. Plus you can hear other road users coming up behind you. This means it's potentially safer.
Conclusion: Overall, the convenience of being able to charge an EV at home or at a charging station, combined with the lower cost of electricity and reduced maintenance requirements, make e-motorcycles and e-scooters a more convenient option for many people.
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