There's no hiding the fact that EV's, however many wheels they have, are priced higher that their petrol or diesel equivalents. Here's five reasons why we think this is the case, and what we are doing to tackle it.
Battery Technology: One of the main components of an electric motorcycle is its battery, which can account for a significant portion of the total cost. While battery technology has been improving rapidly in recent years, it is still relatively expensive to produce.
What Are We Doing About It?
Buck City Biker source our batteries from the biggest manufacturers in the world. We use either CATL and LG cells that are not only highly reliable but produced in a huge scale, allowing us to take advantage of the economies that these manufacturers enjoy.
We also offer a choice of battery options with 90% of our EV's. Allowing our customer to reduce their purchase price if they don't need the mileage of the bigger lithium packs.
Limited Market: Electric motorcycles are not yet as popular as their petrol-powered counterparts, which means that there is a smaller market for them. This can lead to higher prices due to economies of scale.
What Are We Doing About It?
We not only relentlessly advertise our products but we also spend a lot of time, effort and money educating the biker world on the advantages and disadvantages (there aren't many disadvantages) of going electric. The more people give it a go, the more will realise that it is a fantastic way to ride.
Import Tariffs: Some electric motorcycles are manufactured overseas and imported into the UK, which can result in additional costs such as import tariffs and shipping fees.
What Are We Doing About It?
We have negotiated excellent freight costs with a leading worldwide shipping agent. This not only means we can import products at a hugely reduced cost (currently 25% compared to 1 year ago) but also that we can export to almost anywhere in the world. This means more products on the road and further reduced costs. What we can't change is import tarrifs, for that, we look to Whitehall.
Research and Development Costs: Electric motorcycles are a relatively new technology, and as such, manufacturers have had to invest heavily in research and development. These costs are often passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices.
What Are We Doing About It?
For now, Buck City Biker have foregone Bluetooth technology, remote battery monitoring and advanced connectivity. Although these facilities are useful and the gadgets fun to play with, they take up valuable r&d time and funds. Our philosophy is that riding our bikes should be like the good old days. Turn the key and ride into the sunset. (Or April showers if your in the UK).
Limited Infrastructure: The lack of infrastructure, such as charging stations, for electric motorcycles in the UK can also contribute to their higher cost. The cost of installing and maintaining charging stations can be significant, and this cost may be reflected in the price of the motorcycle.
What Are We Doing About It:
We are developing our own rapid charge solution. This will take time but will be useable at home, at the charge station or at any UK plug socket. It will be an affordable add-on that can be retro fitted to our bikes even after purchase. This kind of simple and technologically advanced equipment will make a big difference to our bikers and also means they don't have to rely of large scale infrastructure to enjoy their electric motorcycles or electric scooter over and over again.
Overall, while electric motorcycles are generally more expensive than their petrol-powered counterparts, their cost is expected to decrease as battery technology improves and the market for them grows. We keep an eye on all these things and adjust our prices regularly to reflect the changing market. So keep come back to our website, you never know, you might be surprised by what you find. www.buckcitybiker.co.uk
Comments