INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Media captionHow electric motorbikes are zooming forwardElectric cars have grabbed all the headlines, but what about electric motorbikes
They're quick, clean and quiet, and big manufacturers are waking up to their potential as legislators around the world bear down on vehicle
emissions.Richard Hatfield, boss of Silicon Valley-based electric motorbike maker Lightning Motorcycles, believes the experience of riding
his high-performance superbike borders on the divine."There's something almost magical about riding a bike where you twist the throttle and
you get this incredible acceleration: no noise, no vibration there's this seamless thrust," he enthuses
The first time he rode one felt like "the hand of God coming behind you and thrusting you up the road".Lightning's only production model,
the LS-218 can do 0-60mph in under two seconds and has a top speed of 218mph (361km/h)
All through battery power.In 2013, the company made history by winning the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb - "The Race to the Clouds" -
Image copyrightLightning MotorcyclesImage caption
Lightning Motorcycles boss Richard Hatfield thinks electric bikes have
a bright future
So Mr Hatfield knows that if his electric motorbikes are ever going to reach the mass market he's going to
have to roll out more affordable models in future
This has been the strategy of Zero Motorcycles, another Silicon Valley-based electric bike maker
Sam Paschel, the firm's chief executive, cites performance as the number one selling point for his bikes
"Like you'd see with a Tesla, the torque and power you have off the line, the acceleration, is on a different level from most gas [petrol]
motorcycles," says Mr Paschel, who also waxes lyrical about "instant torque at any speed." This is an electric engine's ability to apply
maximum power instantaneously whether it's just moving off or running at top speed - unlike a petrol engine, whose pulling power at
different speeds depends on which gear you're in and how much horsepower it has.Zero's most powerful model has a top speed of 100mph
(161km/h) and can accelerate to 60mph in about 3.5 seconds
That's on a par with some cheaper conventional models from the likes of BMW, Ducati and Honda
Image copyrightZero MotorcyclesImage caption
Zero Motorcycles produces six models of its electric motorbike
Mr Paschel cites an annual 8%-10% improvement in battery energy and power density as a "natural tailwind in performance and range" for
electric motorbikes.His team hand-makes 2,000-10,000 of them a year at their facility in the Santa Cruz mountains
The firm has seen annual double-digit sales growth since 2006, he says, with the US, France and Germany as their main markets.The firm
offers six models with a starting price of $8,500 for its 50-mile-range bike
For a longer range (100-200 miles) and more a powerful performance, you'll need a bigger battery, so you'd pay closer to $16,000
The battery is about half the cost of the bike
Most electric motorbikes can be charged using a standard power outlet, but a full recharge can take up to eight hours this way
For faster charging - one to two hours - you need a bike equipped with a fast-charging port that can make use of the existing car charging
Image copyrightEnergicaImage caption
A modified version of Energica Eco's bike will be used in the first MotoE series in
2019
Most mainstream bike makers are developing prototypes and even iconic brand Harley-Davidson has announced it will be
introducing an electric model to its range next year.In racing, 2019 will see the first ever MotoE series for electric bikes take place
alongside five European MotoGP races, featuring slightly modified versions of the Energica Ego.In China, where the government offers
subsidies to electric vehicle makers, there are thousands of electric motorbike manufacturers producing all types of model, from low-powered
scooters to high-performance speed bikes
The Chinese-made Evoke Urban S model is due to go on sale in the UK later in 2018
And in Berlin, Germany, Coup launched an e-scooter sharing scheme last year.Image copyrightEvoke MotorcyclesImage caption
Evoke's Urban S bike is due to go on sale in the UK later in 2018
"Motorcycle technology - like fuel injection, emissions
equipment, ABS braking - tends to lag car technology by four to six years," explains Lightning's Mr Hatfield.But now improvements in
electric motors and lithium-ion battery technology have enabled electric motorbikes to match the performance, range and speed of traditional
internal combustion engine bikes.As an electric bike has relatively few moving parts, maintenance and vibration is minimal
With a large battery pack feeding an electric motor that powers the back wheel, there are no smelly exhaust emissions or greasy parts
In 2020, Europe, China and the US will introduce tougher emissions standards for motorbikes that could increase costs and reduce the
performance of conventional bikes, giving a fillip to their electric counterparts.Image copyrightGetty ImagesImage caption
Electric scooters are very popular in China
Outside the US and Europe, fossil-fuel bikes - mopeds and scooters - are often
the primary modes of transport
But their popularity means they're also major contributors to pollution
So the idea of a "guilt-free" ride is a selling point for environmentally conscious consumers, and something many governments around the
world are keen to encourage, especially in Asia's smog-bound cities
More Technology of BusinessImage copyrightMagnum PhotosHarley-Davidson's decision to introduce an electric model might have something to do
with declining sales and factory closures over the last decade
Its appeal has been waning as fast as its clientele has been ageing
But its recent partnership with electric motorbike maker Alta Motors could change that trajectory
"We intend to be the world leader in the electrification of motorcycles," said Harley-Davidson chief executive, Matt Levatich in a recent
statement.Image copyrightAnthony ShortlandImage caption
Anthony Shortland loves his Triumph motorbike but sees the
appeal of electric
But for many traditional motorbike enthusiasts, especially Harley owners, the roaring symphony of an
internal combustion engine is a huge part of the appeal
So won't quieter electric bikes have something of an image problem Anthony Shortland is a 55-year-old Silicon Valley engineer who rides a
noisy petrol-engine Triumph motorbike for his daily commute."My beautiful Triumph is nothing but a bucket of bolts, a hell of a lot of
moving parts, all of which need maintenance," he says
"It's the result of 100 years of incremental engineering."But even he thinks he may succumb to the charms of electric one day."E-bikes are a
complete game changer," he says
"I appreciate the elegance and efficiency of building a vehicle around electric motors
"The electric bike really represents the pinnacle of efficient engineering." Follow Technology of Business editor Matthew Wall on Twitter
