Zero DSR ZF13.0

Do electric motorcycles make sense yet?

- Pete Henshaw

We’re living in a recharge society; just about everything is (or can be) battery powered; from toothbrushes to lawnmowers, right up to cars, trucks, even aircraft.

All this seems to have passed by powered two-wheelers, which on the face of it seems daft, certainly for commuters. Electric cars are heavy and need expensive batteries. Two wheelers on the other hand weigh far less, and most commuters are only riding a short distance – so they don’t need massive batteries.

Yet electric two-wheelers haven’t caught on in the UK yet. Sales are creeping up painfully slowly and were heading for about 330 last year. Most months see just a handful sold, but there’s an occasional sales spike, suggesting fleet buyers (fast food outlet, etc.) are now catching on to the advantages of plug-in power.

Electric two-wheelers haven’t enjoyed the same cash-off buyer incentive from the government as electric cars – until now. Finally, the Dept for Transport has agreed to give buyers of electric scooters and motorcycles an OLEV (Office for Low Emission Vehicles) grant. It’s smaller of course, with buyers allowed 20% off the retail price, up to £1500. And the importer has to apply for bike/scooter approval; as we went to press, only two had done that – the Scutum e-scooter (imported by the same people who bring in Rieju) and Zero.