Electric Motorcycling. The Knowledge and Profits; A Dealers View

Introduction to Electric Racing

Motorsport proves the technology and creates awareness of brands and sells product. 2009 saw the world's first zero carbon emission motorbike race at the inaugural TTXGP competition. It was so successful that not only did it create waves of excitement across the globe, it also resulted in two high profile global championships.

Don’t just take our word for it…

Is it worth getting in to?

YES! Electric motorcycles are a viable and practical mode of transport, especially if inner city commuting is what your customers are after.

Whilst many people will pay a premium for a high tech clean transport solution, the costs of electric motorcycles are comparatively low and are decreasing every day.

Petrol Prices Increasing + Battery Prices Decreasing = Increased Demand

As demand increases, the prices will fall even further as new manufacturers enter the market and drive down prices through mass production and advancements in technology. Electricity combines well with all of the inherent advantages of motorcycles: lightness, speed, simplicity, efficiency, size and filtering. These bikes are efficient, bring unique performance benefits and are easy to maintain, upgrade and ride!

Why should you invest?

This is a new frontier and new industry; the biggest financial rewards will be for those who stake a claim first, as the industry establishes itself. With races like the TTXGP and new ebike manufacturers entering the market, these bikes will only increase in popularity.

In depth knowledge will be key to your success.

Electric motorcycles are increasing the size of the motorbike market, creating new bikers that might not necessarily consider motorcycling before. Making a bike that’s more like an iPhone or a laptop appeals to new younger riders and typically early adopters, whilst trying to persuade traditionalists that a time for change is needed and the biking community can lead the way.

Huge amounts of mainstream positive press; FREE MARKETING

Through rapid development technological advancements, the impressive performance of electric motorcycles has reaped the rewards of mass media coverage across all mediums, many of which have previously overlooked conventional racing. By creating a new market of its own, the marketing and sale of electric motorcycles can develop outside of the traditional methods, which will translate to reaching a wider audience and hence getting new people on motorcycles.

The Basics

Low emissions and clean technology is here to stay and is being hailed as a possible saviour in post credit crisis economies. To take advantage you need to have a basic understanding of:

Battery technology * Servicing/training technicians, * Speed of change and development. Upgradeability * Principal brands * Motor development * Software upgrades

However, to save you many laborious hours trawling the internet or libraries, we are able to offer a four day training course to teach you the theory and practical applications of electronic drivetrains.

Brands you should know

Mavizen: Electric superbike based on the winning Agni motors bike from the 2009 TTXGP competition. The bike is fitted with twin motors and boasts hot-swappable batteries and drivetrain, in less than 5 minutes.

Mission Motors: Luxury electric sportsbike, one of the most established top end providers. Currently the record holders for the fastest electric bike at Bonneville. No delivery date has been set as yet for their production model.

EMS: Established street legal electric motorcycle for light commuters and motorcycle enthusiast alike with distribution in the UK, Netherlands, Asia and North America.

Brammo: Formed in 2002 launching the Brammo Enertia - a “cuddly” commuter vehicle, designed to emphasise the joy of motorcycling, while eliminating features and characteristics that can cause intimidation and complexity in traditional motorcycles.

Zero: Is one of the most established US brands with Dirt, Street and Dual Sports bike options available to purchase today, via their online store. Zero Motorcycles’ frames are engineered to combine high strength with low weight.

eCRP: Whilst being the newest brand on the block, this Italian manufacturer has a rich racing heritage with teams running their technology in MotoGP and F1. They are producing superbikes specifically for the TTXGP racing series.

Quantya: QUANTYA SA was set up in 2005 in order to develop and produce high performance electric motorcycles and scooters to meet the recreational and transportation needs of today’s environmentally-conscious individuals.

Dispelling the Myths

Electric motorcycles aren't environmentally friendly because the electricity still has to be produced

Even using conservative figures for range, an electric motorcycle's emissions can be calculated using the defra (www.defra.gov.uk) guidelines as being easily capable of achieving 8.2g CO₂ per km. This is compared to a Piaggio scooter (22g/km), average motorcycles (100-150g/km) and even as much as 180g/km for a Harley... and this is all with standard factory pipes!

The efficiency of electric bikes is what makes them so competitive, using far less energy getting from A to B and wasting very little of it.

Electric bikes are unsafe because they are silent

Electric bikes are quiet, but not silent, since the motors whir and you can hear mechanical and rolling noise.

The lack of noise isn’t a safety issue. The majority of car drivers do not sit in silence in their cars so wouldn’t hear you coming anyway. Moreover, if you are concentrating on your road position, reading the dangers ahead and anticipating the worst behaviour from other road users, you should be able to avoid dangerous situations without the need to rely upon the noise of your bike.

All electric motorcycles look like bicycles and can’t go fast or very far

Admittedly, some of the first generation of electric bikes looked like bicycles and performance was poor, but then the same can be said of most inventions… we aren’t still driving Model T’s(!)

Now, electric superbikes are being produced and speeds of 150mph at Bonneville and 106mph during the 2009 TTXGP have been recorded.

The new generation of electric motorcycles are fast and sexy and being successfully tested at arguably some of the most demanding venues around the world and this is transferring to their commercial viability.

Changing the Model

Zero is cutting dealers out of the equation, selling its bikes on the internet and shipping direct to customers. After clicking “buy it now” and waiting a few days, all a new customer has to do is put the handlebars on and connect the battery, sort of like ordering a mobile phone.

Brammo is selling bikes at Best Buy, one of the largest electrical goods retailers in the USA and are even looking at integrating Twitter into their bikes.

Zero regularly upgrades its bikes based on consumer feedback, and then sells the upgrades to existing customers at or below cost.

Due to Mavizen’s hot-swappable drivetrain, this means that pit stops in electric bike racing are a real possibility, as well as easy cost effective upgrades as technology improves and removes the need to “refill” by simply alternating packs.

Mission motors hired a designer from outside the motorcycle world who created one of the most exciting looking bikes of this decade.

The industry is changing. If you want to be part of it, you have to join it.

Recommendations

NEW DAY – NEW RULES – NEW GAME… BE PART OF IT!
The best way to learn about a new industry and subsequently to market your expertise is to take part and be part of the “gold rush”. Claim your stake in this exciting new industry now!