Question 1

1. Electric vehicles are good for the planet (sort of)

Accepted Answer

You’re probably sick of hearing it, but electric motorcycles are good for the planet. Well…sort of. Electric vehicles produce zero carbon emissions but the manufacturing process does. In fact, it is believed that EV production produces more CO2 emissions than conventional vehicle production. However, the theory is that EV’s have a smaller carbon footprint over their lifespan. Of course, it would take a fair few years of operation to offset the CO2 produced during the manufacturing process, but EV’s are ultimately greener in the long run.

Another argument against EVs is that, traditionally, electricity has been produced in un-environmentally-friendly ways. But renewable energy is becoming more prevalent and this will result in cleaner charging of electric vehicles.

Question 2

2. It is inevitable

Accepted Answer

Whether you like it or not, electric vehicles will soon become the norm. International agreements like the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement are forcing countries to become more environmentally conscious and more than 14 countries have already committed to phasing out fossil-fuel vehicles at some point in the future. In some cases, this will happen sooner with more than 20 cities planning to phase out ICE vehicles before 2030.

Automobile and motorcycle manufacturers are effectively on notice – they may have to go electric in order to survive. Already we have seen Harley-Davidson launch its own electric brand, while companies such as BMW, KTM, Husqvarna, Triumph, Honda, and Yamaha are all in deep with electric motorcycle development. It is coming, so we may as well embrace it.

Question 3

3. The disadvantages will become advantages

Accepted Answer

The biggest barrier for electric vehicles is their disadvantages. Battery range, charging times, lack of infrastructure, and price tags are all areas of concern for motorcyclists. But as time goes on, and as more people begin to embrace electric, these disadvantages will be slowly be diminished. In fact, we may even see electric vehicles outperform their fuel-powered counterparts in these areas one day.

For starters, battery range is constantly improving as manufacturers perfect technology. And, even better, swappable battery technology is being developed that would allow users to swap batteries on the go like you would with a gas bottle. Charging times are also getting faster and charging infrastructure will one day become as common as fuel stations. As for the high prices, they will come down as more people embrace the change and manufacturers streamline the production process.

Question 4

4. Less cost in the long run

Accepted Answer

Electric motorcycles have less running costs than conventional vehicles. Firstly, they are much simpler mechanically. That means less servicing and repairing faults. Sure, the battery will die one day, but most EV batteries generally have long lifespans.

Additionally, you’re not paying for fuel or oil, so the only consumables will be things like tyres and brake pads. And with all the money you’ll save on fuel, I think you can live with that. Over the course of ownership of an electric vehicle, you’ll spend less than you would on a conventional vehicle, and this will be exaggerated when EVs eventually become cheaper.

Question 5

5. Combustion engine vehicles won’t disappear

Accepted Answer

Look, I’m a traditionalist too. I love the sound and smell of two-stroke in the morning. And I love the rumble of a big V-twin, and the scream of an in-line four. But I also recognise that EVs are important, and they are not going away. So why not take the leap of faith? And I honestly believe that petrol- and diesel-powered vehicles won’t disappear off the face of the earth. Sure, they might become far less common, and we may not be able to use them in urban areas, but I think they will still exist to some degree.

Maybe several generations down the track will see ICE vehicles become extinct, but it’s unlikely to happen in our lifetime. My reasoning? Look at how many vehicles are currently out in the wild. Even if manufacturers stopped making ICE cars and bikes tomorrow, it would be a long time before the second-hand market dies off. I realise that my argument is based on no actual statistics or research (so feel free to prove me wrong), but I’m pretty confident that all you petrol heads will still be able to burn fuel for many years to come.

Question 6

6. They are bloody good fun

Accepted Answer

To all you electric motorcycle haters out there, have you ever ridden one? There are a lot of noisy critics who haven’t even given electric a shot. Take it from me, they are more fun than you think. For starters, torque comes on instantly, making for exceptional performance in many cases.

There is also something really appealing to me about zipping stealthily around the streets and being able to hear every sound, from the wind, to the rustling of the trees, and to the couple having an argument on the footpath. Some people enjoy attracting attention through loud noise, but I’d rather be able to move around unnoticed. And if you really think you’ll miss the noise, then take note of companies like BMW, who has employed Hans Zimmer to create a soundtrack of emotional engine noises for its electric cars. I, for one, am excited to see where electric technology will take us. The sky is the limit.

This article was originally published on May 13, 2021.