The electric motor struggles to find its audience among two-wheeled riders. While 13.3% of cars sold were electric in 2022, according to figures from the Automotive Platform, just over 3% of two-wheelers sold last year were zero-emission models. In 2022, of the almost 183,000 motorcycles and scooters registered in France, electric ones only represented 5,661 machines.
Sales on the rise among specialists
However, the planets seemed aligned to boost electricity sales. The offer has started to expand with more manufacturers, particularly specialty brands. The latter have also progressed last year: +447% for SuperSocco and +78% for Zero. In the 50 and 125cc scooters, it’s also off to a good start with sales of 264 on Zeway, 636 on Niu, 365 on Motron and 212 on eBroh. Figures that in volume are still almost confidential.
A two-wheeler specialist with its Motorrad division, BMW is also doing well with its new big CE-04 electric scooter and is an exception in a very difficult market. Before the launch, the order book was full and BMW planned to sell around 1,500 in 2022. They sold a thousand more, which is a real success. In 2022, the CE-04 was the 11th best-selling two-wheeler overall in France.
The electric Harley has not found its audience
Another argument that could support this transition to electric: the sensitivity around environmental issues supported by legislation that promotes the use of electric scooters and motorcycles in the city, in particular, excluding them from paid parking in the city. But this legislation has only boosted sales of low-powered scooters, which, with a €1,500 entry ticket, have even become competitors to electric bikes.
It is clear that in a vehicle that remains first and foremost a passion vehicle, motorcyclists do not want to go electric. And the big manufacturers, Japanese or European, do not seem to believe in its metamorphosis.
To date, apart from BMW, only Harley-Davidson has officially embarked on the electric motorcycle adventure with the LiveWire. In 2022, it barely sold 600. Worldwide. A commercial result that is light years away from the sales of registered thermal motorcycles that are close to 200,000 units sold worldwide.
big brands expected
As a specialist in the sector explains to BFM Business, as long as the four Japanese giants -Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki- do not start up, the electric motorcycle will not take off.
And if they do, it’s not for now. At the end of 2021, given the international tensions caused by the war in Ukraine, Kawazaki had promised to present a dozen electric models from 2025. The Japanese manufacturer could start with a hybrid motorcycle before going 100% electric. A thermal/electric Ninja 400 prototype is being prepared to combine the experience of engine sound and vibrations while giving an answer to the carbon neutral era.
In Europe, the Italian Ducati is working on the MotoE, an electric motorcycle made for competition. But for the general public, it will take a few years before the technology improves in terms of performance, range and weight.
Source: BFM TV
