The purely electric motorcycle has had a very challenging gestation. Beginning in the early 2000’s as not much more than a science experiment by a handful of enthusiasts, the idea of a “proper” motorcycle powered exclusively by electrons remained elusive.

The so-called “first wave” of electric motorcycles were driven into existence by the groundbreaking Isle of Man TT races, which in 2009 inaugurated the world’s first modern electric motor vehicle competition.

The TT ZERO as it came to be known motivated many universities, inventors and enthusiasts to build, literally from nothing, quite powerful all-electric motorcycles to race on the famous and challenging 60 km Isle of Man course.

The first year entries were not impressive, with speeds in the low triple digits, horrible reliability and a small field of contenders. Ten years later, electric prototype racers are beating 600cc gasoline powered superbikes made by Japanese factories and dominate international hill climb racing.

In production terms, there have been a number of very small manufacturers who at various times promised much and delivered little. Zero Motorcycles from the USA is the only survivor of the original first wave.

Major manufacturers like Honda, Yamaha, BMW, KTM and Harley-Davidson have been slow to enter, and their efforts have been largely experimental, or focused on micro-targeted markets like Tokyo

As with the car industry, venture capital backed startups like Gogoro and Ather have become the leaders and leapfrogged the major OEMs. It is now their market to lose as legacy brands gear up and plug in with greater urgency.

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Electric Motorcycle Market Survey 2022

• $5200 USD

• 100 model profiles

• 70 pages, 20 charts & infographics

• benchmarking, market positioning

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Electric Motorcycles Charge Ahead

From fringe curiosity to mass market growth engine, the e-P2W is now established.