Electrification does not excite motorcycle fans. Top disadvantages range and sparse charging network. Driving behavior is a strong card. At first glance, the Harley-Davidson Livewire One looks like a classic Harley. You can tell the difference at the traffic light. At the beginning, nothing is heard. The electric Livewire One is not only silent. It is environmentally friendly, since it does not emit any kind of pollution.

In Germany, electric vehicles play an important role in achieving the climate goals. But while electric cars are slowly but surely becoming established, electric motorcycles still have a way to go. “Most engineers love the feeling of freedom. They want to enjoy their journeys without having to think about the next outlet,” German Dirk, who did not want to be named, told the German news agency dpa.

According to the German Motorcycle Industry Association (IVM), interest in electric two-wheelers has increased significantly after 2020, but this applies almost exclusively to the smaller performance machines. In 2023, according to the Federal Motor Vehicle Authority (KBA) 222,046 new motorcycle registrations were registered, of which only 6,945 (7.6%) were electric.

Autonomy from 100 to 200 km.

The supply of electric motorcycles is quite small. It is indicative that BMW, known worldwide for its machines, has postponed the presentation of the first electric motorcycle until 2026 at the earliest, even though it had originally planned its launch for 2025. “there is not a significant demand for electric motorcycles”. He even concludes that since there is no appreciable demand, there is no point in presenting a pure electric motorcycle.

The biggest disadvantages of an electric machine are the extremely limited autonomy, as well as the battery charging time, explains Matthias Meier, managing director of the Harley-Davidson Factory distributor in Frankfurt. According to the German Automobile Club ADAC, most electric two-wheelers have a range of 100 to a maximum of 200 kilometers.

In order to dispel the prejudices of motorists about electric motorcycles, it is worth it to do a test, says Matthias Meier. “Electric motorcycles immediately win over riders after first contact due to their handling and impressive acceleration. They don’t even need to change gears, braking only in case of need. In addition, the rider does not need any kind of protection from the heat of the engine, as is the case with conventional machines, says the CEO of Harley-Davidson Factory about the first e-Harley.

Greater demand for electric machines

Smaller electric motorcycle models are undeniably more successful. According to the German Motorcycle Industry Association, the smallest performance models up to 50cc account for almost 30% of total two-wheeler sales. In the category with displacement up to 125 cubic centimeters, over 10% of registered two-wheelers were electric last year.

Many manufacturers are focusing on e-traffic, especially in urban areas. In the scooter category, the Chinese manufacturers are particularly strong, offering their machines at extremely competitive prices in Germany as well.

In order to get more motorcyclists interested in an electric bike and zero-emission travel, Matthias Meyer believes that the charging network should become denser: “We need more charging points for electric machines in and outside the cities,” he emphasizes.

In addition, the managing director of distributor Harley-Davidson Factory explains that there are many technological challenges for electric motorcycle manufacturers: “An example: the weight of the battery in a motorcycle is a much more complex issue than in an electric car” .

Editor: Stefanos Georgakopoulos