In fifty years' time, it's likely a motorcyclist will wake up in their solar-powered home where an array of energy-dense batteries holds a store of energy from the previous day's sunshine. They'll don their bike gear, walk to the garage and unplug their motorcycle - built from ninety per cent recycled materials - from its nightly recharge, swing a leg over and ride out to a soundtrack of whirring and buzzing. While this may sound like a dystopian hell for many bikers, it's a future that's on the cards. Some people are holding out for hydrogen power, but it's unlikely that's ever going to be efficient to produce, transport or sell. Others may put their faith in e-fuels, but unless you relish the idea of paying £6/litre, that's probably not the solution, either. It's looking increasingly likely that battery-powered bikes will form a part of our fossil-fuel-free future.
Aside from the issue of noise, it's easy to see why some people can't get on board with the idea of electric bikes. The long charging times, inadequate public charging infrastructure and variable range mean it's a bit of a tough sell as things stand at the moment. Nevertheless, things are changing. Electric cars aren't an uncommon sight these days. Over the last decade, battery-powered cars have gone from being a rare spot to becoming prolific and, dare I say it, almost common. However, the motorcycle industry is quite some way from producing and selling electric bikes in significant numbers. Nevertheless, while the larger, well-known manufacturers are lagging behind, there are many smaller outfits producing some pretty amazing machines that you've probably never heard of.
Energica Ego+ RS Tricolore
I guess we're starting with the prettiest one. The Energica Ego+ RS is an electric sport bike produced by Energica Motor Company, an Italian manufacturer of high-performance electric motorcycles. It is the flagship model of the company and is designed to compete with traditional petrol-powered sports bikes.
Tucked inside the frame is a 145hp electric motor, which produces a whopping 159lbft of torque, all of which is available from a standstill. Therefore, it probably comes as little surprise that the Ego+ RS will hit 62mph in 2.8 seconds and top out at 149mph. Other goodies include fully-adjustable Marzocchi upside-down forks at the front and adjustable Ohlins at the rear, and Brembo brakes. Moreover, for an additional £2,862, you can upgrade the front forks to the shiny gold Ohlins you know you want.
The bike is equipped with a liquid-cooled 21.5kWh Li-Ion battery pack, which should be good for a range of up to 124 miles on a single charge. While its technical features are all rather impressive, perhaps its greatest trait is that it looks like a conventional sports bike. In fact, it looks like a particularly sexy conventional sports bike.
Pricing starts at £29,140 with an additional £1,797 for the Tricolore paint job. If you add carbon wheels, Ohlins and a few other bits and bobs, don't be surprised when the price exceeds £40,000.
Maeving RM1
Just because a bike uses bleeding edge technology, doesn't mean it has to look like one of Tony Stark's suits. Maeving's RM1 is a wonderfully classic design, which fuses contemporary tech with retro looks. The British brand, based in Coventry, aims to design and engineer desirable bikes with an ecological conscience. From looks alone, it appears they've managed to get the desirability right.
The RM1 is available in either a single-battery or dual-battery configuration. With a single 2.03kWh battery, you'll get a 40-mile range, which - understandably - doubles to an 80-mile range for the dual battery version. Both use a Bosch hub motor to propel the bike to a top speed of 45mph, but before you start chuckling into your cornflakes, it's important to remember that the RM1 is designed as an urban commuter, ideal for those who may only have a CBT.
Besides, it looks cool, and not everyone wants a 240bhp motorcycle which terrifies its rider at least once during every journey. If it can get you from your home to your place of work whilst looking fantastic, that's enough of a reason for many people.
Pricing starts at £5,995 for the single-battery model and goes up to £6,990 for the dual-battery version. There's even a choice of seven distinct and suitably retro colour options available. It's relatively light, too, at 112kg or 124kg, depending on the version.
Zero FX
The Zero FX is an electric dual-sport bike produced by Zero Motorcycles, a California-based manufacturer of electric motorcycles. It is designed as an off-road capable electric motorcycle that is also suitable for urban commuting. It's a rugged-looking machine with evil eyes and a rear sprocket larger than a dustbin lid. What's not to love?
At £13,435, it's somewhat more expensive than a CRF300L Rally, but with 46hp and 78lbft of torque from its brushless DC motor, it's also significantly more punchy. In fact, with a suitably good launch, the FX will hit 60mph in just 3.3 seconds and keep going until it reaches its 85mph top speed. Probably best not to try on gravel or mud, however.
The motor draws its power from a 7.2kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which provides a potential range of around 91 miles from a single charge, which should be more than enough for some emissions-free fun on the nation's green lanes and byroads. There's even adjustable regenerative braking to ensure little energy goes to waste.
Overall, the Zero FX is a fun and capable electric motorcycle that offers impressive performance and an eco-friendly ride. It's a great option for riders who want an electric motorcycle that is versatile enough to tackle both urban streets and off-road terrain.
Damon Hypersport
The Damon Hypersport is an electric motorcycle produced by Damon Motorcycles, a Vancouver-based manufacturer of high-performance electric motorcycles. It is designed as a premium electric motorcycle with advanced safety features and a focus on performance. It's also available in yellow, which makes it even more attractive.
A common worry or complaint about electric motorcycles is their limited range. That may not be the case with the Damon offering. With a relatively huge 21.5kWh battery back, Damon reckons the Hypersport is capable of 200 miles on a single charge. However, if you use all of its 200hp and 147lbft of torque for long periods, it's fair to say you'll see a reduction in that 200-mile figure.
The '200' figure appears a lot in Damon's claims. There's 200 horsepower, a 200-mile range, and 200Nm of torque. The other attribute where '200' features is the top speed. Yes, that's right, this is a 200mph electric motorcycle.
It's not all about performance and range, however. The Hypersport features Damon's CoPilot system, which uses a range of sensors and radar to form a 360° view around the bike and warn the rider of impending doom with visual alerts and haptic feedback through the bars.
On top of that, the bike can transform between comfortable and sporty riding positions whilst on the move by adjusting the pegs and bars. Two bikes for the price of one.
Lightning LS-218
The Lightning LS-218 is an electric motorcycle produced by Lightning Motorcycle, a California-based manufacturer of high-performance electric motorcycles. It is designed as a premium electric superbike with a focus on speed and performance.
If Damon's offering isn't quite enough for you in terms of raw power and speed, the Lightning LS-218 may be enough to satisfy. With 244hp and 220lbft of torque, it's the fastest and most powerful electric bike in this list. Powered by a single 150kW electric motor, the LS-218 is able to reach 60mph in less than two seconds, so you'll want to make sure your wrist and neck muscles are in fine fettle before attempting a standing start.
When you're not attempting to set new accelerations records, the LS-218 is happy to cruise around and offers a potential range of 188 miles with its 15kWh battery pack. If you want to increase your range, Lightning offers the option of 20kWh and 28kWh packs, which offer 255-mile and 335-mile ranges, respectively.
Prices start around £31,000 but can creep up to the £50,000 mark if you increase the battery pack, add a carbon fibre swingarm and choose the Marchesini forged magnesium wheels and Ohlins steering damper.
Yes, they're expensive, but I suspect there are few bikes that could live with it in terms of performance, regardless of how they're powered.
