It’s high time we turned our attention to a rapidly soaring market segment for electric vehicles: the EV motorcycle.

It’s looking really good for the EV motorcycle market. 

Statista projects steady growth for the electric motorcycle global market. Beginning with a base number of 45.7 billion U.S. dollars in 2021, the market is projected to have a compound annual growth rate of 10.2%. By 2030, it could reach around 109.5 billion U.S. dollars.  

The study from PS Market Research shows similar growth. Additionally, the firm predicts that the fastest growth by region will come from Europe in the next few years, a function brought about by the implementation of Euro 4 emission standards in 2016. EV motorcycles are rapidly replacing traditional motorcycles because of this. 

Meanwhile, the Asia-Pacific (APAC) market is the largest market by region. According to PS Market Research, APAC has dominated the market for two-wheeler vehicles since 2018 and will continue to do so in forthcoming years. Thanks to China’s expanding market, it is projected to reach 7.2 billion U.S. dollars in 2024.

In both global regions, government regulations on global emissions as well as regulations for two-wheeled vehicles contribute to the growth of the EV motorcycle market. The more regulations supporting zero-emission initiatives, the more incentive to replace traditional gasoline-fuel ICE vehicles. 

Players and Trends to Watch Out For

OEMs are shifting to electric for future releases. For consumers and enthusiasts, this presents a whole new world of EV motorcycles depending on their requirements and preferences. Similar to the four-wheeled EV arena, the EV motorcycle space has so much to offer in terms of motor power range. 

[Also Read: 10 EV Motorcycles Worth Your While]

Some OEMs such as BMW, Harley-Davidson, and Zero Motorcycles Inc. have focused on developing high-powered bikes with motor power of over 30 kW. These motorcycles promise to be faster, more powerful, and with longer driving range than previous models. 

An upcoming player in the EV motorcycle space is Kofa, based in Ghania. Kofa has partnered up with TAILG, a Chinese e-mobility company, and has come up with the Jidi, an EV motorcycle designed to be a workhorse of a utility bike. The Jidi claims to cut running costs by up to 30% and reduce carbon emissions significantly. 

Power and minimalism are two of the most prominent trends showing up in the EV motorcycle space. For sports and adventure bikes, cutting a slimmer silhouette means a smoother ride. For utility motorcycles, compactness becomes a plus for navigating high-traffic urban landscapes. 

Aesthetically, retro seems to be the trend. A stylish nod and throwback to sports bikes from the 1980s, EV motorcycles are given a vintage twist. OEMs such as Yamaha and CFMoto have kept to classic designs on new EV motorcycle models. 

Hydrogen-powered EV Motorcycles

Four-wheeled hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCVs) are somewhat of a slow starter in the EV universe, thanks to current limitations for infrastructure, but some EV motorcycle companies have also been leaning towards this innovation and developing hydrogen-powered EV motorcycles. 

One of these is a collaboration between German and Czech teams called the Hydrocycle. Their challenge is making the hydrogen fuel-cell compact and light enough to power a two-wheeler vehicle. A prototype is anticipated for release by 2025.

Then, two powerhouse OEMs in the motorcycle arena have teamed up to develop hydrogen-powered EV motorcycles. Yamaha and Kawasaki have reportedly started a collaboration to work on greener EV motorcycles, placing hydrogen fuel-cells at the forefront. 

Recently, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) designed a hydrogen fuel-cell powered EV motorcycle and has made it open-source for anyone who would like to try building their own. What started as a class project could lead to innovation ideas spreading wide not only in the EV motorcycle community but to OEMs. 

According to the MIT team, they believe that “hydrogen could be the future of transportation if the design surrounding these vehicles is intelligent and safe.” 

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