Business – Timid development for electric two-wheelers in France –

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Timid development for electric two-wheelers in France

Business - Timid development for electric two-wheelers in France -

Often put forward as the ideal alternative to fossil fuels, electric motorisation arouses as much interest as uncertainties … Meeting in Lyon for the JPMS 2010, four very active manufacturers take stock of this trendy subject….

Its technology may lack development, its range of action is limited to short trips and its ability to meet all needs raise many doubts, electric motorization is today established as the almost unique alternative to the good old ( and pollutant) petroleum.

With this iconic status, "soft mobility" is carving out a prominent place in the news and in two, three or four-wheel shows. The eighth Professional Motorcycle and Scooter Days (JPMS), the motorcycle and scooter fair reserved for professionals, have well integrated this ascending phenomenon: firmly established alongside some 220 exhibitors, the managers of E-Solex, Matra, Eco & Mobilite and Goes Europe (importer of Zero Motorcycles) moderated a debate on the situation of electric motorization today in France.

Isabelle Bettan (E-Solex), François Lombart (Matra), Antoine Valla (Goes Europe) and Luc Jaguelin (Eco & Mobility) delivered the usual optimistic message: electric propulsion would be a solution for the future all the more unavoidable that it actually constitutes one of the rare credible and somewhat functional solutions !

For these four stakeholders, "soft mobility" is both an ecological and economic issue: recognized specialist in the automotive market since 1964, Matra has gradually shifted towards "non-polluting" local mobility. The French firm takes advantage of the JPMS 2010 to unveil the second generation of its electric scooter: the e-Mo +. An orientation perfectly in tune with the times which aims to meet almost exclusively urban or administrative needs (read in particular).

Undeniably, the electric has advantages compatible with urban requirements: the immediately available torque of an electric motor ensures cannon starts at red lights and its operating silence is appreciable in the urban vortex … even if it generates auditory perception problems by pedestrians and other users.

Another strong argument in favor of electricity: the absence of polluting emissions when traveling. A real good point for our planet, except that the manufacture, recharging and recycling of batteries inevitably lead, at the present time, to polluting emissions … Finally, the low costs generated by its use appeal to users tired of have the big oil groups "pumped": "The E-Solex 2.0 "consumes" € 1.3 of electricity for 1,000 km", says Isabelle Bettan.

However, the electricity fairy still has some way to go before making the nick of black gold: slowed down in its development by the vast recall procedure on its first generation batteries, E-Solex admits having to deal with volumes of disappointing sales: only 580 units would have found a buyer in 2009. Heavier, more expensive, less efficient and not very autonomous, the two, three or four-wheel electric vehicles are still struggling to shed a certain reputation as "urban gadgets ".

Therefore, the constitution of a network worthy of the name is not a walk in the park. Despite the high technological content of the production of Zero Motorcycles, Goes Europe admits that the multiplication of points of sale is the main priority for 2010: only "fifteen concessions in France"market the electric American, specifies its manager Antoine Valla.

The lack of concrete action on the part of the public authorities, pointed out by the participants in the JPMS debate, also constitutes a brake on the popularization of electricity. Solicited by Christian Estrosi within the framework of the bonus of 400 euros for the purchase of a bicycle or an electric scooter in order to "stimulate" a market "still in its infancy", François Lombard (Matra) and Luc Jaguelin (Eco & Mobility) are cautious and regret "the lack of concrete details"concerning the implementation of this famous measure (read)…

Finally, the last pitfall and not the least: if the capacities and efforts of Matra, E-Solex, Éco & Mobilite and Zero Motorcyles to make electric vehicles ever more efficient and attractive command respect, the absence of real viable proposals from major manufacturers of two-wheelers contributes to slowing its progress.

"Until they feel that the market is ready and there is sufficient demand, the big names in motorcycles and scooters will not get started.", confirm the four speakers. But this relative reluctance (Piaggio has all the same opened the way with its recent MP3 hybrid and Peugeot is thinking very seriously about the question) for the moment maintains the doubt in the mind of the consumer.

As for the waiting time before the arrival of efficient and accessible models from major Japanese and European brands, François Lombart (Matra) and Luc Jaguelin (Eco & Mobility) estimate it to be "two to three years maximum".

Unless the recent craze for electricity displayed by many car manufacturers – Renault plans to launch a full range in 2011 – meets with a favorable response from the public and triggers a rapid positioning of the main players in the two-wheeler market on this technology that never ceases to attract "tension" ?! To be continued … Stay connected !

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