Electromobility for two-wheelers

Electromobility for two-wheelers

Series vehicles, studies, prototypes

From the e-scooter out of the box to stylish high-tech scooters, highly developed large scooters and light cross-country hops to the lightning-fast sports machine, the market has everything to offer. We give you an overview of the e-motorcycles and scooters in Germany.

Vburner or electric motorcycle? In all honesty, there is no serious argument about this in the MOTORRAD editorial team. Battery technology will almost certainly not completely replace the petrol tank in the foreseeable future. But – and now comes the point: it doesn’t have to and shouldn’t. In the future, we will not ask whether a combustion or electric motorcycle, but rather decide which bike or which scooter for which purpose.

Manufacturer

Editor Stefan Kaschel: "Just give an electric runabout a try – you won’t get it out of your head. Guaranteed!"

The shopping trip into the city or the daily commute to work? Gladly with the e-motorcycle or the e-scooter. 30 HP, 100 kilometers range – that’s enough and becomes more and more reliable and affordable with increasing quantities and new technologies. Holidays in the Alps? With the combustion engine, of course, because who would want to make their day trips dependent on the storage capacity of their batteries?

We have put together an overview for you of which series electric motorcycles and electric scooters are available on the German market, which projects are ongoing, which studies have been presented, which manufacturers have something to offer when it comes to electric drives. In the picture gallery you can also see the series vehicles available in Germany.

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Electric scooter sharing in major cities

Scoo.me is the name of the start-up that provides electric and combustion scooters on the streets in Munich and Cologne.

Stadtwerke Stuttgart

The Stella e-scooter fleet draws green electricity from Stadtwerke Stuttgart.

Everything is done via an app – both the driver‘s license test and the reservation and unlocking of the vehicle. A monthly fee is not due, it is paid by the minute.

Emmy provides e-scooters in Berlin, Hamburg and Munich. In Stuttgart, the provider cooperates with the municipal utilities and also operates a sizeable fleet of electric scooters there, known under the name Stella. In Dusseldorf it’s called eddy. Bosch is also trying it out in Berlin and has founded the subsidiary Coup for this purpose.

The juice is enough for around 100 kilometers with the rental e-scooters. Charging columns are not absolutely necessary with this concept, as the batteries are regularly replaced by the providers.

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Kymco Ionex

E-scooter with battery replacement system

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Market and manufacturer in Germany

Zero Motorcycles was the manufacturer with the largest sales figures in the field of electric motorcycles in 2016 and 2017, although "large"is not the appropriate word here.

Manufacturer

With the Zero DSR Black Forest, Zero has presented the first electric motorcycle specially developed for the European market for longer tours.

Zero 151 models sold in 2016, 127 in 2017. This puts the manufacturer between Victory and GasGas in 19th place among the most popular motorcycle manufacturers in Germany.

A current study surveyed motorcyclists on the subject of electromobility: 18.8 percent of those questioned could imagine buying an electric scooter, only 14.3 percent could imagine buying an e-motorcycle. The answers are not surprising, because motorcyclists also appreciate the practical advantages of scooters in everyday life. On the other hand, going on (go along) tours with a motorcycle is something that fewer drivers can imagine.

Source: Motorcycle Study MPS / IfD-Allensbach 2017

Electric

Zero DSR Black Forest (2018)

Touring electric motorcycle in long-term test

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Alpine tour on an electric motorcycle

Our Italy correspondent Eva Breutel wanted to know: Is it possible to drive adequately quickly across the Alps on an electric motorcycle?

Giuseppe Gori

The electric motor can do without a clutch and gearbox as it delivers maximum torque almost from a standstill. The turn is as easy as with a tuned moped. Accelerate, brake, shift, accelerate. Minimal load change reactions, full pressure when applying the e-gas. great.

She was taken with the Energica called Eva, a 300 kilo electric vehicle that drives surprisingly well, but also howls amazingly loud. After all, Eva got from Bozen to Munich. Even if the topic of charging up is still a wide field full of surprises.

The range of the electric motorcycles is still astonishingly small. Energica was no exception. The almost 100 hp machine can travel around 100 kilometers at a moderate pace, and then tapping power is the order of the day. That actually only makes sense for fixed routes. Just take a short drive along the house route, that doesn’t work unless it’s short enough. It’s like driving off with three liters of fuel in the tank. Nobody really does that, right?

Electric

Energica Eva in the driving report

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E-charging and blocking for combustion engines in the Dolomites

Electric motorcycle manufacturer Energica supplies its customers in the Dolomites with electricity. The Italians opened their first Fast Charge petrol station in Selva in Val Gardena in 2017.

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Energica

Energica Alperia-Fast-Charge e-charging station.

Energica motorcycle owners can use the e-tank free of charge. Energica boss Livia Cevollini justifies the move with the fact that car manufacturers and government agencies installed electric charging stations, especially in large cities and at main traffic hubs. “But motorcyclists mainly use alternative routes.” Energica wants to set up and expand a network of its own e-charging stations.

Since July 2017, the Sella Pass in the Dolomites has been closed to motorcycles and cars with combustion engines every Wednesday. They are also considering temporarily closing the Pordoi, Grodnerjoch and Campolongo passes in 2018. The local restaurant and hotel operators fear loss of sales. Criticism also came from the northern Italian region of Veneto. This also borders the Sella, but was not asked before the lock. There, too, one fears that the tourists will stay away. If it is really about environmental protection, "South Tyrol should close the burner", scoffs Luca Zaio, the President of the Veneto. Only from motorcyclist associations has so far hardly any criticism of the measure. But a motorcycle manufacturer knew how to use the lock for itself: Energica from Modena quickly offered test rides on the Sella. Because its models are electric motorcycles – and they are also allowed on Wednesdays.

Ducati Zero

The design of an electrically powered race bike comes from two students from Milan.

The Dutchman Bart Heijt and his Brazilian fellow student Fernando Pastre designed the Ducati Zero as a master’s thesis in “Transportation and Car Design” at the polytechnic design school in Milan.

The students are allowed to use the manufacturer name Ducati for their project. The externally rather dull electric motor is cleverly set in scene and is visible through a transparent panel. Depending on the Eco, Strada or Corsa (racetrack) driving mode, the Zero logo changes color: green, white or (Ducati) red.

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Ducati boss on the subject of electric motorcycles

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Harley-Davidson Project LiveWire

With Project LiveWire, Harley-Davidson launched an electric test balloon in 2014.

Harley-davidson

MOTORRAD test editor Johannes Muller certified that the electric Harley is already quite advanced in development.

In 2015, Harley CEO Matthew Levatich announced that the market launch of the first electric Harley was not far away. At the moment, nobody at Harley is talking about electric motorcycles anymore. The Lifewire, which was presented three years ago, should come in the next decade at the earliest.

Instead, the Milwaukee company is now financially involved in Alta Motors. Harley boss Levatich said that Harley-Davidson wanted to become the world market leader among manufacturers of electrically powered motorcycles: "We believe that electric vehicles represent the mobility of the future," said Levatich. Together with Alta Motors, Harley-Davidson wants to address new customers who are enthusiastic about the ease of “turning the handle and driving off”. The company is also financed by Tesla co-founders Marc Tarpenning and Martin Eberhard.

Electric

Driving report Harley-Davidson LiveWire production bike

Electric harley really bangs

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Harley-Davidson joins Alta Motors

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MotoGP electric?

It sounds like a joke at first. But there are very serious plans behind it: From 2019, electrically powered motorcycles will start in the major MotoGP races.

Energica

Energica Ego: It forms the basis for the standard motorcycle of the Moto-e World Cup.

According to Carmelo Ezpeleta, head of the Grand Prix marketer Dorna, they should initially represent frame races alongside the established classes, but later develop into their own racing series. "The plans for this are already well advanced," said Ezpeleta in an interview with the Spanish MOTORRAD sister magazine Motociclismo. There are also offers from four manufacturers. "But there will be a single class," said Ezpeleta.

That also makes sense, because so far there have been no sensitive regulations that could ensure that machines from different manufacturers powered by electric motors are so comparable in their performance that exciting races result in the end. Very different approaches are conceivable here, from ultra-fast, but also very heavy motorcycles due to the necessary batteries, to light, agile speedsters that would be only slightly slower with less power. Regarding the keyword range, Ezpeleta said that the future E-Grand Prix will go “over at least ten racing laps”.

Motorsport

FIM Moto-e World Cup from 2019

Dates and race tracks

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Records with electric motorcycles

Students from the Technical University of Eindhoven in the Netherlands have circled the world on a self-made electric motorcycle.

Storm / Eindhoven

Around the world in 80 days, that’s a record. In the spirit of the novelist Jules Verne, these students are real pioneers.

They just managed to set their own schedule of 80 days, which they borrowed from Verne. Started on August 14, 2016, they returned as scheduled on November 2, 2016 at 5.30 p.m. to the university campus, after 23,000 kilometers through Europe, Asia and the USA. The electric motorcycle called "Storm Wave" has a maximum range of 380 kilometers per charge and a maximum output of 70 kW. The exchangeable batteries, which consist of 24 modules, store up to 28.5 kWh.

Range record with a zero: The Berlin Remo Klawitter set a range record with the Zero DSR 14.4 in 2018. In 24 hours he covered a distance of 1,113.4 kilometers. For 24 hours he commuted back and forth on the B 96 between Oranienburg and the state center for renewable energies in Neustrelitz. Net travel time: 14.5 hours. For the remaining 9.5 hours, he charged the Zero nine times at a type 2 charging station.

Electric

Electric range record with the Zero

1,113.4 km in 24 hours

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Design award for electric light motorcycle

New mobility concepts also encourages new forms, as many studies in the field of e-motorcycles show. This is also the case with the e-light motorcycle called Pocket Rocket, which won the German Design Award 2018 in the Transportation category.

Sol Motors

We think the Pocket Rocket from Sol Motors deserves an award for its name, which goes perfectly with the look (pocket rocket).

The aluminum frame houses the lithium-ion battery (2,000 Wh), which is removable. If the crowdfunding campaign is successful, the Pocket Rocket will be available in a 6 kW and 4 kW version. Sol Motors specifies the maximum torque with 150 Newton meters, the range should be 60 to 80 kilometers.

The handlebars without a cockpit are more reminiscent of a bicycle. That changes as soon as the pilot attaches his smartphone to the handlebar, because the device then takes over the functions of the dashboard. But not only that: When it comes to the “keyless system”, the Pocket Rocket probably smiles at the current modern radio keys that only have to be carried in your pocket but no longer have to be put in the lock. Authentication on the small electric motorcycle works via the smartphone. “And does the motorcycle just turn off as soon as my smartphone battery is empty? ”No. Mainly because the cell phone taps another battery (12V) via the USB socket.

Austria and England promote e-motorcycles

In contrast to Germany, where the “environmental bonus” introduced in July 2016 only applies to four-wheeled electric vehicles, from 2017 Austria will also subsidize the purchase of new electric motorcycles.

Johammer

Our neighbors receive a purchase subsidy of up to 750 euros when buying an electric motorcycle.

On the part of the state, the funding program provides for a grant of 375 euros for a new e-motorcycle or e-moped. In addition, there are up to 375 euros with which Austria’s vehicle manufacturers, e.g. B. KTM and Johammer or importers participate in the promotion. In addition to customary discounts, as stated in a message from Arge2Rad.

Arge2Rad is the umbrella organization for the Austrian two-wheeler industry. Austrian e-motorcyclists have been able to apply for the federal share since 1 March 2017 after purchasing a new one (invoice date from 1 January 2017) at www.umweltfoerderung.at The 375 euros are then transferred directly to the motorcycle buyer’s account. According to Arge2Rad, the industry share, i.e. the second 375 euros, will be deducted directly from the purchase price. This agreement is valid until the end of 2018 or until the available funds are exhausted. After England, Austria is the second European country to promote electric mobility for two-wheelers.

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Electric crosser for the military

Silent Hawk: The American defense technology manufacturer Logos Technologies is developing a motorcycle for special operations by the US Army on behalf of the US Department of Defense.

Logos Technology

The Silent Hawk is based on the Redshift MX from Alta Motors.

The 175 kg light “Silent Hawk” (German: silent falcon), which has already been presented as a prototype, is based on the Redshift MX e-motorcycle from Alta Motors from California. Unlike the series, however, the Army bike also has front-wheel drive and, in addition to the electric motor (and almost noiseless “creep” mode), a multi-fuel burner that should run on gas, diesel and petrol. In a second development step, this combustion engine is now also to be made removable. The "modular structure" desired by the Pentagon is intended to expand the possible uses of the "Silent Hawk".

Kalashnikov: This is unmistakably a Russian military motorcycle. Anyone who has not previously associated the name Kalashnikov with motorcycles has to rethink. Because the famous Russian armory has the vehicle manufacturer Izh under the corporate umbrella since 2013. At the “Army 2017” trade fair in Moscow in September, Kalashnikov showed newly developed Izh motorcycles, including cruisers with boxer engines under a mysterious full fairing and an electric motorcycle that is designed both for military use and as a police machine. As technical information, there is so far only a maximum range of 150 kilometers and the maximum output of 15 kW (20.4 PS).

Electric

Yamaha TY-E (2018)

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Hydrogen engines – the fuel of tomorrow?

Honda and General Motors want to start series production of fuel cell systems together in 2020.

lampertz.de

The two companies are investing a total of 85 million US dollars for this. Drive technology could be the key to future mobility, fuel cell powered vehicles only consumes hydrogen and only emit water vapor. Honda showed the prototype of a fuel cell powered scooter back in 2004. Series production has so far failed due to excessive costs.

The fuel cell: Hydrogen plus oxygen is equal to water vapor – this is the simplified formula for the processes in the fuel cell. The energy is generated through a reaction between the two starting materials hydrogen and oxygen, which are supplied via electrodes. Advantage: The electricity generated in this way is generated without any significant heat development, which is very efficient. Disadvantage: The production of hydrogen is very energy-intensive. In addition, both storage and refueling are complex.

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Electric scooter against burners

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Motivation for electromobility

In theory, 2.5 kWh have the equivalent of 0.3 liters of petrol.

Jorg Lohse

Volume is an issue with combustion motorcycles. Especially with residents near popular motorcycle routes.

While the combustion engine uses 37 percent of the fuel’s energy at best, an electric motor works with over 90 percent efficiency. So arithmetically a quarter of a three-quarters of a liter of fuel becomes. In addition to the efficiency, the CO2 balance of the electricity used also plays a role. Only electricity from renewable energies is virtually CO2-free. In 2013 it covered a quarter of Germany’s electricity demand – and the trend is rising.

Philipp Habsburg, head of development at KTM, mentions another motivation for pushing electromobility: "Noise and emissions regulations are becoming increasingly important." That is why electric drives are becoming increasingly important. "In the medium to long term, we firmly expect that electric motorcycles will increase their market relevance," says Habsburg, "both on and off the road."

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