It seems that there is a new hot mode of transport – in the form of e-motorcycles and e-scooters.
A report from Pike Research finds that the number of these electrically powered vehicles will increase from 17million this year to 138million by 2017, with the majority powered by lead-acid batteries.
The vehicles are already popular in China and other parts of Asia Pacific thanks largely to urbanisation trends. In other regions, high fuel costs and government incentives are expected to contribute to a rise in demand.
According to Pike Research senior analyst Dave Hurst, e-scooters will represent a much larger industry and will outsell e-motorcycles by a factor of more than six to one on a global basis. However, the mix is expected to be much different in certain regions and particularly North America where e-motorcycles will represent 59 per cent of combined sales due to high speeds and longer range.
Previously the North American and European markets suffered low demand. However, both are poised for significant growth with North America anticipated to grow to 41,146 annual sales of e-motorcycles by 2017 with Europe to reach 109,945 annual sales by the same date. Meanwhile, e-scooters will sell 27,971 annually in North America by the same year while Western Europe will reach 91,625.
It is expected that the growth in electric two-wheel vehicles will also have an impact on demand for batteries with the vehicles utilising both lithium-ion and lead acid batteries.
