California made climate history in 2020 when the state became the first in the nation to create an electric vehicle mandate, which eventually became a key part of the Biden-Harris climate agenda. Now the state wants to do the same for motorcycles, despite the problems the EV push has faced over the past four years.
California made climate history in 2020 when the state became the first in the nation to create an electric vehicle mandate, which eventually became a key part of the Biden-Harris climate agenda. Now the state wants to do the same for motorcycles, despite the problems the EV push has faced over the past four years.
The California Air Resources Board will vote next week on a proposal that will require motorcycle manufacturers to make 10% of the bikes they sell zero-emissions by 2028 and 50% by 2035. The rules, according to CalMatters, will also include restrictions on gas-powered motorcycles’ emissions.
If the rules are adopted, manufacturers would be forced to produce enough electric bikes to receive enough credits.
The credits could be bought and sold, so a manufacturer could reduce the number of electric bikes it sells if it buys enough credits from another manufacturer who has some available. The agency predicts that more than 280,000 electric or hydrogen motorcycles will be sold in California by 2045.
While CARB believes that forcing manufacturers to produce bikes will automatically sell those bikes, the EPA’s tailpipe emission standards were passed with the same expectation. However, waning consumer demand has left dealerships with more EVs than they can sell, and many automakers are walking back their commitments.
CalMatters quotes a few motorcycle enthusiasts, and they all express concerns about the plan. They say the short range of 100 miles, lack of charging infrastructure, and lack of an engine rumble make the E-bikes. The nonprofit publication notes that e-motorcycles make up 1% of all motorcycle sales, and motorcycles of all types make up less than 0.5% of all vehicle miles traveled in California.
They say the short range of 100 miles, lack of charging infrastructure, and lack of an engine rumble make the E-bikes
If the range estimates were accurate, this would not be a significant problem; my motorcycle gets about 140 miles out of 3.5 gallon tank. However, that range estimate assumes that you’re going at city speeds. Once you get to highway speeds, your range drops sharply, because of wind resistance. (This is a problem with cars also, but less of a problem; the rider is the least aerodynamic part of a motorcycle, meaning cars can be much more efficient with wind resistance.) At 80mph, which is roughly normal interstate speeds near me, you’d get more like 50 miles; that would be enough for me to go to work and get home, assuming that I took the most direct route. If you want to ride for pleasure in the mountains, then you not only have the reduced range to contend with, but also the total lack of charging.
And, unfortunately, adding batteries to increase the range also increases weight. That increased weight may not be as apparent in a car, but you will feel every pound of it on a motorcycle, and not in a good way. A sport bike that has the weight of a Honda Goldwing is not desirable.
Do busses then trains then heavy duty trucks next.
