Registrations data

Alternative powered two wheeler registrations for February 2023

February’s total battery-electric bike registrations were exactly halved year-onyear to a negligible 220 machines. Overall market share for ePTWs declined from 8.4% to 4.6%.

Unusually, given its regular tub-thumping on behalf of zero-emissions glory, the MCIA responded with stony silence.

The key up-to-11kw mobility and delivery fleet slot was 55.6% down to just 189 units, comprising 85.9% of entire electrified sales. Within that, the up-to-4kW moped range fell by 70.7% to 67 and 4-11kW products ridden on A1 licences incurred a 38.1 retreat to 122.

Constraints came from extremely tight inventory and rumoured insolvency issues

dive from CPx volume in February 2022. Anecdotal constraints came from extremely tight inventory and rumoured insolvency issues, the latter officially confirmed on 14 March when Vmoto UK Distribution entered administration (see page 8).

Content in the higher power segments was hardly worth mentioning. A pair of 15kW BMW CE 04 scooters “filled” the 11-35kW bracket and two unidentified over-35kW steeds took premium honours.

Short Cuts

Long-term 4-11kW segmental star Vmoto continued to lead, registering 30 examples of its bestselling Super Soco CPx scooter – sadly a telling 76%

Quite why the ePTW market is heading for oblivion has to be a mixture of supply-chain failures from the Far East, dramatic over-pricing and a simple lack of demand owing to inadequate performance versus proven ICE alternatives.

Zero Motorcycles

AMERICAN ELECTRIC BIKE MAKER ZERO has released a vision of what its bikes could look like in the not-so-distant future. The SR-X concept is based on the firm’s SR/S, with a fully-faired design by Bill Webb from the HUGE Design agency, which has been behind a few Zero production bike designs. Under the sleek plastic fairing is the firm’s ZF75-10 electric motor paired with its latest ZF17.3 lithiumion battery pack. Brian Wismann, VP of product development at Zero, was full of praise for the design, adding: “When Bill first released the design in digital form several years ago, I knew immediately that the design language based on clean, simple forms would be a perfect marriage for an electric motorcycle. I’m excited that we were able to realize Bill’s vision of our electric sportbike platform in the SR-X concept.”

Energica

PREMIUM ELECTRIC BIKE FIRM ENERGICA HAS started a new phase of expansion at its plant in Modena. The firm is building another 1150m2 facility which will be dedicated to R&D, prototype testing, and the firm’s Energica Inside reselling programme, which provides third party firms with Energica’s proven battery powered powertrain for their own products. Energica is also planning to expand its own manufacturing and assembly facilities, and setting new targets for automation, in order to meet rising demand for EV kit.

Alternate power rolling year

Best Selling Models

BILLED AS “THE UK’S COOLEST ROADlegal electric scooters”, the Tubby Tyre Scooter Company has launched a new three-bike range, The Special One, The Basic One and the No-Road One. All come as standard with a 1kW motor, which is upgradeable to 2000W, run by a 60V 12Ah battery. All models come with a 12-month warranty, with RRPs starting from £1650. www.tubby-tyre-scooter-company.co.uk

NIU

Registration statistics supplied by the MCIA; tel 02476 408000; www.mcia.co.uk

CHINESE ELECTRIC MOBILITY BRAND NIU IS cutting up to £800 off the SRP of its scooter range – enough to pay for up to four years of electricity to charge the lightweight zeroemission machines. The top £800 ‘Recharge’ discount applies to the 125cc-equivalent MQi GT, down to £3999 from £4799. Other discounts include £500 off the moped-equivalent UQi GT and £600 off the MQi GT extended range version. niu.uk.com/niu-uk-recharge-offers