Electric Powered Motorcycles Twenty years ago, the electric powered motorcycle seemed like nothing more than a pipe dream, but today it is reality. This dream coming to fruition could not come at a better time either.

We live in a time where most people are doing their part to reduce their dependency on gasoline and oil, and electric powered vehicles are a great way to do just that.  The electric powered vehicles will also help protect the environment, as they are not associated with green house gasses that pollute the air we breathe.  In short, the electric powered motorcycle is a very exciting development for those who love motorcycles and for those who are passionate about protecting the planet.

What Are Electric Powered Motorcycles?

You may have heard of the electric powered motorcycle, but are not sure what it is.  An electric powered motorcycle is a two or three wheel vehicle that looks very much like a gasoline powered motorcycle, but instead of being powered by gasoline or other fuels, it is powered by an electric motor.  Electricity is what powers the electric motors on the electric powered motorcycle; whereas, gasoline or another fuel powers your traditional motorcycle.

Electric powered motorcycles are used for the same purposes as any other vehicle.  In most cases, these vehicles are used to get from one point to another, such as to work from home and back again.  Some people just use the motorcycles for joy riding, and other people still use the electric powered motorcycle for racing.

Benefits Of The Electric Powered Motorcycle

There are many benefits associated with the electric powered motorcycle that make them an attractive option for a growing number of people.  First, the cost to operate the bike is about a quarter of what it costs to power a gasoline powered motorcycle.  In addition, these bikes are very quiet, so they can be ridden and enjoyed even in areas that have noise ordinances.  The bikes are environmentally friendly, so you don’t have to worry about pollution associated with the bike.  As a result, you may even be exempt from paying road taxes and registration taxes in your local area.

For those that don’t like the maintenance associated with the traditional gasoline motorcycle, the electric powered motorcycle is a great deal because there is a lot less maintenance associated with this bike, and any maintenance that has to be done is much more affordable.  Many people like the fact that with these bikes there is no need to visit the gas station and wait in line; you simply charge the bike at home or in a charging station.  For those who are looking for an electric vehicle, the electric powered motorcycle is a great option because they are more affordable than electric powered cars.

Popular Electric Powered Motorcycles

With each passing year, there are more electric powered motorcycles that are making their way to the market.  Quantya Motorcycles makes the Strada.  This is an electric powered motorcycle that can travel at speeds in excess of 55 miles per hour, thanks to an LiPo Lithium Polymer battery.  This is a dual sport style motorcycle that will cost about $10,000.  Each battery will last about five years, at which time it will need to be replaced with a new one.  This motorcycle is somewhat limited, as it will need to be recharged after about 30 miles of use.

The Brammo Enertia is another electric powered motorcycle that will cost the consumer about $8,000.  The bike is powered by a Lithium iron phosphate battery, which has a 20,000 mile battery life.  The bike can run at speeds in excess of 60 miles per hour and will need to be recharged after about 50 miles of use.  This bike can be purchased at select Best Buy stores and through Best Buy Online at www.bestbuy.com.

Yet another electric powered motorcycle is the Xtreme by Green Products.  This motorcycle can travel at speeds in excess of 65 miles per hour and will cost the consumer about $8,000.  The bike is powered by a lithium ion power management system and will last about seven years.  This bike can be ridden further between charges than some other options, only needing to be recharged every 100 miles or so.

Features

When you are purchasing an electric powered motorcycle, you should look for some basic features.  As you can see just from the small sampling above, there are some big differences from bike to bike.  First, you’ll want to consider the top speeds at which the bike can travel.  Some bikes cannot get above 50 or 55 miles per hour.  If you will be riding the bike to work on a highway where you need to go 65, you need to look for a bike that will allow you to do this.

Another thing you will want to look at is the power source.  What type of battery does the bike use?  More important than the type of battery, consider how long it will last.  Many of these bikes have batteries that will last two to five years.  This is a respectable amount of time, but how much will the battery cost you?  You want to try to get the longest period of time with an affordable replacement option.

Purchasing Your Electric Powered Scooter

Most electric powered scooters are not made in North America.  For this reason, you may need to buy online.  To find the best option, you should do your research and first narrow down what type of bike you want to buy.  From here, you can price shop and see where you can get the best price for shipping since you’ll likely have to have the bike shipped overseas.  Another option is to look for individuals that are selling their gently used electric powered scooter locally, so you don’t have to pay for shipping.  Best Buy is a great resource, as you can buy from their site and have it shipped to the store nearest to you for a very reasonable price.